Hey! Remember the 80's?

Episode 132: Joe and Kari will discuss their recent Cancun adventures very soon in an upcoming 80's in the Sands episode, but for now, please enjoy this episode covering an event that has been talked about in passing in previous episodes. The Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute was a massive undertaking that occurred at Wembley Stadium in 1988. Diverse acts like Sting, Joan Armatrading, and...

Episode 131: 80's in the Sand is approaching, an 80's music festival in Cancun, and as part of the preparation, Joe and Kari are taking a closer look at some of the musicians that will be appearing. Little River Band seems like a 70's act to Kari, but they've got a lot more 80's hits than she remembers! Howard Jones is a bit of a question mark, in terms of Will He Really B...

Episode 130: A quick music video roundup by Joe is first in Tidbits, then it's time for Obscure Soundtrack Songs. Who remembers the soundtracks for DC Cab, Mannequin, and Secret of My Success? The movies were popular on cable and at your local video rental store, but do the songs from the soundtracks hold up? Even Belinda Carlisle forgot about one of these songs, and she sang it! Just a Bit O...

Episode 129: First up, in Tidbits, a review of the Tina Turner DVD, a live concert from a 1990 show in Barcelona, and then it's time for TV Tidbits (Max Headroom and Ted Lasso).  ROCKTOBER is upon us!! Joe and Kari take a look at the career of Ronnie James Dio, and his work with Black Sabbath and his transition to forming the influential group Dio.  Also, VH1 put together a list of the Greate...

Episode 128: If you've listened to a "Ranking the Hits" episode, you know how it works. Joe and Kari rank the Top 40 singles of a particular artist and then share the results. This time, we are ranking the LOWEST charting hits for some 80's superstars -- Madonna, Hall and Oates, Lionel Ritchie, they're all here! Did these "hits" deserve a higher chart placement? ...

Episode 127: A Rick Astley update and Kari's dispatch from the Psychedelic Furs show kick off Tidbits, then Joe and Kari go Back in Time to September 16, 1989, and a look into the week's issue of Billboard Magazine. The record label behind Soulsister (who?) shelled out some big bucks for a full page ad to create buzz. Did it work? Also featured in the pages: IRS Records, Melissa Etheridg...

Episode 126: First in Tidbits: ABBA is back!! But how are the new singles? Joe and Kari give their early opinions. In Just a Bit Outside: in honor of Charlie's new program on Charlie's 80's Attic, 80's Deep Dive , Joe and Kari take a listen to some of the songs that charted on the Hot 100 but did not make it to the Top 40. A few familiar names pop up, but some of these artists...

Episode 125: Welcome back! First up it’s Tidbits: Kari gives us the rundown (and geography lesson) of the Squeeze/Hall & Oates show in Milwaukee. One of these acts gave it their all, and one had some "sound issues." Next, Ladies of Hip Hop Part 2:  Kari and Joe take a look at MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, and JJ Fad. These influential women burst onto the scene in the 80's and made th...

Episode 124: Kari has a new show on Charlie's 80's Attic called Dare to Be Different. It is a show based on the music from iconic radio stations WLIR and KROQ (think new wave, punk, and non-mainstream). So in celebration of her new show we are taking a look at songs which fit into that format: songs from Robert Palmer (yes, THAT Robert Palmer), King, and Missing Persons. Next, grab your...

Episode 123: Time to close out our look at the Village Voice Pazz and Jop Polls, this time with 1988 and 1989. Sonic Youth and Tracy Chapman were some of the big winners in 1988. Do you remember hearing "Fast Car" for the first time? But like, really heard it? 1989 winners include Neil Young, with a song that Joe is absolutely FEELING.  Next, in Just a Bit Outside, two iconic rock acts b...

Episode 122: There's no doubt that Janet Jackson, Paula Abdul and Jody Watley ruled the 2nd half of the 80's, but whose hits hold up the best?? Joe and Kari are ranking the Top 40 hits of these R&B/Dance queens to find out who reigns supreme. Don't be Cold Hearted or Nasty, tune in today, Friends!! Then it’s Who's Holding Phil Now? Yes, Phil Collins was quick to help his fa...

Episode 121: Inspired by Kari's recent book choice, The Motherlode by Clover Hope. Episode 121 is about some of the female Hip Hop pioneers: Mercedes Young Ladies, The Sequence, and Roxanne Shante. Joe and Kari also breakdown a historic battle called The Roxanne Wars (1984 - 1985). There were no survivors. Next is The Screamer of the Week which is inspired by historic radio station WLIR. This...

