Toto "Africa"

Africa" is a song by rock band Toto. The song was included on their 1982 album Toto IV, and reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in February 1983 and number three on the UK Singles Chart the same month.

Arguably Toto’s most recognizable song, “Africa” hit Number 1 on the Billboard Charts in February 1983. It was almost cut from the Toto IV record prior to its release. Having spent an incredible amount of time producing the tune, the band became so tired of the song that they didn’t want it on the album. The song itself was very different from anything the band had done before, and some members felt that it didn’t sound like Toto. [Wikipedia]

Pink Floyd "Careful With That Axe Eugene"

Pink Floyd "Wish You Were Here"

Pink Floyd are an English rock band who initially earned recognition for their psychedelic and space rock music, and later, as they evolved, for their progressive rock music. Pink Floyd are known for philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album cover art, and elaborate live shows. One of rock music's most successful acts, the group have sold over 210 million albums worldwide[1][2][3] including 74.5 million albums in the United States.[4] Pink Floyd influenced progressive rock artists of the 1970s such as Genesis and Yes,[5] as well as contemporary artists such as Nine Inch Nails [6], and Dream Theater.[7] Pink Floyd were formed in London in 1965 when Syd Barrett moved down from Cambridge and joined The Tea Set, a group consisting of Regent Street Polytechnic architecture students Nick Mason, Roger Waters, Richard Wright and Bob Klose.[8] The group had moderate mainstream success and were one of the most popular bands in the London underground music scene in the late 1960s as a psychedelic band led by Syd Barrett. However, Barrett's erratic behaviour eventually led his colleagues to replace him with guitarist and singer David Gilmour. After Barrett's departure, singer and bass player Roger Waters gradually became the dominant force in the group by the late-1970s, until his departure from the group in 1985. The band had always been popular in England, though they did not achieve true worldwide success until the concept albums The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Wish You Were Here (1975), and Animals (1977), and the rock opera The Wall (1979).

In 1985, Waters declared Pink Floyd "a spent force", but the remaining members, led by Gilmour, continued recording and touring under the name Pink Floyd. Waters sued them for the name and eventually they reached a settlement out of court, under which Gilmour, Mason and Wright would continue as Pink Floyd. They again enjoyed worldwide success with A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987) and The Division Bell (1994). Waters performed with the band for the first time in 24 years on 2 July 2005 at the London Live 8 concert.

Dire Straits "Walk of Life"

Dire Straits were a British rock band, formed in 1977 by Mark Knopfler (vocals and lead guitar), his younger brother David Knopfler (rhythm guitar and vocals), John Illsley (bass guitar and vocals), and Pick Withers (drums and percussion), and managed by Ed Bicknell. Although the band was formed in an era when punk rock was at the forefront, Dire Straits played a more conventional style, albeit with a stripped-down sound that appealed to audiences also weary of the overproduced stadium rock of the 1970s. In their early days, Mark and David requested that pub owners turn down their sound so that patrons could converse while the band played, an indication of their unassuming demeanor. Despite this oddly self-effacing approach to rock and roll, Dire Straits soon became hugely successful, with their first album going multi-platinum globally.

Throughout Dire Straits' career Mark Knopfler was the songwriter and also the driving force behind the group. The band's best-known songs include "Sultans of Swing", "Romeo and Juliet", "Tunnel of Love", "Telegraph Road", "Private Investigations", "Money for Nothing", "Walk of Life", "So Far Away", "Brothers in Arms" and "Calling Elvis".

Toto "Angel Don't Cry"

Toto "Rosanna"

Toto was an American rock band founded in 1977[1] by some of the most popular and experienced session musicians of the era. The band enjoyed great commercial success in the 1980s, beginning with the band's self-titled debut, released in 1978, which immediately brought the band into the mainstream rock spectrum of the time. Continuing with 1982's critically acclaimed and commercially successful Toto IV, Toto became one of the biggest selling music groups of their era. They also composed the theme music for the film Dune. Although their popularity in the United States diminished in the 1990s and 2000s, they continued to tour and sold out arenas, clubs, and theaters internationally. Toto was known for their technical prowess in the studio, as well as a musical style that combines elements of pop, rock, soul, funk, progressive rock, hard rock, R&B, and jazz, and although they were regularly associated with the soft rock genre, and particularly the neo-progressive rock genre, this broad array of musical styles helped them appeal to a variety of musicians and non-musician listeners. The band released 17 albums and have sold over 30 million records to date.[1] Their 18th release Falling In Between Live, was released in August 2007. It had been recorded in March 2007 in Paris. As a result of guitarist Steve Lukather's departure from the band, Toto broke up after the last leg of their 2008 tour.

Irene Cara "Flahsdance [Flashdance]"

Flashdance is a musical/romance film released in April 1983. The film was the first collaboration of producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer and its presentation of some sequences in the style of music videos was an influence on other 1980s films including Top Gun, Simpson and Bruckheimer's most famous production. Flashdance opened to poor reviews by professional critics but was a box office success, becoming the 3rd highest grossing film of 1983 in the USA. Its soundtrack spawned several hit songs and the Academy Award-winning "Flashdance... What a Feeling" performed by Irene Cara which was written for the film. [Wikipedia]

Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes "(I've Had) the Time of My Life [Dirty Dancing]"

"(I've Had) The Time of My Life" was recorded by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes, after having been selected to be the finale song for the 1987 film Dirty Dancing by choreographer Kenny Ortega and his assistant Miranda Garrison (who also played Vivian in the film). Due to the massive success of Dirty Dancing, the single topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in November for one week. In the United Kingdom the song had two chart outings. Firstly, in November 1987 after the film's initial release the song peaked at #6, and again when the film was shown on mainstream television the song reached as high as #8 (January 1991). Awards: Academy Award for Best Original Song, 1987. Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, 1988. Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, 1988. [Wikipedia]

Dolly Parton "9 to 5 [Nine to Five]"

"9 to 5" is the title of a Grammy-winning, number-one song written and originally performed by Dolly Parton for the 1980 film comedy Nine to Five, starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Parton in her film debut. The film's title song garnered Parton an Academy Award nomination and four Grammy Award nominations, winning her the awards for "Best Country Song" and "Best Country Vocal Performance, Female". In addition to appearing on the film soundtrack, the song was the centerpiece of Parton's 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs album, released in late 1980. The song was released as a single in November 1980 and reached number one on both the Billboard Country Chart and the Billboard Hot 100 in January and February of 1981, respectively. For a time, the song became something of an anthem for office workers in the U.S., and as recently as 2004 Parton's song ranked number seventy-eight on American Film Institute's "100 years, 100 songs". Sesame Street made an educational parody of the song performed by the Anything Muppet parody of Parton herself, Polly Darton, called "Counting 1 to 5". [Wikipedia]

Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta "Summer Nights [Grease]"

"Summer Nights" is a popular song made famous by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. "Summer Nights" was one of the stand out songs from the musical Grease. The follow up to their earlier release "You're The One That I Want," it was a massive hit in the UK spending seven weeks at number one, taking the duo's total at number one that year to 16 weeks for their two hits. The song peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the USA. [Wikipedia]