This week, 32 years ago, gamers were enjoying the first month of the release of Nintendo's "Donkey Kong Jr.," MLB pitcher Gaylord Perry was ejected from a game for throwing a spitball and the following songs were the most popular in the United States, according to Billboard's Hot 100 chart archive.
10. "Take it Away," Paul McCartney
(Sort-of) mini Beatles reunion! Yep, Ringo Starr and producer George Martin are featured on this track.
9. "Wasted on the Way," Crosby, Stills & Nash
Call it a comeback: This was the trio's first big hit in five years.
8. "Vacation," the Go-Go's
I may be wrong, but this could be the only song that has been covered by both Kelly Clarkson and Alvin and the Chipmunks and the Chippettes, as well as featured in a Michael Moore movie ("Fahrenheit 9/11").
7. "Keep the Fire Burnin'," REO Speedwagon
80s afro perfection, thy name is Kevin Cronin.
6. "Even the Nights Are Better," Air Supply
Australian soft rock never got better. The question is: Did they expect the nights to get worse? I would think it would have been a given that they would improve with new love.
5. "Hard to Say I'm Sorry," Chicago
Apparently, people in August 1982 were very much in need of soft rock ballads.
4. "Hold Me," Fleetwood Mac
Weekend Watch
Band member Christine McVie wrote this with Robbie Patton, who opened for Fleetwood Mac on their 1979 tour.
3. "Abracadabra," the Steve Miller Band
I always wondered how long it took Steve Miller to rhyme "abracadabra" with "grab ya."
2. "Hurts So Good," John Cougar
Before he dtiched the "Cougar" moniker for his real last name, "Mellencamp," the guy was busy putting out solid, hummable rock hits like this one. His follow-up single? "Jack & Diane."
1. "Eye of the Tiger," Survivor
Survivor owes Sylvester Stallone a lot. "Eye of the Tiger" was written at Stallone's request after he couldn't get permission to use Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" in "Rocky III." This song became the film's theme instead, and the rest is awesome '80s rock history.