J. Geils Band "Centerfold"

"Centerfold" was a single released by The J. Geils Band from their album Freeze Frame. The song is about a man who is shocked to discover that his high school crush did a centerfold spread for a male-oriented magazine. The song could be a reference to actress Angel Tompkins' relationship with Peter Wolf. It was released in the Fall of 1981, and eventually went to number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in February 1982, and stayed there for six weeks, and also reached number one on the Rock Tracks chart for three weeks, and on the ARIA Chart in Australia. It was the first single released from the band's album Freeze Frame and was an early staple on MTV. The band's lead singer Peter Wolf revealed on In the Studio with Redbeard that "Angel in Blue" was going to be the album's first single. Then during the "Angel in Blue" video shoot, Peter got a call from the president of EMI America Records suggesting that the band change the single's title to "Centerfold". In February 1983, a year after the song hit #1 in the US Billboard Hot 100, "Centerfold" peaked at #3 in the UK Top 40, earning The J. Geils Band their only major hit single in the UK, although follow-up "Freeze-Frame" was also a minor UK hit. [Wikipedia]

Mango Groove "Special Star"

Mango Groove is an 11 piece Afropop group formed in 1983 in Johannesburg, South Africa and fronted by lead singer Claire Johnston. They have sold more than 700,000 albums in South Africa alone, mostly with popular hits like "Dance Some More", "Special Star", "Hometalk" and "Nice To See You". Some of the highlights of Mango Groove’s career include: The direct satellite link-up to the The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in London in 1992 to an estimated audience of a billion people. Their performance in front of 200,000 people at a "Rock Against Racism" concert in Paris. Their performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival where they received 3 encores. Being the only African band to be invited to perform at the "Celebrate Hong Kong ‘97" Reunification Concert where they performed alongside Wet Wet Wet, Michael Learns to Rock and All-4-One. [Wikipedia]

Smokie "Living Next Door To Alice"

"Living Next Door to Alice" was originally released by the Australian vocal harmony trio New World in 1972 when the song charted at # 35 on the Australian chart. In November 1976, the English glam rock band Smokie released their version of the song. That song charted at No. 5 on the UK chart and, in March 1977, reached No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was a Number One hit in The Netherlands.

The song is about a young man's long-standing crush on Alice, the girl next door and neighbor of 24 years, which is left unrequited after she moves away. The protagonist had seen a limousine parked at Alice's home and begins to reflect on childhood memories and his friendship with Alice, and becomes heartbroken as he sees Alice get inside the limousine. As he watches the car drive out of sight, the protagonist feels angst over two things: 1. Alice leaving without explanation; and 2. That he did not use that second opportunity to express his feelings for her. Another female character in the song is Sally, another longtime neighbor of the main protagonist who is introduced early in the song. In the song's first verse, she reminds the protagonist of Alice's impending departure. Sally, who later tells the man that he now must get over Alice, then states that she is available. But the man — presumably left with Sally, whom he apparently believes is a less-desirable woman than Alice — reaffirms that he'll "never get used to not living next door to Alice." [Wikipedia]

Pussycat "Mississippi"

Mississippi was a popular single by Dutch group Pussycat. Written by Werner Theunissen and produced by Eddy Hilberts, Mississippi was the sole number one single for Pussycat, spending four weeks at number one on the UK singles chart in October 1976. The lyrics are about the history of music, how rock music became more popular than country music. [Wikipedia]