Flashback: Billboard 1980

 Hello everyone. In my last flashback post of 2022, I did an entry regarding my top 100 songs based on data from Radio & Records magazine. Today for the first flashback of 2023, I thought I would do the same, only this time using Billboard magazine. Methodology for making this chart is the same as the one from the previous entry. So, without further ado, here were my top 100 songs according to data from Billboard Magazine for the year 1980:

100. I Can't Help It by Andy Gibb & Olivia Newton-John (211 points, peaked at #12)
  99. One In A Million You by Larry Graham (211, peaked at #9)
  98. All Over The World by Electric Light Orchestra (212)
  97. Every Woman In The World by Air Supply (216)
  96. In America by Charlie Daniels Band (220)
  95. Pilot Of The Airwaves by Charlie Dore (229)
  94. You're The Only Woman (You And I) by Ambrosia (230)
  93. Hold On To My Love by Jimmy Ruffin (234)
  92. Hot Rod Hearts by Robbie Dupree (245)
  91. Guilty by Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb (250)

  90. Don't Do Me Like That by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (251)
  89. An American Dream by Dirt Band (254)
  88. One Fine Day by Carole King (260)
  87. Please Don't Go by KC & The Sunshine Band (261)
  86. We Don't Talk Anymore by Cliff Richard (263)
  85. Romeo's Tune by Steve Forbert (265)
  84. Into The Night by Benny Mardones (275, peaked at #11)
  83. Off The Wall by Michael Jackson (275, peaked at #10)
  82. Brass In Pocket by The Pretenders (281)
  81. This Is It by Kenny Loggins (286)

  80. Daydream Believer by Anne Murray (294)
  79. Jessie by Carly Simon (297)
  78. Whip It by Devo (303)
  77. The Long Ru by The Eagles (305)
  76. She's Out Of My Life by Michael Jackson (307)
  75. Let Me Love You Tonight by Pure Prairie League (313, peaked at #10)
  74. Let My Love Open The Door by Pete Townshend (313, peaked at #9)
  73. You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling by Hall & Oates (320)
  72. Xanadu by Olivia Newton-John & ELO (322)
  71. Hit Me With Your Best Shot by Pat Benatar (325)

  70. Hungry Heart by Bruce Springsteen (330, peaked at #5)
  69. Send One You Love by Stevie Wonder (330, peaked at #4)
  68. Tired Of Toein' The Line by Rocky Burnette (340)
  67. How Do I Make You by Linda Ronstadt (342)
  66. Stomp! by The Brothers Johnson (353, peaked at #7, two wks in Top Ten)
  65. Sara by Fleetwood Mac (353, peaked at #7, five wks in Top Ten)
  64. Dreaming by Cliff Richard (360)
  63. Let's Get Serious by Jermaine Jackson (373)
  62. The Second Time Around by Shalamar (379)
  61. You May Be Right by Billy Joel (386)

  60. Hurt So Bad by Linda Ronstadt (387)
  59. More Love by Kim Carnes (409, peaked at #10)
  58. I Can't Tell You Why by The Eagles (409, peaked at #8)
  57. I'm Alright by Kenny Loggins (417)
  56. Fire Lake by Bob Seger (424)
  55. Him by Rupert Holmes (425)
  54. Real Love by The Doobie Brothers (436)
  53. Love On The Rocks by Neil Diamond (442)
  52. Lookin' For Love by Johnny Lee (458) 
  51. Cars by Gary Numan (490)

  50. Special Lady by Ray, Goodman, and Brown (496)
  49. On The Radio by Donna Summer (522)
  48. Never Knew Love Like This by Stephanie Mills (523)
  47. Too Hot by Kool & The Gang (532)
  46. Against The Wind by Bo Seger (535)
  45. (Just Like) Starting Over by John Lennon* (536)
  44. Escape (The Pina Colada Song)* by Rupert Holmes (538)
  43. I'm Coming Out by Diana Ross (544)
  42. Late In The Evening by Paul Simon (546)
  41. Drivin' My Life Away by Eddie Rabbitt (547)

  40. Fame by Irene Cara (582)
  39. Shining Star by The Manhattans (592)
  38. Sexy Eyes by Dr. Hook (598)
  37. Steal Away by Robbie Dupree (605)
  36. Give Me The Night by George Benson (614, two wks at #4)
  35. Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer by Kenny Rogers w/ Kim Carnes (614, three wks at #4)
  34. Master Blaster (Jammin') by Stevie Wonder (634)
  33. The Wanderer by Donna Summer (636)
  32. With You I'm Born Again by Billy Preston & Syreeta (638)
  31. Cruisin' by Smokey Robinson (651)

  30. Desire by Andy Gibb (661)
  29. Take Your Time (Do It Right) by The SOS Band (664)
  28. More Than Words Can Say by Leo Sayer (671)
  27. Coward Of The County by Kenny Rogers (672)
  26. He's So Shy by The Pointer Sisters (674)
  25. Yes, I'm Ready by KC with Teri DeSario (683)
  24. Longer by Dan Fogelberg (695)
  23. Cupid/I've Loved You For A Long Time by The Spinners (698)
  22. Biggest Part Of Me by Ambrosia (735)
  21. Emotional Rescue by The Rolling Stones (741)

  20. Sailing by Christopher Cross* (763)
  19. Lost In Love by Air Supply (783)
  18. Working My Way Back To You by The Spinners (808)
  17. The Rose by Bette Midler (815)
  16. Ride Like The Wind by Christopher Cross (955)
  15. Little Jeannie by Elton John (969)
  14. All Out Of Love by Air Supply (998)  
  13. Rock With You by Michael Jackson* (1,013)
  12. Funkytown by Lipps, Inc.* (1,084)
  11. Magic by Olivia Newton-John* (1,086)

  10. Do That To Me One More Time by Captain & Tennille* (1,096)
    9. Lady by Kenny Rogers* (1,194)
    8. It's Still Rock & Roll To Me by Billy Joel* (1,219)
    7. Woman In Love by Barbra Streisand* (1,278)
    6. Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen* (1,313)
    5. Another Brick In The Wall (Part II) by Pink Floyd* (1,336)
    4. Coming Up by Paul McCartney * (1,344)
    3. Upside Down by Diana Ross* (1,425)
    2. Call Me by Blondie* (1,469)

    1. Another One Bites the Dust by Queen* (1,580)

So, as you may have been able to tell, there were many differences between this chart and the one I posted last week. First, Billboard back in those days were sales based, where as Radio & Records was based on airplay, and the data that was used then was somewhat inexact. I think in those days, disc jockeys had to mark down what they played and submit that list to the music director/program director of the radio station they worked for, who in turn submitted that list via phone to the magazine. 

But anyway, that's what I tabulated from Billboard for the year 1980. I don't know yet whether I'll do a combined chart (R/R & Billboard), but I'm thinking about it. Regardless that's all for now, enjoy your Thursday night.

More to come

CT