Kiss-FM Top 98 songs of 1984

[ciao99]

Dug this out from storage:
Here are the top 10 of Kiss-FMs Top 98 songs of 1984:

1. When Doves Cry- Prince
2. Fat Boys- Fat Boys
3. Somebody Else's Guy- Jocelyn Brown
4. Hello-Lionel Richie
5. Feels So Real- Patrice Rushen
6. What's Love Got To Do With It-Tina Turner
7. Tears- Force MDs
8. If Only You Knew- Patti LaBelle
9. Cool It Now- New Edition
10. Beat Box-Art of Noise

Some other notable tracks on the list:
25. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun- Cyndi Lauer
33. Close to the Edit- Art of Noise
37. Karma Chameleon- Culture Club
35. Borderline- Madonna
47. One for the Treble- Davy DMX
58. Heaven Sent You-Stanley Clarke
79. Love is a Battlefield- Pat Benatar
84. Rain Forest-Paul Hardcastle

Make no mistake, Kiss-FM's playlist was decidedly urban R&B. I just find it amazing back in 1984 that even being urban, the audience was still receptive to a wider variety of music. Madonna has always been accepted by R&B audiences, that's not as much as surprise as Cyndi Lauper and Pat Benatar.

Instrumentals were also bigger back then. I think electronic music was big with breakdancers, notice Paul Hardcastle, Davy DMX and Art of Noise. Today on Urban, particularly CHR-Rhythmic stations, you almost never hear instrumentals. The beats are lame, they can't stand on their own, and they have to be violated with mindless chatter on top of them.

Lastly, interesting to see Stanley Clarke on the list. In 2008, he would get airplay on a Smooth Jazz station, like CD 101.9 if it were still around.

 

[urban]

I miss radio from the mid-80s. Playlist were definitely more broad and more color blind. The entire family (parents to children) could listen to the same station.

What I also miss is that stations, particularly urban, were able to program based on their market. The top songs in 1984 in NYC would be different than the top songs in Chicago, which would be different than Atlanta, St Louis, LA, etc. The playlist weren't identical and each station had it's own identity/sound. This list definitely brings back some memories.

 

[TonySantiago]

I miss radio from the mid-80s. Playlist were definitely more broad and more color blind. The entire family (parents to children) could listen to the same station.

What I also miss is that stations, particularly urban, were able to program based on their market. The top songs in 1984 in NYC would be different than the top songs in Chicago, which would be different than Atlanta, St Louis, LA, etc. The playlist weren't identical and each station had it's own identity/sound. This list definitely brings back some memories.

The first time I've heard The Police "Voices Inside My Head" was on WBLS! The urban stations had NO problem breaking out a track from other genres such as rock and if it worked with the audience, it worked! Getting back to Kiss from that era, The Latin Rascals turned out a WICKED remix on New Years Day 1985 that, with the techniques they've used that was WAY ahead of their time. The one track that still gets me from that remix...."Out Of Touch" by Hall & Oates.

But looking at some of those tracks on the Top 98, they definitely brought back memories! Kiss and 'BLS was where most of the post original-KTU and the Pre-Hot 103 fans went.

 

[DToTheJ]

Ciao, could you post the ENTIRE Top 98 list from 1984, please?

Oooooh, nostalgia!

 

[JerseyDude]

Those were the good old days. Jocelyn Brown,Patrice Rushen,Stanley Clarke,Davey DMX and Paul Hardcastle. I loved those songs.

Most Urban and Rhythmic stations in the United States are garbage.
Rhythmic Power 96 /Miami is the only U.S. station worth listening to today.

Pulse 87 songs like watered down Pop crap. They should go a deeper than they do.


Urban Choice FM/London (choicefm.com) is the most progressive Urban station in the world today.

 

[TonySantiago]

Pulse 87 songs like watered down Pop crap. They should go a deeper than they do.

I can understand WHY they play the pop, but I do agree with you Jersey, they should go deeper. I've just posted the recent playlist on the Unofficial website and there were NO new adds! I can think of at least 10 songs that are happening right now that would work for Pulse and should get the nod on Pulse.

 

[andreajesus]

[[/quote]

The first time I've heard The Police "Voices Inside My Head" was on WBLS! The urban stations had NO problem breaking out a track from other genres such as rock and if it worked with the audience, it worked! Getting back to Kiss from that era, The Latin Rascals turned out a WICKED remix on New Years Day 1985 that, with the techniques they've used that was WAY ahead of their time. The one track that still gets me from that remix...."Out Of Touch" by Hall & Oates.

