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4 Forgotten Pop Hits From 1982 That Still Sound Fresh Today
The article revisits four 1982 pop hits it argues have been overshadowed by other music from that year but remain worth hearing.
– The Motels’ “Only The Lonely” reached No. 9 in the US, aided by its music video. – Juice Newton’s “Love’s Been A Little Bit Hard On Me” peaked at No. 7 and earned a Grammy nomination. – Ronnie Milsap’s cover of “Any Day Now” topped US country and adult-contemporary charts, reaching No. 14 on the Hot 100. – Eddie Money’s “Think I’m In Love” reached No. 16 on the Hot 100 and No. 1 on Top Rock Tracks.
In short
- Four overlooked 1982 hits are highlighted.
- Several achieved strong US chart positions.
- The selections span pop, country and rock.
Explained simply
1982 was a prolific year for pop music in the United States, with many songs achieving commercial success through radio play and music video exposure. However, not all commercially successful songs from that year have remained equally memorable, with some being overshadowed by other popular releases.
Four artists achieved significant chart success in 1982 with songs that have since become less prominent in popular memory: The Motels with "Only The Lonely", Juice Newton with "Love's Been A Little Bit Hard On Me", Ronnie Milsap with "Any Day Now" and Eddie Money with "Think I'm In Love". Each recording reached high positions on American charts at the time.
These recordings generated substantial radio and video airplay when released and earned recognition such as Grammy nominations and top positions on specialist charts. The article examines these four songs, which have since become less central to discussions of 1982's pop music, and reconsiders their musical merits.