Hey! Remember the 80's?

Episode 232: Yes, Joe and Kari attended the Darker Waves Festival, and they lived to tell the tale! On the podcast! Their review kicks off this episode, find out what they liked (OMD! English Beat!) and what they didn't like (Lines! People! Paying for beer!).  Since World AIDS Day is December 1st, Joe and Kari are taking a look at some of the artists who tried to use their music to bring awar...

Episode 231: If you haven't heard Joe and Kari discuss this in previous episodes, they are traveling to Huntington Beach, CA this week to attend the Darker Waves Festival! The lineup is STACKED with artists that have been discussed on HRT80s many times, but this episode is dedicated to some of the lesser-known bands like The Chameleons and Clan of Xymox, as well as faves like The English Beat...

Episode 230: This week's episode is a very special one, as Joe and Kari welcome their first international guest to the podcast: Listener Dom from New Zealand! Dom has been kind enough to suggest some of the segments that we've brought to you on HRT80s, and this week, we get to know the man behind the ideas, and what exactly he loves about music from the 1980s.  Then we invite Dom to disc...

Episode 229: Spooky Halloween Edition! Since this episode drops on Halloween, Joe and Kari took some listener suggestions on their favorite creepy songs of the 80's. Toto Coelo sang a love song about Dracula, Whodini warned us that the freaks come out at night, and Ministry gave us a goth anthem with "Everyday is Halloween." Finally, the Great 80's Music Quiz comes to an end wi...

Episode 228: As promised, here is Part Two of the recap of the Countdown America program from February 18, 1989. Dick Clark hosted this syndicated radio program that used the Top 30 Adult Contemporary charts from Radio and Records magazine. In the upper reaches of the countdown, we have songs from Vanessa Williams, Anita Baker and Barbra Streisand. Plus, Debbie Gibson and Tiffany face off with bal...

Episode 227: This episode is only for the Jackée stans!!! That's right: HRT80s is celebrating 227 episodes this week! And we asked the listeners to tell us their favorite TV Theme Songs for us to cover on the podcast. So get ready to hear about the theme songs to your favorite 80's shows: Perfect Strangers, Cheers, 227 (natch), and everyone's favorite, Golden Girls. Then it's t...

Episode 226: Please welcome to the podcast: Michael! He's joining the panel for HRT80s court, that segment that takes a look at some similar-sounding songs and asks, Who is at fault for this? Why does "Running Back to You" by Vanessa Williams sound a bit like "Right on Track" by the Breakfast Club? Does Bananarama owe some money to Company B? And why exactly was New Line P...

Episode 225: Sometimes the tidbits are plentiful. This week, Joe and Kari discuss (deep breath): Cyndi Lauper's new musical, news of a Debbie Gibson memoir, Moonlighting comes to streaming finally, Pat Benatar's daughters new single, and news of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. PLUS, Joe's mini-review of the Squeeze/Psychedelic Furs show. WHEW Main Topic: Suggested...

Episode 224:  Joe and Kari had so much fun dissecting the National Music Survey in episode 214 that....well, they fell down the rabbit hole. One eBay purchase later, they're now the owner of several old 80's countdowns on vinyl. This week's episode takes a look at Countdown America from the week of February 18, 1989. It's the top 30 AC hits based on Radio and Records, hosted by...

Episode 223: This week's episode is a grab bag, odds and ends that Joe and Kari have collected over the past few weeks due to Instagram stories, Apple Music playlists, and suggestions from Loyal Listeners. First up is a gem from Tina Yothers (!), yes she attempted a pop music takeover, but was she successful? Up next are a couple of rap songs from the mid-80's that have ties to Sly Fox....

Episode 222: Please welcome to the podcast, Kari's sister Jennifer! She gets the HRT80s rundown: favorite 80's music, 80's concerts, and our main topic, her favorite 80's Karaoke jams! You'll get info about the acts behind those karaoke classics -- Journey, Rick Astley, Pat Benetar, and...Clarence Carter?? Get to know more about young Kari and Jennifer in this episode of H...

Episode 221: This episode is inspired by another recent Kari find at the record store (she is on a roll!). Have you heard of the Secret Policeman's Ball? It's okay if you haven't because it's a secret! The UK fundraiser for Amnesty International dates back to 1976, but the 1987 event put a focus on music, and featured performances from Kate Bush, Joan Armatrading, Duran Duran,...