But looking at some of those tracks on the Top 98, they definitely brought back memories! Kiss and 'BLS was where most of the post original-KTU and the Pre-Hot 103 fans went.
[/quote]

But, Tony, you gotta remember something - with WBLS, there was ALWAYS a history of them going against the grain (I remember when "Saturday Night Fever" came out in 1977, Frankie Crocker - may he rest in peace!! - was playing the Bee Gees! I mean, 'BLS??)

 

[oldies76]

Paul Hardcastle's "Rainforest" actually debuted 1/12/85 nationally and peaked at #57 a bit later. Interesting that it's a Top 98 hit of 1984. Probably the song was released in late '84.

Anyways..."Rainforest" is a beautiful instrumental (5 minute album version) and truly defines the early - mid 80's sound within that song. Gotta say...on my list, it's #1

 

[MikeyBos]

"Rainforest" peaked at #5 (I believe) on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart though...actually, I believe it was called the "Black Singles Chart" at that point in the mid 80s and it debuted on the chart in late 1984. I'm pretty sure you're referring to the Billboard Hot 100 for your chart data, right?

Paul Hardcastle's "Rainforest" actually debuted 1/12/85 nationally and peaked at #57 a bit later. Interesting that it's a Top 98 hit of 1984. Probably the song was released in late '84.

Anyways..."Rainforest" is a beautiful instrumental (5 minute album version) and truly defines the early - mid 80's sound within that song. Gotta say...on my list, it's #1

 

[TonySantiago]

But, Tony, you gotta remember something - with WBLS, there was ALWAYS a history of them going against the grain (I remember when "Saturday Night Fever" came out in 1977, Frankie Crocker - may he rest in peace!! - was playing the Bee Gees! I mean, 'BLS??)

It made sense for 'BLS to play any of the Bee Gees "Saturday Night Fever" tracks since disco was really starting to "burst" and the urban audience was going for it, and this was BEFORE Disco 92 (WKTU) came out...which happened July 1978!

What was cool about that era was the fact that black, white or Latino...it didn't matter. If a track was good and worked for the format, no matter who was doing it or the dominant listenership of a specific audience, a song would get on rotation. Frankie Crocker was PURE GENIUS with that.

Of course with 'KTU (as Disco 92) coming on, the competition between that and BLS was growing. Add 98.7 Kiss into the mix and the competition between all three stations were FIERCE (MANNNN do I miss those times! In effect we had THREE dance stations!) Even to the point where 'BLS had a track and called it their "secret weapon" without announcing who or what the song was! (which was Gino Soccio's "Try It Out...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nitBFcQFhA (You Tube).

Yeah...put up the entire Kiss list! ;D Just now in my mind I thought about a wonderful lady, who I met while Kiss was playing softball in my neighborhood around 1984....great lady who God took too early.....MARY THOMAS

 

[andreajesus]

But, Tony, you gotta remember something - with WBLS, there was ALWAYS a history of them going against the grain (I remember when "Saturday Night Fever" came out in 1977, Frankie Crocker - may he rest in peace!! - was playing the Bee Gees! I mean, 'BLS??)

It made sense for 'BLS to play any of the Bee Gees "Saturday Night Fever" tracks since disco was really starting to "burst" and the urban audience was going for it, and this was BEFORE Disco 92 (WKTU) came out...which happened July 1978!

What was cool about that era was the fact that black, white or Latino...it didn't matter. If a track was good and worked for the format, no matter who was doing it or the dominant listenership of a specific audience, a song would get on rotation. Frankie Crocker was PURE GENIUS with that.

Of course with 'KTU (as Disco 92) coming on, the competition between that and BLS was growing. Add 98.7 Kiss into the mix and the competition between all three stations were FIERCE (MANNNN do I miss those times! In effect we had THREE dance stations!) Even to the point where 'BLS had a track and called it their "secret weapon" without announcing who or what the song was! (which was Gino Soccio's "Try It Out...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nitBFcQFhA (You Tube).

Yeah...put up the entire Kiss list! ;D Just now in my mind I thought about a wonderful lady, who I met while Kiss was playing softball in my neighborhood around 1984....great lady who God took too early.....MARY THOMAS

Yes, yes, and yes on ALL of it!! thanks for posting that link to "Try It Out" - a GREAT song for all of us roller disco ladies back in the day!!

