Below is the Adult Contemporary Chart from the February 9, 1980 issue of Billboard (click image to enlarge). There's lots of good stuff there, but I found twelve songs among these 50 with which I either have no memory or I've never heard until now. Here's a closer look at that dozen:
 | "Stay With Me Till Dawn" Judy Tzuke From the album Welcome to the Cruise Written by Judy Tzuke & Mike Paxman Produced by John Punter |
| U.S. Billboard charts peaks: | |
| Adult Contemporary | 47 |
| Hot 100 | 101 |
1) How have I not heard this gorgeous ballad until now, and 2) how did it not chart higher? Is the whole album as well-written? And now I'm down a rabbit hole...
 | "Years" Barbara Mandrell From the album Just for the Record Written by Kye Fleming & Dennis Morgan Produced by Tom Collins |
| U.S. Billboard charts peaks: | |
| Adult Contemporary | 38 |
| Hot 100 | 102 |
| Country | 1 |
I'm not much for country music and as soon as the plaintive slide guitar starts wailing I'm ready to bail. It's got a nice chorus, but not so much that this will get played again around here any time soon.
 | "It's Like We Never Said Goodbye" Crystal Gayle From the album Miss the Mississippi Written by Roger Greenaway & Geoff Stephens Produced by Allen Reynolds |
| U.S. Billboard charts peaks: | |
| Adult Contemporary | 17 |
| Hot 100 | 63 |
| Country | 1 |
Pleasant enough crossover attempt, but I won't be humming this one later on today - nothing memorable.
 | "I Don't Want to Talk About It" Rod Stewart From the album Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 Written by Danny Whitten Produced by Tom Dowd |
| U.S. Billboard charts peaks: | |
| Adult Contemporary | 44 |
| Hot 100 | 46 |
Why didn't Rod Stewart and Bonnie Tyler ever record a duet?
 | "The Very First Time" Michael Johnson From the album Dialogue Written by Randy Goodrum Produced by Brent Maher & Steve Gibson |
| U.S. Billboard charts peaks: | |
| Adult Contemporary | 29 |
| Hot 100 | 101 |
A decent soft rocker in the vein of Johnson's other stuff, so if you like that, you'll like this one. Could use a better guitar solo and bridge, but I'll listen again.
 | "Loving You With My Eyes" Starland Vocal Band From the album 4x4 Written by Margot Kunkel & Taffy Danoff Produced by Barry Beckett |
| U.S. Billboard charts peaks: | |
| Adult Contemporary | 13 |
| Hot 100 | 71 |
I had this group pegged as "one hit wonders" so this is certainly unexpected. Sounds like a Broadway show tune ballad that (understandably) never saw the stage. It keeps plodding along anyway. Pass.
 | "You Are My Miracle" Roger Whittaker From the album Mirrors of My Mind Written by Roger Whittaker Produced by Walter J. Ridley |
| U.S. Billboard charts peaks: | |
| Adult Contemporary | 35 |
| Hot 100 | - |
As expected, this is more easy listening than soft rock. Whittaker's pleasant baritone is immediately recognizable, but this elevator music isn't his best effort. From time to time, I enjoy listening to a radio station that subscribes to the America's Best Music service and I feel confident this tune must be on their playlist.
 | "Make Believe It's Your First Time" Bobby Vinton From the album Encore Written by Bob Morrison & John Wilson Produced by Bobby Vinton |
| U.S. Billboard charts peaks: | |
| Adult Contemporary | 17 |
| Hot 100 | 78 |
I've heard the Carpenter's version, but I'll be doggone if Vinton doesn't try to make this own by changing the arrangement and adding a backbeat. Sure, I'll take Karen Carpenter's pure voice over Vinton's sliding from pitch to pitch, but a good song is a good song. If my math is correct, Vinton was in his mid-40's when this was recorded; he'd hit the AC chart one more time following this one.
 | "All Things Are Possible" Dan Peek From the album All Things Are Possible Written by Dan Peek & Chris Christian Produced by Chris Christian |
| U.S. Billboard charts peaks: | |
| Adult Contemporary | 6 |
| Hot 100 | 78 |
Peek left the band America and teamed up with Chris Christian to record this, one of the first Contemporary Christian crossover singles. I dig the way the verse goes into the chorus and the wordless, Brian Wilson-esque bridge.
 | "Holdin' On For Dear Love" Lobo From the album Lobo Written by Johnny Slate, Steve Pippin & Larry Henley Produced by Bob Montgomery |
| U.S. Billboard charts peaks: | |
| Adult Contemporary | 13 |
| Hot 100 | 75 |
I enjoy the mid-tempo shuffle groove of this one. And finally we're treated to a sax solo! It's good, not great, but it has its moments.
 | "I Don't Want to Be Lonely" Dana Valery Single only release Written by Mark Mueller Produced by Kyle Lehning |
| U.S. Billboard charts peaks: | |
| Adult Contemporary | 23 |
| Hot 100 | 87 |
I like it but I'd like more if it was sped up a bit. Valery (who, the Internet tells me, is a an Italian-born South African-reared singer, actress, and television performer) has a pleasant voice. Tasty guitar solo leading into the key change.
 | "Looks Like Love Again" Dann Rogers From the album Hearts Under Fire Written by D. Marino Produced by Ian Gardiner |
| U.S. Billboard charts peaks: | |
| Adult Contemporary | 6 |
| Hot 100 | 41 |
Dann is the nephew of Kenny Rogers and this thing is catchy as hell. Same producer and label as Terry Williams' "Blame It on the Night" from the same year and the two pair nicely if you're into sequencing your soft rock. Williams sang in First Edition with Dann's Uncle Kenny if you want to bring it full circle.
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