Below is the Adult Contemporary Chart from the February 6, 1982 issue of Billboard (click image to enlarge). There's lots of good stuff there including not one, but two singles from soft rock king Barry Manilow. However, I found a dozen songs among these 50 with which I either have no memory or I've never heard until now.
Below is a Mixcloud show containing all of those 12 tunes followed by an annotated playlist which includes my initial thoughts on hearing these songs for the first time (that I remember), in countdown order:
 | "If I Were You" Lulu From the album Lulu Written by Jerry Fuller & John Hobbs Produced by Mark London |
| U.S. Billboard charts peaks: | |
| Adult Contemporary | 27 |
| Hot 100 | 44 |
This is a solid AC tune, full of Fender Rhodes piano, strings, backing vocals and a funk-lite bass line to move everything along; all that's missing is tenor sax solo. I'd never heard of this song or album, but Lulu was still in good voice. I'd give this one a B-.
 | "All Our Tomorrows" Eddie Schwartz From the album No Refuge Written by Dave Tyson & Eddie Schwartz Produced by Eddie Schwartz & Dave Tyson |
| U.S. Billboard charts peaks: | |
| Adult Contemporary | 40 |
| Hot 100 | 28 |
Another tune that must not have gotten much airplay in my area. The material's a little weak - this one never seems to go anywhere. Decent guitar solo, though. Since I graded the first track, I'll do the same here: C-
 | "Natural Love" Petula Clark Single only release Written by J. Harrington, J. Pennig, K. Espy, P. Gernhardt Produced by Tony Scotti |
| U.S. Billboard charts peaks: | |
| Adult Contemporary | 24 |
| Hot 100 | 66 |
| Country | 20 |
A bit too country for my tastes. In 1982, this would have sent me scrambling to change the radio station. These days, I'm older so now I'd walk over to the remote control to change the station. Better yet, I need to get one of dem dere Amazon Echo thingamajigs so I don't even have to get up. My lack of country music knowledge means I'm not qualified to give this one a grade.
 | "Blue Moon with Heartache" Rosanne Cash From the album Seven Year Ache Written by Rosanne Cash Produced by Rodney Crowell |
| U.S. Billboard charts peaks: | |
| Adult Contemporary | 37 |
| Hot 100 | - |
| Country | 1 |
This has enough crossover power that I'm surprised it didn't actually crossover to the pop charts. Not my thing when I was 15, but it is gorgeous to those older ears. I could do without the steel guitar, but oh those vocal harmonies on the chorus. A-
 | "Tell Me Tomorrow" Smokey Robinson From the album Yes It's You Lady Written by Gary Goetzman & Mike Piccirillo Produced by George Tobin in association with Mike Piccirillo |
| U.S. Billboard charts peaks: | |
| Adult Contemporary | 31 |
| Hot 100 | 33 |
| R&B | 3 |
This reminds me a lot of George Benson's "Turn Your Love Around" (which is on the above chart at #18) and that's a good thing. The verse melody is weak, but I dig the groove and the sax solo ain't bad. B+
 | "Only One You" T.G. Sheppard From the album Finally! Written by Bucky Jones & Michael Garvin Produced by Buddy Killen |
| U.S. Billboard charts peaks: | |
| Adult Contemporary | 20 |
| Hot 100 | 68 |
| Country | 1 |
See comments for "Natural Love" above.
 | "Just Can't Win 'Em All" Stevie Woods From the album Take Me to Your Heaven Written by Greg Mathieson, Trevor Veitch, Bill Bowersock & Matt Vernon Produced by Jack White |
| U.S. Billboard charts peaks: | |
| Adult Contemporary | 15 |
| Hot 100 | 38 |
| R&B | 57 |
What a great find. Sounds like something you'd find in the Radio Daze CD series. I'm surprised this one charted R&B because I'm not hearing much R&B, just a solid pop tune with a yacht rock groove (courtesy of "Ride Like the Wind") and country-ish background harmonies. Works, tho. B+
 | "More Than Just the Two of Us" Sneaker From the album Sneaker Written by Michael Carey Schneider & Mitch Crane Produced by Jeff Baxter |
| U.S. Billboard charts peaks: | |
| Adult Contemporary | 17 |
| Hot 100 | 34 |
There's nothing wrong with this ballad, but there's not much to get excited about, either. I was expecting something different from a band that took its name from a Steely Dan song and was produced by a Doobie Brother. Sounds more like mid-70s Eric Carmen to me. B-
 | "Those Good Old Dreams" The Carpenters From the album Made in America Written by Richard Carpenter & John Bettis Produced by Richard Carpenter |
| U.S. Billboard charts peaks: | |
| Adult Contemporary | 21 |
| Hot 100 | 63 |
I like the rolling along feeling of this one but, again, I could do without the slide guitar. But we all know the star here is the pure voice of Karen. If this one doesn't make you feel good, you're at the wrong blog. B
 | "Another Sleepless Night" Anne Murray From the album Where Do You Go When You Dream Written by Charlie Black & Rory Bourke Produced by Jim Ed Norman |
| U.S. Billboard charts peaks: | |
| Adult Contemporary | 11 |
| Hot 100 | 44 |
| Country | 4 |
This is pure derivative cheese, but it's fun and catchy so I'll be singing it later today. B
 | "Perhaps Love" Placido Domingo & John Denver From the album Perhaps Love Written by John Denver Produced by Milton Okun |
| U.S. Billboard charts peaks: | |
| Adult Contemporary | 22 |
| Hot 100 | 59 |
Ye gods. Perhaps the less said about this song, the better. F
 | "Could It Be Love" Jennifer Warnes From the album Best of Jennifer Warnes Written by Randy Sharp Produced by Jim Ed Norman |
| U.S. Billboard charts peaks: | |
| Adult Contemporary | 13 |
| Hot 100 | 47 |
| Country | 57 |
I can't tell if this shuffle is trying to be a country song or a '50s doo-wop feel. Without much of a melody, I guess it doesn't matter. The guitar work saves it from being totally bland. D+
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