Join your hosts, Joe Christopher and Kari Race, as they discuss all the outrageous hits, and those deeper hits, from the 80's! Which songs still hold up today, which songs should be left in the 80's, and which ones are hidden gems? We'll cover the well-known hits from the decade (Ghostbusters, anyone?), and even songs that you haven't heard in 30 years (paging Karla Bonoff). Dust off your Members Only jacket, crack open a Pepsi Free, and join us for segments like "Just a Bit Outside" and "Co ...
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Send us a Text Message. There are no words to describe the loss of producer David, but Kari gives it a try.By Joe Christopher and Kari Race
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 260: Joe and Kari are going back to July 17, 1982, to peruse an issue of Billboard magazine (Thank you, Monty Greeley). You'll hear about articles and ads featuring Jimmy Spicer and The B.B. & Q Band, and some more familiar names like Carly Simon and Robert Plant. Kari's happy to discuss Bonnie Hayes, and Joe always …
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 259: Happy Pride Month, all! Joe and Kari have a great episode this week inspired by an idea from friend of the podcast Dom! Prepare to build a rainbow using 80's songs, albums, and bands that use colors in their names: "Orange Crush" by REM, "Red Light" by Linda Clifford, the Moody Blues, you get the picture! So man…
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 258: First up in Tidbits, a little update about the other 80's movies that Joe and Kari watched during their time together. First segment: revisiting the Billboard list of the 100 Best Pop Songs that didn't reach the Hot 100. Joe and Kari discuss entries from Grace Jones, Duran Duran, Violent Femmes, Kate Bush, and N…
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 257: We're back! Joe and Kari were actually in the same room for the new episode of HRT80s! They had a LOT to catch up on for Tidbits, including their review of the Cyndi Lauper documentary, so make sure you've watched it before you listen (or just skip to 20:49). The main segment is all about Joe's recent record sto…
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 256: Great news, everyone! The dust has settled on last week's tiff. Joe and Kari (and their agents) have worked out an agreement to get the two back in the studio. It's time to get back into the music of Moonlighting. How accurate is Showrunner Glenn Gordon's Caron claim that they were able to retain the vast majori…
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 255: After multiple delays, the Moonlighting episode is finally here! Much like the iconic television series itself, this episode of HRT80s has been plagued by delays, behind the scenes tension, and inflated egos. But one thing is for sure, you will hear all about the legendary theme song by Al Jarreau (and its many …
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 254: It's time for Part Two of our look at the British Top 30, innit? You may remember that in Episode 249, Joe and Kari discussed one of Kari's recent record store finds: The British Top 30 from June 23, 1985, brought to you by Dave Eastwood and Radio Luxembourg. They are picking it up at number 15, a song by Gary M…
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More, More, More Obscure Soundtrack Songs
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 253: Joe and Kari posed a question to the listeners of HRT80s a bit ago -- what's your favorite obscure soundtrack song? They received so many great suggestions that they couldn't all be used in one episode, so this week's episode is a continuation. You'll hear about songs from movies like Teachers, Dirty Dancing, an…
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Send us a Text Message. Your hosts are back after celebrating their milestone event with a whole slew of tidbits. They have something for everyone: documentary news, musical news, Rock Hall inductees, and Joe give his mini report of on Record Store Day. Then it’s time for the main event: Attack of the Killer B-Sides! Not bees, although those were a…
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 250 (Part 2) (Taylor's Version) is here! The celebration continues, but Joe and Kari had to record a bit of new stuff to cover some pressing tidbits. And then it's BACK to Just a Bit Outside to cover more of those songs that didn't hit the Top 40. Then friend of the podcast Michael plays Quizmaster to finish out the …
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 250 is here! Join Joe and Kari for Part One of the milestone episode. They welcome friend of the podcast Michael to the show for a supersized Just a Bit Outside segment, for a look at those songs that hit the Hot 100, but didn't make it to the famed Top 40. You'll hear about songs from Shooting Star, Guy, Grace Slick…
