There are three former countdown chart-toppers that listeners to Barry Scott’s “The Lost 45s” don’t even vote for anymore, all from a five year stretch in the late ‘70s/early ‘80s: Abba, “Dancing Queen”; Rupert Holmes, “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)”; and Rick Springfield, “Jessie’s Girl.” With the passage of time, those songs all became staples at AC, then Classic Hits and/or Adult Hits stations. But in the early years of the show–launched in 1985 at non-comm WERS Boston, and now heard in more than 50 markets–they were considered too goofy for the radio.
That’s why Scott’s annual Top 100 countdown is always interesting. Most of the songs that make the countdown aren’t going to become radio staples. But, like this year’s No. 1 song, Corey Hart’s “Never Surrender,” some have no whiff of novelty. And one or two may eventually become a regular rotation radio song again. (The No. 29 song, New Edition’s “Cool It Now” may have a hometown connection, but all things N.E.-related seem to be on an upswing now.)
Scott’s countdown is streaming at www.lost45.com. Here’s this year’s list:
1. NEVER SURRENDER – COREY HART
2. Chevy Van – Sammy Johns
3. Theme from “Greatest American Hero” – Joey Scarbury
4. Enjoy Yourself – Jacksons
5. What About Me – Moving Pictures
6. I Feel Love – Donna Summer
7. Da Doo Ron Ron – Shaun Cassidy
8. Break My Stride – Matthew Wilder
9. Xanadu – Olivia Newton-John & ELO
10. Don’t Talk to Strangers – Rick Springfield
11. Love is Thicker Than Water – Andy Gibb
12. Dark Lady – Cher
13. They Don’t Know – Tracey Ullman
14. Seasons in the Sun – Terry Jacks
15. Afternoon Delight – Starland Vocal Band
16. I’ve Got the Music In Me – Kiki Dee
17. Rock Me Amadeus – Falco
18. I Think I Love You – Partridge Family
19. Getaway – Earth, Wind & Fire
20. I’ve Done Everything for You – Rick Springfield
21. Rockin’ Chair – Gwen McCrae
22. Undercover Angel – Alan O’Day
23. Pop Musik – M
24. Morning Train (9 to 5) – Sheena Easton
25. Give It Up – KC
26. Love Will Keep Us Together – Captain & Tennille
27. It’s a Miracle – Barry Manilow
28. Billy, Don’t Be a Hero – Bo Donaldson & Heywoods
29. Cool It Now – New Edition
30. Rock Me Gently – Andy Kim
31. The Last Song – Edward Bear
32. Safety Dance – Men Without Hats
33. Down by the Lazy River – Osmonds
34. Hot Line – Sylvers
35. Freedom – Wham!
36. Heartbeat—It’s a Lovebeat – DeFranco Family
37. Take a Chance On Me – ABBA
38. Little Willy – Sweet
39. Miss Me Blind – Culture Club
40. Stumblin’ In – Suzi Quatro/Chris Norman
41. The Night Chicago Died – Paper Lace
42. Only in My Dreams – Debbie Gibson
43. Tired of Toein’ the Line – Rocky Burnette
44. I’ve Got to Use My Imagination – Gladys Knight & the Pips
45. I Missed Again – Phil Collins
46. Life is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me) – Reunion
47. Sky High – Jigsaw
48. Bad Time – Grand Funk
49. She’s a Bad Mama Jama – Carl Carlton
50. Southern Nights – Glen Campbell
51. Hooked on a Feeling – Blue Swede
52. Tell Me Something Good – Rufus
53. One Bad Apple – Osmonds
54. Tragedy – Bee Gees
55. Love is Like Oxygen – Sweet
56. Bad Boy – Miami Sound Machine
57. Driver’s Seat – Sniff ‘n’ the Tears
58. Half-Breed – Cher
59. Daybreak – Barry Manilow
60. Love Will Save the Day – Whitney Houston
61. Love Takes Time – Orleans
62. Atomic – Blondie
63. Magic – Pilot
64. Alive Again – Chicago
65. Video Killed the Radio Star – Buggles
66. Him – Rupert Holmes
67. Mamma Mia – ABBA
68. I Was Made for Dancin’ – Leif Garrett
69. Dance with Me – Peter Brown
70. I Only Want to be with You – Bay City Rollers
71. Makin’ It – David Naughton
72. Yes We Can Can – Pointer Sisters
73. Let’s Get Serious – Jermaine Jackson
74. Julie, Do You Love Me? – Bobby Sherman
75. In Your Letter – REO Speedwagon
76. Shake It – Ian Matthews
77. She Bop – Cyndi Lauper
78. Knock Three Times – Dawn
79. Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia – Vicki Lawrence
80. Smooth Criminal – Michael Jackson
81. Kung Fu Fighting – Carl Douglas
82. Fool (If You Think It’s Over) – Chris Rea
83. Beautiful Sunday – Daniel Boone
84. Stop & Smell the Roses – Mac Davis
85. That’s Rock & Roll – Shaun Cassidy
86. All I Know – Art Garfunkel
87. Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing – Stevie Wonder
88. Vacation – Go-Go’s
89. Strawberry Letter #23 – Brothers Johnson
90. Don’t Call Us (We’ll Call You) – Sugarloaf/Jerry Corbetta
91. Papa Don’t Preach – Madonna
92. Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance) – Leo Sayer
93. Sad Sweet Dreamer – Sweet Sensation
94. Beth – KISS
95. Mama Used to Say – Junior
96. Beach Baby – First Class
97. Old Fashioned Boy – Stallion
98. Love is in the Air – John Paul Young
99. Get Down – Gilbert O’Sullivan
100. Come and Get Your Love – Redbone