Dave's Music Hall of Fame: Album Inductees (May 2023)

The Top Classic Pop (‘60s to ‘80s) Albums Originally posted 5/22/2023. January 22, 2019 marked the 10-year anniversary of the DMDB blog. To honor that, Dave’s Music Database announced its own Hall of Fame. This month marks the eighteenth group of album inductees. These are taken from are taken from the DMDB’s top pop albums of all time list. The focus of this set inductees is only on those pop albums from the ‘60s through ‘80s. Previous inductees to fit this category are Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet, Def Leppard’s Hysteria, Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours, Guns N’ Roses’ Appetite for Destruction, Michael Jackson’s Thriller, Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Journey’s Escape, Carole King’s Tapestry, The Police’s Synchronicity, Prince’s Purple Rain, Simon & Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water, Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the U.S.A., U2’s The Joshua Tree, Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life, the Dirty Dancing soundtrack, the Grease soundtrack, and the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. See the full list of album inductees here.

The Beatles A Hard Day’s Night (1964) Inducted May 2023 as “Top Classic Pop (‘60s to ‘80s) Albums.”

The Beatles’ third album featured all original songs by John Lennon and Paul McCartney – and what a collection it was. In addition to the chart-topping title cut and “Can’t Buy Me Love,” the album featured “I Should Have Known Better,” “And I Love Her,” and “If I Fell.” The U.S. version topped the charts for 14 weeks but was vastly inferior with only 8 of the 14 cuts from the UK version and four unnecessary instrumentals. Read more.

The Beatles Help! (1965) Inducted May 2023 as “Top Classic Pop (‘60s to ‘80s) Albums.”

As impressive as A Hard Day’s Night was, the Beatles outdid themselves with Help! Once again, the U.S. version was a truncated collection rounded out by unnecessary instrumentals. Both the U.S. and UK versions featured the #1’s “Help!” and “Ticket to Ride,” but the latter album also had “Yesterday,” another #1 in the U.S. The collection also included “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away” and “You’re Gonna Lose That Girl.” Read more.

Phil Collins No Jacket Required (1985) Inducted May 2023 as “Top Classic Pop (‘60s to ‘80s) Albums.”

A Facebook post by Amanti Del Rock famously claimed that in the 1980s, one out of every four songs on the radio was by Phil Collins. While it was a humorously exaggerated claim, he did seem to be inescapable that decade, alternating between solo hits and success with his band Genesis. No Jacket Required was the album that established Collins as a superstar, giving him #1 hits with “One More Night” and “Sussudio” as well as top-10 hits “Don’t Lose My Number” and “Take Me Home.” The Grammy winner for Album of the Year would sell more than 25 million copies worldwide. Read more.

Whitney Houston Whitney (1987) Inducted May 2023 as “Top Classic Pop (‘60s to ‘80s) Albums.”

Whitney Houston’s self-titled debut album sent three songs to #1, setting up an impossibly high bar for her sophomore effort. Whitney pulled off the unthinkable – another four chart-toppers, including the iconic “I Wanna Dance with Somebody.” It gave her a record seven consecutive #1 songs. The album spent eleven weeks atop the Billboard album chart and sold more than 20 million copies worldwide. Read more.

Janet Jackson Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989) Inducted May 2023 as “Top Classic Pop (‘60s to ‘80s) Albums.”

Jackson’s 1986 album Control gave her five top-ten hits, putting her in the top tier pop echelon alongside her famous brother Michael. His Thriller album spawned a record-setting seven top-tens. Janet outdid him with seven top-five hits from her Rhythm Nation 1814 album – four of them went all the way to #1. Read more.

Michael Jackson Bad (1987) Inducted May 2023 as “Top Classic Pop (‘60s to ‘80s) Albums.”

Michael Jackson faced an impossible task in creating a follow-up to Thriller, the best-selling album of all time. Bad would still sell an impressive 35 million copies worldwide and it would outdo its predecessor on one front. It became the first album in history to generate five chart-topping hits. Read more.

Billy Joel The Stranger (1977) Inducted May 2023 as “Top Classic Pop (‘60s to ‘80s) Albums.”

