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 until they each located a copy of the soundtrack in different record stores. Songs from Altered Images and Modern Romance are discussed. Next up is Fatal Beauty, a movie that Joe watched quite a bit as a child, for some reason? Music from Shannon, The System, and (most importantly) Madame X is highlighted. 

Could've Been So Beautiful: The segment that swaps out overrated top 20 hits for lesser known "hits" makes a return to HRT80s. Find out which frenetic songs are swapped out for songs that deserved so much more. 

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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 Adult Contemporary songs, ranked by Radio and Records. You'll hear about AC hits from Dave Mason and Phoebe Snow, Manhattan Transfer, and Donna Summer, among others. Plus the countdown features highlights from the career of one Mr. Al Jarreau! You won't want to miss this one!

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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 superstar Dionne Warwick, and freestyle legend Stevie B.

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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 the perfect playlist for anyone out there who has a difficult task ahead of them, and he discusses with Joe and Kari some of the songs he chose. It's a very varied playlist so get ready for discussion about acts like Joan Jett, Duran Duran, Salt N Pepa, Mötley Crüe and Keith Sweat. 

Links to the playlist:

On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5tbIn56sDIQjf2Bj0K8d82?si=sN1eKGIEQPy51gd71dnCRw 

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/lets-mow-all-the-way/pl.u-ArPpTE4bma

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Episode 211: Let's take it back, y'all! We are going back to June 13, 1981, and perusing the pages of Billboard magazine. There's an ad for an up-and-coming singer named John Schneider, who was wowing audiences on the show The Dukes of Hazzard. Does this good ol' boy have what it takes to conquer the Hot 100? More ink is spilled for acts like Frankie Beverly and Maze, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and Gang of Four. Joe and Kari discuss the songs behind the ads and articles! 

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Episode 210: The weather is getting hotter, and that can mean only one thing -- Global Warming! Just kidding -- Joe and Kari rounded up some of the best 80's songs about everyone's favorite season, Summer! Songs from APB, Diesel, James Taylor, and Don Henley are gonna make you SWEAT! 

That's What Friends Are For: A look back at 1980 when Elvis Costello needed some assistance with a vocal, and he called on his friends from the band Squeeze!

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Episode 209: Happy National Jennifer Day! Joe and Kari are here to make sure you celebrate responsibly. The plan was to discuss multiple Jennifer's of the 80's, but the research on singer Jennifer Warnes proved much more fruitful than expected. She is most well known for songs from the soundtracks to An Officer and a Gentleman and Dirty Dancing, but there is so much more! This deep dive includes a few detours to discuss songs from non-Jennifers as well. 

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Episode 208: It's time for a super-sized edition of Just A Bit Outside, the segment that looks at songs that peaked outside the Top 40. From 1980, we've got R&B from the Bar-Kays, Southern (Scottish) Rock from Nazareth, a Country single from Mac Davis, and whatever genre Korona fits into. 1989 brings songs from Regina Belle and Icehouse, who had quite a few underrated songs throughout the whole decade. 

O, Canada: More songs from the CBC list of the Best Canadian Songs of the 80's, including tunes from Strange Advance and Chilliwack offshoot The Headpins. 

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Episode 207: Joe and Kari are always thrilled to get listener suggestions! First, from Matt B., a look at an act that started out in 1982, Everything But the Girl. True, they are probably best known for their hit from the 90's, but their 80's output is definitely worth checking out. Then, listener Alex suggested a few songs from Minor Detail and Polyrock. And finally, Blair's suggestion becomes a segment called Could've Been So Beautiful: a look at some big hits from 1989 that maybe were TOO big, and a couple of lesser known hits from the same chart that should've charted much higher. Thanks for all the suggestions, and keep 'em coming!

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Episode 206: First in Tidbits -- surely you've heard the news about the inductees for this year's class of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and now Joe and Kari offer their two cents on who got snubbed. 

Kari's Record Store Haul: A trip to MadCity Music in Madison, WI proved fruitful for Kari. In this episode, we take a look and some of the finds of the day. Albums from The Pretenders, Roachford, Wang Chung and others are discussed, along with some of the pivotal tracks from each. Also included, albums from a couple of Joe and Kari's absolute favorites of the decade: Eurythmics and Split Enz. 

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