World news and discussion on TalkFuse.
3 Top 40 Hits From 1983 That Every 80s Kid Still Knows by Heart Today
Three familiar 1983 Top 40 hits are highlighted for their lasting recognition: Lionel Richie’s “Running With the Night”, Naked Eyes’ “Always Something There to Remind Me” and Tina Turner’s “Let’s Stay Together”. The article traces the songs’ performers and collaborators, showing how established songwriters and session musicians helped shape the records.
Richie co-wrote “Running With the Night” with Cynthia Weil, with backing vocals from Richard Marx and guitar and drums from Toto’s Steve Lukather and Jeff Porcaro. Naked Eyes’ debut single was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David and had earlier versions by Dionne Warwick, Sandie Shaw and the Carpenters. Turner’s recording, written by Al Green, Willie Mitchell and Al Jackson Jr., became her first solo Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100; she reached No. 1 the following year with “What’s Love Got to Do With It”.
In short
- Three memorable 1983 Top 40 hits are revisited.
- Their stories connect pop stars, songwriters and session musicians.
- Tina Turner’s version was her first solo Top 40 hit.
Explained simply
Top 40 is a chart of the most popular singles, and the US Billboard Hot 100 is one well-known example. The three songs were recorded by Lionel Richie, British duo Naked Eyes and Tina Turner, whose careers ranged from established solo stardom to a debut single.
The records also connect performers with songwriters and other musicians. Burt Bacharach and Hal David wrote “Always Something There to Remind Me”, first recorded by other artists before Naked Eyes released their version; Richie co-wrote “Running With the Night” with Cynthia Weil, while Turner recorded a song by Al Green, Willie Mitchell and Al Jackson Jr.
These links help explain how songs can outlast the moment they first chart. Turner’s recording marked her first solo US Top 40 hit, before she reached number one the next year with “What’s Love Got to Do With It”.