Billy Joel landed his first top-40 hit in 1973 with the iconic “Piano Man” but couldn’t match that accomplishment over his next couple of albums. 1977’s The Stranger, however, established Joel as a pop force to be reckoned with. He had a #3 hit with “Just the Way You Are” as well as top-40 hits “Movin’ Out,” “”Only the Good Die Young,” and “She’s Always a Woman.” The Grammy Hall of Fame inductee was his most successful album, selling 15 million copies worldwide. Read more.

Cyndi Lauper She’s So Unusual (1983) Inducted May 2023 as “Top Classic Pop (‘60s to ‘80s) Albums.”

Lauper’s video for “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” was a perfect fit for MTV, showcasing her vibrant personality and equally colorful wardrobe. It became a fun party song that was also embraced as a message of female empowerment. It could have been a one-hit wonder, but she followed it with the chart-topping “Time After Time,” a ballad that showed she had some depth as well. She also landed top-five hits with “She Bop” and “All Through the Night.” She won the Grammy for Best New Artist and garnered nominations for Album, Record, and Song of the Year. Read more.

Madonna Like a Virgin (1984) Inducted May 2023 as “Top Classic Pop (‘60s to ‘80s) Albums.”

It isn’t often one can pinpoint the exact moment someone became a star. With Madonna, it was when she sang “Like a Virgin” while she writhed on stage in a wedding dress at the MTV Video Music Awards. The song spent six weeks at #1 and propelled the album of the same name to the top as well. The album also generated the top-five hits “Material Girl,” “Angel,” and “Dress You Up.” As if that weren’t enough, in the middle of the album’s success, she also topped the charts with “Crazy for You” from the movie Vision Quest and, in the UK, with “Into the Groove” from Desperately Seeking Susan. Read more.

George Michael Faith (1987) Inducted May 2023 as “Top Classic Pop (‘60s to ‘80s) Albums.”

George Michael sailed to success with Wham! and the #1 hit “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.” He followed that with his own chart-topping “Careless Whisper,” making it clear that he was on the verge of becoming a breakout solo star. His 1987 album Faith more than accomplished that task. It generated four #1 songs, spent twelve weeks atop the Billboard album chart, and sold 25 million copies worldwide. It also won the Grammy for Album of the Year. Read more.

Today in Music: Cyndi Lauper landed Grammy nominations in the Big Four categories

January 10, 1985 Cyndi Lauper landed Grammy nominations in the Big Four categories

When Grammy nominations were announced on January 10, 1985, Cyndi Lauper had the rare distinction of landing in each of the Big Four Categories. Her debut album, She’s So Unusual, received a nod for Album of the Year. Her singles Girls Just Want to Have Fun and Time After Time showed up in the Record of the Year and Song of the Year categories respectively. Lauper was acknowledged in the Best New Artist category as well. She also garnered nominations for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance (for “Girls”) and Best Recording Package, making her the first female artist since Bobbie Gentry in 1967 to receive at least five Grammy nominations. She won the Best New Artist and Best Recording Package awards. She was also honored by MTV for Best Female Video of the Year for “Girls” which also was nominated for Video of the Year. That video introduced her fun-loving, even cartoonish persona, but also showcased her ability to deliver a hook-laden song. It went top 10 in 19 countries and hit #1 in 10 countries. WK The second single “Time After Time” served up Lauper’s more sensitive side. The emotional ballad hit the top ten in 15 countries. WK “Time” has been covered by everyone from Everything But the Girl to Miles Davis, “if you need further proof of her credibility.” BB Lauper also hit the top 5 in the U.S. with She Bop and All Through the Night, making her the first female singer to land four top 5 singles from one album on the Billboard Hot 100. WK A fifth single, Money Changes Everything, was a top 40 hit. They all helped propel the album to 6 million in U.S. sales and 16 million worldwide. Far from being a guilty pleasure, Lauper’s She’s So Unusual should be acknowledged not as “self-deprecating or even self-parodying; it’s self-congratulatory.” BB The album displays “a giddy mix of self-confidence, effervescent popcraft, unabashed sentimentality, subversiveness, and clever humor” BB and is “one of the great new wave/early MTV records.” STE Resources: Dave’s Music Database: “History Index” for more important dates in music history Dave’s Music Database: “Music Makers’ Birthdays” BB Beth Bessmer, Amazon.com STE Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 1/10/2012; updated 1/6/2024.