Boy, do I remember Mary Thomas...gifted, talented, beautiful lady who SO GOT it....

 

[JerseyDude]

The 98.7 KISS women.

Mary Thomas, Yvonne Mobley and Wanda Ramos. Gets no better.

 

[andreajesus]

Thank you thank you thank you - I almost forgot about Yvonne Mobley - a GREAT DJ!!

Wanda Ramos is over at Sirius Satellite Radio, on their SoulTown 53 Channel - she's doing Monday to Fridays from 12 noon to 6 PM and SHE SOUNDS ABSOLUTELY AWESOME!!

 

[murcuryvapor]

10. Beat Box-Art of Noise

Beat Box diversion one is a classic. I still pull out that 12" every so often.

 

[TonySantiago]

In general, I think 1984 was perhaps the last time that really didn't matter who or what you were (racially, sexually), just as long as the music got to you. And R&B at the time was mainly rhythmic (got Patrice Rushen's "Feel So Real" in my head as well as Sybil's "Falling In Love").

I tend to feel that around the time Hot 103 came out, things started to splinter. I remember Kiss and 'BLS became more "urban" with their adds (more R&B slow jams, tracks that didn't necessarily crossover) as Hot 103 went more rhythmic yet leaned towards the Latino and white populations and not tapping on the African-American sounds as much.

Fantastic thread!

 

[JerseyDude]

Tony,

I agree about the splinter and R&B becoming more R&B and less Crossover.

I am not sure it was 1984.It was more like 1987.
1985 and 1986 had some nice Crossover songs.

1985 gave us my girl from Philadelphia, Phyllis Neslon-RIP (I like you),Wham featuring George Michael,Madonna (Get into the groove), DeBarge (Rhythm Of The Night),Stevie Wonder (Part-Time Lover) Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam(I wonder if I take you home), and Shannon (Do you wanna get away).

1986 gave us Joyce Sims' "You are my all in all", Dhar Braxton's "Jump Back", Hanson & Davis' "Hungry for your love" , Gwen Guthrie's "Aint nothing going on but the rent",Janet Jackson's "What have youe done for me lately" "When I think of you", "Control and "Pleasure Principle".

Things starting changing around 1988. By the time we got to 1994, it was over.
The music died.

 

[TonySantiago]

It was most likely 1987; you're right Jersey.

Hot 103 launched in August 1986. I know that for myself, after that happened I had stopped listening to 98.7 Kiss, with the exception of the Tony Humphries remixes, and even that was occasional since I was listening to DJ Scott Blackwell spinning at the 4D nightclub.

When I did tune into Kiss around 1987, the format was still urban but was leaning more "afrocentric" in sound. 'BLS did the same as well.

Speaking of.....as a child my mother had WABC in her car radio and I remember hearing Chuck Leonard. Being a child I thought the names may be different but the ABC jocks all sounded very similar to one another. When Chuck Leonard went to Kiss and sounded more "black", I just thought he was trying to imitate just so as he fit in...never realizing (because I had never seen a picture of the man) that he was African-American! Great jock, God rest his soul

 

[JerseyDude]

1986 was when I starting flying down to Miami (on People's Express Airlines) to visit family. Miami Freesyle was HOT back then.

I remember listening to Rhythmic HOT 105. Sapphire (Dont break my heart), Voice in Fashion (Only in the night) and Nice N Wild (Diamond Girl) was pumping on the radio.

South Beach wasn't as trendy as it is now. It was a nice place to hang out on the beach and listen to the radio.

Those were the good old days.

Today, Urban radio is playing a lot of garbage. Keyshia Cole (AKA OFF-KEYshia),Cherish, and Ray J. Just plain trash.

I do like like Estelle and Jay Sean (from the UK). That Lloyd song "Girls around the world" is hot too.

 

[andreajesus]

you can't even BEGIN TO COMPARE dance and freestyle music of TODAY to what it was even back in the 80's - do you think someone like Shannon ("Let the Music Play", "Give Me Tonight") could even make it in today's "trash"? Doubt - Shannon is TOO talented - to me, MOST of the SO-CALLED "dance music artists" can't even shine the shoes of someone like Shannon, Joyce Sims, or Nice N Wild, so fuhgeddabout it!!

 

[ciao99]

Ciao, could you post the ENTIRE Top 98 list from 1984, please?

Oooooh, nostalgia!

Will do , in time. Will take a minute to type!