Episode 220: First of all, we want to thank listener Giovanni for suggesting some songs to discuss during our episode devoted to Italo Disco! Synthesizer-heavy songs from Gazebo, Milva, and Via Verdi are discussed. The true star of the episode is the song (and video) "Future Brain" by Den Harrow (OR IS IT???) Then, Joe gets quizzed again in this ongoing series, find out if he bests Kari...

Episode 219: Joe and Kari are back from their break in a big way, the two were able to record an episode in the same room, an HRT80s Rarity! Kari starts off Tidbits with a review of the I Want My 80's Tour that is currently snaking around the USA.  Just a Bit Outside: Time to highlight those non-top 40 singles, including a divisive (for multiple reasons) single from Styx. Other singles from R...

Episode 218: Kari and Joe want to dress you up in their love... ew, not like that. Working with a suggestion from amazing listener Dom, we have put together an 80s outfit using the titles of songs. Get out your Wigs, Favourite Shirts and Goody Two Shoes and listen along.  Quiz Time: Kari continues quizzing Joe with some (pretty easy) questions about 80s music to determine who is the Queen of 80s T...

Episode 217: Jitterbug! Hot on the heels of the new Wham! documentary that is streaming on Netflix, Joe and Kari have ranked Wham's 12 singles. Which Wham! songs reached the upper echelon aka The Edge of Heaven? Listen to the latest ep and find out! Jitterbug! Quiz Time: Kari unearthed some 80's questions in a new series that may prove once and for all who is the Queen of 80's Music...

Episode 216: Long guitar solos and long beards, that's what this episode is all about! Of course, ZZ Top starts things off. What Joe wants to know is this -- if you tell someone "Give me all your lovin'" are the hugs and kisses implied? Or should they be specifically requested as well? Other guitar solos discussed include the usual suspects -- hard rockin' acts like White...

Episode 215: First up in Tidbits: Joe and Kari's thoughts on the new Wham! documentary that is streaming on Netflix, so make sure you've watched it before listening (the doc is highly recommended!).  Obscure Soundtrack Songs: If you've never heard of the movie Party Party, it's okay because Joe and Kari had never heard of it until they each located a copy of the soundtrack in d...

Episode 214: Does anyone know of the syndicated countdown special from the late 80's called National Music Survey? It's okay, Joe didn't know about it either until one magical day at the record store when he came across a copy of the countdown from January 20, 1988! This episode is a recap of the countdown -- the top 25 Adult Contemporary songs, ranked by Radio and Records. You&apos...

Episode 213: Happy 4th of July, from Kari and Joe! Enjoy this rundown of songs that peaked at number 74 on the Hot 100 (get it?). Max Werner, The Call, and Heaven 17 are a few of the acts discussed, as well as a singer that had a huge hit down under!  Just A Bit Outside: Songs that didn't hit the Top 40 include songs from superstar Dionne Warwick, and freestyle legend Stevie B. Send us Fan Ma...

Episode 212: This is a very special episode, folks, because Joe and Kari are welcoming a very special guest to the podcast: Chad! Chad is a friend of the podcast and a loyal listener since day one. He was very excited to discuss something very near and dear to his heart as a father and husband: mowing the lawn! Chad's got the perfect playlist for anyone out there who has a difficult task ahea...

Episode 211: Let's take it back, y'all! We are going back to June 13, 1981, and perusing the pages of Billboard magazine. There's an ad for an up-and-coming singer named John Schneider, who was wowing audiences on the show The Dukes of Hazzard. Does this good ol' boy have what it takes to conquer the Hot 100? More ink is spilled for acts like Frankie Beverly and Maze, Tom Petty...

Episode 210: The weather is getting hotter, and that can mean only one thing -- Global Warming! Just kidding -- Joe and Kari rounded up some of the best 80's songs about everyone's favorite season, Summer! Songs from APB, Diesel, James Taylor, and Don Henley are gonna make you SWEAT!  That's What Friends Are For: A look back at 1980 when Elvis Costello needed some assistance with a...

Episode 209: Happy National Jennifer Day! Joe and Kari are here to make sure you celebrate responsibly. The plan was to discuss multiple Jennifer's of the 80's, but the research on singer Jennifer Warnes proved much more fruitful than expected. She is most well known for songs from the soundtracks to An Officer and a Gentleman and Dirty Dancing, but there is so much more! This deep dive...

Episode 208: It's time for a super-sized edition of Just A Bit Outside, the segment that looks at songs that peaked outside the Top 40. From 1980, we've got R&B from the Bar-Kays, Southern (Scottish) Rock from Nazareth, a Country single from Mac Davis, and whatever genre Korona fits into. 1989 brings songs from Regina Belle and Icehouse, who had quite a few underrated songs throughou...