Cyndi Lauper hit #1 with “Time after Time”

Time After Time Cyndi Lauper

Writer(s): Rob Hyman, Cyndi Lauper (see lyrics here) Released: January 27, 1984 First Charted: March 24, 1984 Peak: 12 US, 11 CB, 13 RR, 13 AC, 10 AR, 1 CO, 3 UK, 13 CN, 6 AU, 3 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.) Sales (in millions): 1.5 US, 0.85 UK, 2.45 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 2.0 radio, 433.44 video, 409.07 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Cyndi Lauper won the Grammy for Best New Artist in 1985. She landed the big four nominations that year – the others being for Album of the Year (She’s So Unusual), Record of the Year (“Girls Just Want to Have Fun”), and Song of the Year (“Time After Time”). “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” introduced the world to the quirky singer who Newsweek called “a new-wave Gracie Allen.” FB It was an “ebullient song that…branded her in the eyes of some as a clever novelty who would fade after one hit.” FB It was her second single, the “poignant ‘Time After Time,’” FB which made it clear that Lauper was an artist to be enjoyed and taken seriously. Slant magazine’s Sal Cinquemani said it may be “Lauper’s greatest moment.” WK Lauper’s producer, Rick Chertoff, was friends with the Philadelphia-based band the Hooters. He brought them in as Lauper’s backup band and, when he insisted the album needed one more song, tapped the band’s Rob Hyman to help Lauper write it. Both songwriters were struggling with their romantic relationships, but managed to craft what has been considered one of the best love songs of all time. WK Hyman said, “it’s a deceptively simple song. The verses are just a little repeating three-note motif – almost like a nursery rhyme…The mood of the lyrics came from both of us…We realized it wasn’t such a bouncy song, but it was a little more bittersweet and a little deeper in its feeling…so the music started to change.” SF Nerve said “Lauper’s most enduring masterpiece hits at the very essence of commitment…she captures real romance in the most simple and straightforward of lines.” WK Blogcritics’ Pam Avoledo speculated that in the song, Lauper views herself as “a difficult person, unworthy of love. She runs away and shuts people out. However, her devoted boyfriend who loves her unconditionally is willing to help her through anything. The relationship is given depth. The couple’s intimacy and history is apparent. They’ve been together for a long time. They love and have seen each through every tough part of their life.” WK Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Cyndi Lauper FB Fred Bronson (2003). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits (5th edition). Billboard Books: New York, NY. Page 589. SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 2/2/2021; last updated 10/28/2022.

Cyndi Lauper hit #2 with “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”

Girls Just Want to Have Fun Cyndi Lauper

Writer(s): Robert Hazard (see lyrics here) Released: November 6, 1983 First Charted: December 17, 1983 Peak: 2 US, 12 CB, 2 GR, 2 RR, 80 RB, 16 AR, 2 UK, 12 CN, 12 AU, 2 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 2.5 US, 0.6 UK, 4.09 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 860.7 video, 808.86 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Not since Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” in 1967 had there been such a sing-along tune of women’s empowerment. Like that song, “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” was originally written and sung by a man. In the case of Aretha, Otis Redding originally penned and recorded the tune, but in Aretha’s hands it became an iconic #1 song. In Lauper’s case, the original song was written and recorded in 1979 by Robert Hazard, a new wave singer in the vein of Nick Lowe or Graham Parker. In his hands, it comes across as misogynistic as he appears to regard women as no more than playthings. However, with some lyrical tweaks by Lauper, it became “an ebullient, unapologetic piece of smiley-face feminism.” AMG In her book She’s a Rebel: The History of Women in Rock & Roll, Gillian G. Gaar described it as “a playful romp celebrating female camaraderie.” WK The song, which reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 behind Van Halen’s “Jump,” was her first single as a solo artist, although she had recorded an album in 1981 with the group Blue Angel. SF While she would go on to hit the top of the charts with “Time After Time” and “True Colors,” this was her signature hit, capturing her quirky personality perfectly. Her colorful style were a hit on MTV where kids could see a woman with weird hair and weird clothes who celebrated who she was. The video cost less than $35,000 to make, largely due to her friends, family, and business associates serving as a volunteer cast. WK It became one of the most successful of all time, ranking in top 100 lists by VH1 and MTV. It won the latter network’s first award for Best Female Video. The song was nominated for two Grammys – Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Resources: AMG All Music Guide review by Stewart Mason SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 11/26/2020; last updated 2/3/2023.