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 249: This episode is inspired by Kari's trip to the record store, where she uncovered a set called "The British Top 30 Show." The countdown is from June 16, 1985, but is it based on the official UK Charts? Definitely not, but the jury is still out on where these rankings really came from. What can be confirmed is tha…
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 248: Let's go back in time to March 26, 1983! That's the date on the issue of Billboard magazine that Joe and Kari have chosen to peruse (and you can do the same at www.worldradiohistory.com). Let's take a look at some of the ink splashed for artists like Simple Minds, The Bar-Kays, and Ultravox. You'll also hear abo…
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 247: Multiple tidbits this week, including the lineup for the 2025 80’s Cruise, and a tribute to Eric Carmen. You Don’t Have to Yell! Did you ever notice that multiple 80’s song titles include exclamation points in them? What’s the deal with that?? Joe and Kari take a look at some songs from Scritti Politti, Donnie I…
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 246: Obscure Soundtrack Songs. Joe and Kari asked for suggestions on the FB page (follow it, if you aren't already!) They got some great recommendations from Bill G., David N. and Kindra K., including songs from Streets of Fire, Pretty in Pink and The Lost Boys, which actually has a ton of great songs! You'll hear ab…
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 245: Grab your party hats and noisemakers, it's time to celebrate some birthdays for some of your favorite musicians of the 80's! Cindy Wilson of the B-52s, Neal Schon of Journey (and numerous other bands), Robyn Hitchcock, and Tone Loc are all Pisces. Find out more about these acts and others in this week's episode …
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 244: It's time to consult The 80's Music Compendium for another list of songs with the longest piano solos. It's not that surprising to find songs from Elton John, Stevie Wonder, and Carole King. But Sheena Easton and Heart, what are you doing here? Segment two is another round of the ongoing quiz series, with accomp…
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 243: Lots of Odds and Ends to discuss this week, so we've got a super-sized Tidbit section for you all! Even though Kari did her best to ignore it, the Rock Hall nominees for 2024 need to be discussed. Who got snubbed? Who was deserving? More tidbits come courtesy of Michael H. and Blair (thanks for the suggestions).…
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 242: So many tidbits! You won't even believe it, and Joe and Kari left out a big one (to be discussed at a later date, maybe!!). Main topic: R&B Superstars, including some musicians with a ton of R&B hits (and not just in the 80's), like Chaka Khan and Gladys Knight and the Pips. You'll also hear about Evelyn "Champa…
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 241: This segment idea comes courtesy of friend of the podcast, Dom. Way back in episode 5, we discussed some actors who were "moonlighting" as pop singers, so why not focus on some actresses who tried it as well? We start off with some actors associated with the classic show The Facts of Life: Lisa Welchel, Kim Fiel…
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Yes, and? Best Pop Songs Which Never Hit the Hot 100
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 240: Time for part two of our series highlighting the Best Pop Songs NEVER to Hit the Hot 100, according to Billboard Magazine. Why did great songs from Change, Tears for Fears, Womack and Womack, Bruce Springsteen and others NOT hit the Hot 100? Billboard has their reasons, which are myriad (Heathers reference, nail…
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 239: Order in the court! HRT80s Court is in session, and Joe and Kari object... to artists ripping off other artists. Of course, they try to be fair and hear both sides, so you can also decide if the audio evidence is enough to convict. This week's docket includes Kid Creole and the Coconuts v. Bananarama, and Ollie …
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 238: It's time to go "Just a Bit Outside" to check out some singles that hit the Hot 100 but DIDN'T make the Top 40. This week, we'll hear singles from Neil Diamond and Jennifer Warnes, and a couple from the Great White North from Red Rider and Anne Murray. It's not all Adult Contemporary, though! The singles from 19…
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 237: Happy New Year, folks! Joe and Kari are starting off 2024 with a bang! They've chosen their Top Five Number One singles of the 80's and discuss each one's merits. They also discuss live versions, demos, or remixes. Get ready for chatter about Genesis, Janet Jackson, Bruce Hornsby & The Range, Cyndi Lauper, and m…
