80’s at 8: January 10, 2023- Loverboy & Rick Springfield
Tonight’s 80’s at 8 is full of guitars and synthesizers and the first track was from Loverboy‘s 1980 self-titled album Turn Me Loose. It has a strong-sounding rock synthesizer start…
MOUNT POCONO, PA – APRIL 18: Rick Springfield performs on stage during the ‘Stripped Down’ tour at Mount Airy Casino Resort on April 18, 2015 in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Lisa Lake/Getty Images for Mount Airy Lodge)
Tonight's 80's at 8 is full of guitars and synthesizers and the first track was from Loverboy's 1980 self-titled album Turn Me Loose.
It has a strong-sounding rock synthesizer start to the song, followed by a steady build on the guitars, which reached #6 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and #35 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The album was certified Double Platinum in the US and reached #13 on the BB 200 album chart. AllMusic gave the album a rave retrospective review, noting how much they loved the hybrid musical styles on most of the songs and stating that "Turn Me Loose" and "The Kid Is Hot Tonight" as the strongest tracks on the album.
Check out the music video for "Turn Me Loose" by Loverboy here:
The second synth and guitar-heavy track comes from an artist and song that is exclusive to the 80's at 8 on Rockturnal with Scotty B. It comes from Rick Springfield's 1983 album Living in Oz .
This was Rick's seventh album, it was certified platinum in the US and reached #12 on the Billboard 200 album chart. The album's title is an allusion to living in Australia (Oz = Australia). Affair of the Heart was a big hit for Rick Springfield. It reached # 9 on the Billboard hot 100. It was the fourth of Springfield's five Top 10 hits to date.
"Affair of the Heart" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance in 1984 but lost to "Beat It" by Michael Jackson. Cash Box Magazine said the song "shows a greater use of synthesizers and a hardened guitar sound" than previous Springfield songs, but retains his ability to create a powerful refrain.
I think Rick Springfield should be in the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame! I saw him in concert at the Leon County Civic Center in Tallahassee, Fl in 1984 and I can tell you that it is one of the best concerts I have ever seen.
You can check out the music video for Affair of the Heart by Rick Springfield here:
Many of the albums that turn 40 in 2023 represent some of the greatest albums of all time. Some of the artists that released albums in 1983 that went on to become classics include The Police, U2, David Bowie, Motley Crue, Def Leppard, Cyndi Lauper and more.
Scroll below to see which albums turn 40 in 2023.
Def Leppard - ‘Pyromania’
Released on January 20, 1983.
The Police - ‘Synchronicity’
Released on June 17, 1983.
Lionel Richie - ‘Can’t Slow Down’
Released on October 11, 1983.
Eurythmics - ‘Touch’
Released on November 14, 1983.
Dio - ‘Holy Diver’
Released on May 25, 1983.
Talking Heads - ‘Speaking in Tongues’
Released on June 1, 1983.
U2 - ‘War’
Released on February 28, 1983.
Tears for Fears - ‘The Hurting’
Released on March 7, 1983.
David Bowie - ‘Let’s Dance’
Released on April 14, 1983.
R.E.M. - ‘Murmur’
Released on April 12, 1983.
Iron Maiden - ‘Piece of Mind’
Released on May 16, 1983.
Metallica - ‘Kill ‘Em All’
Released on July 25, 1983.
ZZ Top - ‘Eliminator’
Released on March 23, 1983.
Bob Dylan - ‘Infidels’
Released on October 27, 1983.
Motley Crue - ‘Shout at the Devil’
Released on September 26, 1983.
Ozzy Osbourne - ‘Bark at the Moon’
Released in December 1983.
Slayer - ‘Show No Mercy’
Released in December 1983.
Pink Floyd - ‘The Final Cut’
Released on March 21, 1983.
Cyndi Lauper - ‘She’s So Unusual’
Released on October 14, 1983.
Culture Club - ‘Colour by Numbers’
Released on October 10, 1983.
Billy Joel - ‘An Innocent Man’
Released on August 8, 1983.
AC/DC - ‘Flick of the Switch’
Released on August 15, 1983.
KISS - ‘Lick It Up’
Released on September 18, 1983.
The Rolling Stones - ‘Undercover'
Released on November 7, 1983.
Elton John - ‘Too Low for Zero’
Released on May 30, 1983.
Paul McCartney - ‘Pipes of Peace’
Released on October 31, 1983.
Yes - ‘90125’
Released on November 11, 1983.
Stevie Ray Vaughan - ‘Texas Flood’
Released on June 13, 1983.
Depehe Mode - ‘Construction Time Again’
Released on August 22, 1983.
Quiet Riot - ‘Metal Health’
Released on March 11, 1983.
Bryan Adams - ‘Cuts Like a Knife’
Released on January 18, 1983.
Robert Plant - ‘The Principle of Moments’
Released on July 11, 1983.
Madonna - ‘Madonna’
Released on July 27, 1983.
Billy Idol - ‘Rebel Yell’
Released on November 10, 1983.
