Chronology - The Early 1980's

I'm seperating the 80's into two parts because that was really when I started really enjoying music and developing an interest. The 80's here covers what I call the "Winter Park" years. Once our family moved to Satellite Beach, my musical taste diverged from what was influenced by my parents and more influenced by my friends. I became an official teenager in 1985 though I was well on my way to Valley Girl land by 1984..well, if Valley Girls were gawky and poor.

1. Country Roads, John Denver - The honor of this song in my record collection is all owed to my mother who seemed to really like him. It was played in our house in Winter Park a lot, I think she got it for Christmas around 1981 or 82
2. 9 to 5, Dolly Parton - If we were good in the 3rd grade class, we could listen to either Grease or 9 to 5. For some reason 9 to 5 usually won out.
3. Dancing Queen, Abba - Though this might have been a song from the 70's, it reminds me distinctly more of the early 80's, riding in the car on Summerfield Avenue picturing myself in a fluid dress spinning on a disco floor.
4. Physical, Olivia Newton John - I had a really annoying friend called Oriya. She loved this song and we listened to it obsessively at her house, along with the video which was absurd in a way I couldn't pin point.
5. Forever In Blue Jeans, Neil Diamond - If Kelsey's was an intitution for us in the 70's, then Pizza Inn was an institution for us in the 80's This song always seemed to be on in the restaurant and I can always taste the "Special" and the smell of my dad's Erlanger beer
6. Lost In Love, Air Supply - How can I forget swimming at Sam's house and hanging out in her living room listening to an Air Supply record
7. Believe It Or Not, Joey Scarbury - Better known as the theme from The Greatest American Hero. Get the suit, Ralph.
8. Sam, Olivia Newton John - Ironically, this reminds me of my friend Sam :-D
9. Weekend In New England, Barry Manilow - OK, you know he had to show up here somewhere. But for reasons inexplicable, my sister and I loved playing this 45 and singing along to it. When I hear this song, I can see her bedroom in all it's overly yellow and puke green glory.
10. Queen of Hearts, Juice Newton - This also reminds me a lot of Pizza Inn
11. Rhymes & Reasons, John Denver - Again, heavily played. Usually at night.
12. Diamond Girls, Neil Diamond - For who knows what reason, my sister and I would wear our bedspreads as capes and twirl around like maniaces to this song, zooming up and down the furniture. Diamond Girls, indeed
13. Magic, Olivia Newton John - Nothing bar none reminds me more of Orlando Fashion Square mall than this song.
14. Angel of the Morning, Juice Newton - My sister loved..LOVED Juice Newton and we always had to listen to this song when it came on the radio. Usually going to Cocoa Beach for the day.
15. Run For the Roses, Dan Fogelberg - I always thought about succes with this song - the Black Stallion or the Olympics.
16. Xanadu, Olivia Newton John - This was the last ONJ song I loved and probably the most loved song of my childhood
17. Billie Jean, Michael Jackson - The first time I heard this little number was in Mrs. Palmer's music class. I had never heard of Michael Jackson (as is no surprise I'm sure when reading my playlist)
18. Say Maybe, Neil Diamond - My sister and I pantomimed this song too. We were ridiculous.
19. Key Largo, Bertie Higgins - I'm reminded of our weekends to the beach, Burger Chef and having way too much sand in my bathing suit
20. Beat It, Michael Jackson - More of the same
21. The Sound of Silence, Simon & Garfunkel - This oddly reminds me of the first years we had cable and HBO. Their concert in Central Park was aired and I stood on the fireplace watching it
22. Dream Away, Frank Sinatra - Speaking of the fireplace, this was the ultimate family time for us. We had a fire lit and this song we'd play over and over
23. Do Ya Think I'm Sexy, Rod Stewart - My mother humiliated me by dancing and singing this song. No one was around but it was utterly utterly humiliating.

Up next is the last six years of the 80's. You think this was bad, heaven help us all when I tackle 1984!