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Send us a Text Message. It’s a very special episode of HRT80s and it’s dropping right smack dab in the middle of the busy holiday season. As we get ready for a new year, let’s take a look at some songs that hit the Hot 100 at the end of 1989. Some of these are definitely considered more “90’s” but since they debuted in 1989, they are fair game for …
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 235: Time for a trip back through time, to August 27, 1983 to be exact. That's the date on the front of the issue of Billboard that Joe procured at the antique mall, but you can follow along at worldradiohistory.com if you like. This episode is a review of the ads and articles from the issue, like ads for Louise Mand…
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 234: It's time for another Grab Bag episode -- Joe and Kari are taking listener suggestions (as well as their own suggestions to each other) to discuss some songs that just didn't fit into any other episodes. Thanks to listener Wes for his suggestion on Contemporary Christian artists in the 80's. Steve Taylor and The…
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 233: Think back to Episode 229 from a few weeks ago, when Joe and Kari discussed in Tidbits the list of the 500 Best Pop Songs from Billboard. If you remember, part of the criteria included that the song HAD to chart on the Hot 100 to qualify. Well, the people at Billboard put together ANOTHER list of the 100 Best Po…
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 232: Yes, Joe and Kari attended the Darker Waves Festival, and they lived to tell the tale! On the podcast! Their review kicks off this episode, find out what they liked (OMD! English Beat!) and what they didn't like (Lines! People! Paying for beer!). Since World AIDS Day is December 1st, Joe and Kari are taking a lo…
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 231: If you haven't heard Joe and Kari discuss this in previous episodes, they are traveling to Huntington Beach, CA this week to attend the Darker Waves Festival! The lineup is STACKED with artists that have been discussed on HRT80s many times, but this episode is dedicated to some of the lesser-known bands like The…
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 230: This week's episode is a very special one, as Joe and Kari welcome their first international guest to the podcast: Listener Dom from New Zealand! Dom has been kind enough to suggest some of the segments that we've brought to you on HRT80s, and this week, we get to know the man behind the ideas, and what exactly …
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 229: Spooky Halloween Edition! Since this episode drops on Halloween, Joe and Kari took some listener suggestions on their favorite creepy songs of the 80's. Toto Coelo sang a love song about Dracula, Whodini warned us that the freaks come out at night, and Ministry gave us a goth anthem with "Everyday is Halloween."…
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Countdown America Part II: February 18, 1989
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 228: As promised, here is Part Two of the recap of the Countdown America program from February 18, 1989. Dick Clark hosted this syndicated radio program that used the Top 30 Adult Contemporary charts from Radio and Records magazine. In the upper reaches of the countdown, we have songs from Vanessa Williams, Anita Bak…
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 227: This episode is only for the Jackée stans!!! That's right: HRT80s is celebrating 227 episodes this week! And we asked the listeners to tell us their favorite TV Theme Songs for us to cover on the podcast. So get ready to hear about the theme songs to your favorite 80's shows: Perfect Strangers, Cheers, 227 (natc…
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Pumpkin Spice Lattes with Friend of the Podcast Michael
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 226: Please welcome to the podcast: Michael! He's joining the panel for HRT80s court, that segment that takes a look at some similar-sounding songs and asks, Who is at fault for this? Why does "Running Back to You" by Vanessa Williams sound a bit like "Right on Track" by the Breakfast Club? Does Bananarama owe some m…
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 225: Sometimes the tidbits are plentiful. This week, Joe and Kari discuss (deep breath): Cyndi Lauper's new musical, news of a Debbie Gibson memoir, Moonlighting comes to streaming finally, Pat Benatar's daughters new single, and news of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. PLUS, Joe's mini-review of th…
