1980 - The Golden Age of Soundtracks?

I'll never disparage 1980 movie soundtracks for one reason: Xanadu.  The biggest soundtrack of the year was Urban Cowboy, but I didn't see that movie in 1980 (not sure I've seen it ever).  Instead, I fell in love with the ELO/ONJ roller disco goodness of Xanadu.  In terms of hit singles (see list below), this was a great year for soundtracks, but in terms of #1 singles, only two hit the top spot in 1980.

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		"Call Me" Blondie #1 for six weeks, Apr 9 - May 24  from the movie American Gigolo
"Magic" Olivia Newton-John #1 for four weeks, Aug 2 - 23 from the movie Xanadu

Click on the year to check out similar soundtrack lists for the following years:

Year	No. of soundtrack #1's	Total no. of weeks at #1
1980	2 of 16	10
1981	3 of 17	14
1982	3 of 16	10
1983	2 of 17	8
1984	7 of 20	21
1985	9 of 27	14

"Magic" is a great song, ONJ is a great singer, and is my favorite song from the Xanadu soundtrack.

Other soundtrack hits from 1980 that didn't make the top spot include:

• "The Rose" by Bette Midler from The Rose (peaked at #3)
• "Fame" by Irene Cara from Fame (#4)
• "Lookin' for Love" by Johnny Lee from Urban Cowboy (#5)
• "Drivin' My Life Away" by Eddie Rabbitt from Roadie (#5)
• "Late in the Evening" by Paul Simon from One-Trick Pony (#6)
• "I'm Alright" by Kenny Loggins from Caddyshack (#7)
• "Xanadu" by Olivia Newton-John & Electric Light Orchestra from Xanadu (#8)
• "All Over the World" by Electric Light Orchestra from Xanadu (#13)
• "Look What You've Done to Me" by Boz Scaggs from Urban Cowboy (#14)
• "Love the World Away" by Kenny Rogers from Urban Cowboy (#14)
• "I'm Alive" by Electric Light Orchestra from Xanadu (#16)
• "Gimme Some Lovin'" by The Blues Brothers from The Blues Brothers (#18)
• "Out Here on My Own" by Irene Cara from Fame (#19)
• "Suddenly" by Olivia Newton-John & Cliff Richard from Xanadu (#20) 
• "On the Road Again" by Willie Nelson from Honeysuckle Rose (#20)
• "Stand by Me" by Mickey Gilley from Urban Cowboy (#22)
• "Could I Have this Dance" by Anne Murray from Urban Cowboy (#33)
• "Flash's Theme" by Queen from Flash Gordon (#42)

The winner of the Oscar for Best Original Song at the 54th Academy Awards was "Fame" from the movie of the same name.

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Tip o' the hat to Herc for his research and editorial assistance on this post.