Episode 120: It's one of those rare episodes where Joe and Kari are in the same room at the same time!  After a brief recap of their 80's antics together, it's time for Sophisti-pop! Inspired by a recent Transmission from DJ Jake Rudh, Joe and Kari are taking a look at some more sophisti-pop artists (Bryan Ferry, Spandau Ballet, Prefab Sprout, etc). Finally, it’s time to bring back...

Episode 119: Joe and Kari are back on the Pazz and Jop scene! Which albums and singles topped the polls in 1986 and 1987? 1986 was a big year for Paul Simon's Graceland as well as the music that inspired him, and 1987 saw Prince at the top with an album that took many forms before it was ultimately released to the public. // Just a Bit Outside -- a Happy Days guest star and a Wild Cherry offs...

Episode 118: First in Tidbits, a follow-up of sorts to our HRT80's Court segment featuring Elvis Costello // Pazz and Jop -- picking back up in 1984, Joe and Kari run down the winners of the Pazz and Jop poll in 1984 and 1985. Bruce Springsteen and Talking Heads were the big winners on the album side, and hip hop pioneers Run DMC and Doug E. Fresh scored big on the singles side // Songs That...

Episode 117: Please forgive Joe and Kari, who are not operating at 100% this week (Kari has a summer cold and Joe was just a dummy and partied too hard during Pride). BUT! They go hard on Tidbits and then take you back to 1988. What was topping the various charts on this week in July? You’ll get R&B, Adult Contemporary, and whatever genre Nick Kamen belonged to. Join Joe and Kari in July 1988!...

Episode 116: June is Pride Month, and HRT80s is back with an episode that spotlights 80's artists who are part of the LGBT community. Some real icons here!! // Segment two is "Just A Bit Outside" -- our look at a song that didn't hit the Top 40. Did it deserve to become a hit?? Send us Fan Mail

Episode 115: We've heard about the longest guitar and piano solos of the 1980's, and in this episode, Joe and Kari focus on the sax! Take a deep breath and dive right in! Grover Washington and legend Junior Walker make an appearance, as well as some artists you may not expect. // Just a Bit Outside -- That segment that looks at songs that peaked outside the top 40 is back, with a couple...

Episode 114: Joe and Kari are back to discuss the results of the Village Voice Pazz and Jop Poll from 1982 and 1983. Just like last time, there are some artists that don't get many Top 40 hits, but are they worthy?? Elvis Costello, X and Grandmaster Flash are a few of the artists that find some love from the critics. // Hey Remember the 80's Court: A recent Stereogum article highlights t...

Episode 113: So many tidbits this week, we almost called this episode "The Tidbit Hour" but worry not -- Joe and Kari finally get to the main event, Longest Guitar Solos of the 80's. Joe and Kari love a nice, shredding guitar solo, and this rundown of the longest guitar solos in Hot 100 Hits will have you saying "Oh. Sure", "Hmm...okay, I guess," and "Who is...

Episode 112: Tidbits: Duran Duran has a new song! It's...something! // Pazz and Jop: The Village Voice runs a poll of the best songs and albums of the year, and it's quite different from the Top 40!! Joe and Kari take a look at how it came to be. Some interesting pics for the early 80's, including the Clash, Laurie Anderson, Pylon, and other acts that Casey Kasem didn't really...

Episode 111: After being bumped for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announcement, Joe and Kari finally bring you Hi-NRG! From Donna Summer to Tarzan Boy, your hosts discuss the roots of this energetic genre which got started in dance clubs in the late 70s.  Your hosts discuss the origin story of the Hit Factory of Stock, Aitken, and Waterman and how they initially had money problem; but that all ch...

Episode 110: This week’s episode is sponsored by the letter F. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced the inductees for 2021! Who was chosen for this illustrious honor? Joe and Kari run down the list and give their opinions. And then it's time to spotlight those 80's acts that were inducted over the last decade: some were drama-filled, some were overdue,  and some were just right. Time...

Episode 109: Breaking news in Tidbits, along with some MTV Classic discussion. Was Billy Idol always so hot? Survey says: Yes. With voting for the 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame completed, it's time for another look at the 80's acts which have already been inducted. Detective Kari has uncovered some information that was missing from part one, but apparently we may never get all of the a...

Episode 108: MTV Classic shows up in the tidbits...is anyone else watching this channel?? It's Joe's new obsession. Joe and Kari then take a look at the now defunct Cash Box charts. What was sitting at Number 100 on this date throughout the 80's? Anything worth listening to these days? Short answer: not really!!  Top of the Pops is next. A discussion about what was hitting Number On...