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 224: Joe and Kari had so much fun dissecting the National Music Survey in episode 214 that....well, they fell down the rabbit hole. One eBay purchase later, they're now the owner of several old 80's countdowns on vinyl. This week's episode takes a look at Countdown America from the week of February 18, 1989. It's the…
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 223: This week's episode is a grab bag, odds and ends that Joe and Kari have collected over the past few weeks due to Instagram stories, Apple Music playlists, and suggestions from Loyal Listeners. First up is a gem from Tina Yothers (!), yes she attempted a pop music takeover, but was she successful? Up next are a c…
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 222: Please welcome to the podcast, Kari's sister Jennifer! She gets the HRT80s rundown: favorite 80's music, 80's concerts, and our main topic, her favorite 80's Karaoke jams! You'll get info about the acts behind those karaoke classics -- Journey, Rick Astley, Pat Benetar, and...Clarence Carter?? Get to know more a…
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 221: This episode is inspired by another recent Kari find at the record store (she is on a roll!). Have you heard of the Secret Policeman's Ball? It's okay if you haven't because it's a secret! The UK fundraiser for Amnesty International dates back to 1976, but the 1987 event put a focus on music, and featured perfor…
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 220: First of all, we want to thank listener Giovanni for suggesting some songs to discuss during our episode devoted to Italo Disco! Synthesizer-heavy songs from Gazebo, Milva, and Via Verdi are discussed. The true star of the episode is the song (and video) "Future Brain" by Den Harrow (OR IS IT???) Then, Joe gets …
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 219: Joe and Kari are back from their break in a big way, the two were able to record an episode in the same room, an HRT80s Rarity! Kari starts off Tidbits with a review of the I Want My 80's Tour that is currently snaking around the USA. Just a Bit Outside: Time to highlight those non-top 40 singles, including a di…
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 218: Kari and Joe want to dress you up in their love... ew, not like that. Working with a suggestion from amazing listener Dom, we have put together an 80s outfit using the titles of songs. Get out your Wigs, Favourite Shirts and Goody Two Shoes and listen along. Quiz Time: Kari continues quizzing Joe with some (pret…
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 217: Jitterbug! Hot on the heels of the new Wham! documentary that is streaming on Netflix, Joe and Kari have ranked Wham's 12 singles. Which Wham! songs reached the upper echelon aka The Edge of Heaven? Listen to the latest ep and find out! Jitterbug! Quiz Time: Kari unearthed some 80's questions in a new series tha…
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 216: Long guitar solos and long beards, that's what this episode is all about! Of course, ZZ Top starts things off. What Joe wants to know is this -- if you tell someone "Give me all your lovin'" are the hugs and kisses implied? Or should they be specifically requested as well? Other guitar solos discussed include th…
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 215: First up in Tidbits: Joe and Kari's thoughts on the new Wham! documentary that is streaming on Netflix, so make sure you've watched it before listening (the doc is highly recommended!). Obscure Soundtrack Songs: If you've never heard of the movie Party Party, it's okay because Joe and Kari had never heard of it …
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 214: Does anyone know of the syndicated countdown special from the late 80's called National Music Survey? It's okay, Joe didn't know about it either until one magical day at the record store when he came across a copy of the countdown from January 20, 1988! This episode is a recap of the countdown -- the top 25 Adul…
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 213: Happy 4th of July, from Kari and Joe! Enjoy this rundown of songs that peaked at number 74 on the Hot 100 (get it?). Max Werner, The Call, and Heaven 17 are a few of the acts discussed, as well as a singer that had a huge hit down under! Just A Bit Outside: Songs that didn't hit the Top 40 include songs from sup…
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Send us a Text Message. Episode 212: This is a very special episode, folks, because Joe and Kari are welcoming a very special guest to the podcast: Chad! Chad is a friend of the podcast and a loyal listener since day one. He was very excited to discuss something very near and dear to his heart as a father and husband: mowing the lawn! Chad's got th…
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