1980…not one of the most innovative and exciting years musically. But there were a few shining moments, including Pat Benatar, Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band, Blondie, and Bruce Springsteen‘s “The River”. The biggest star of 1980 was an unknown “yacht-rocker” named Christopher Cross — who burst onto the scene with three chart-topping hit singles from his debut album.

We were also in the midst of the “Urban Cowboy Era” that year — where several twangy-based tunes found their way onto Pop and Rock radio.

Back In 1980:

• Minimum wage in the U.S. was $3.10 per hour
• The average annual income was $19,173
• A new car cost you $7,200
• You could build a new house for $68,714
• A loaf of bread was 51 cents
• A gallon of gas was $1.19
• First Class postage was only 15 cents!

1980 World News Headlines:

• The U.S., Japan & West Germany boycotted the Olympic Games in Moscow to protest military intervention in Afghanistan
• Iran and Iraq went to war
• Gold prices soared to $835 per ounce on the London Market
• The World Health Organization announced the worldwide eradication of Smallpox
• RU-486, the abortion pill was released in France
• The Winter Olympics opened in Lake Placid, New York

1980 U.S. News Headlines:

• Republican Ronald Reagan was elected president
• John Lennon was assassinated by Mark David Chapman on December 8th
• Mount Saint Helens in Washington state erupted after 123 years, killing 60 people
• CNN launched as the nation’s first 24-Hour all-news TV network
• The U.S. spacecraft, Voyager 1 flew by the planet Saturn
• 30% of U.S. auto sales were imports
• Post-It Notes were introduced by 3M

The top TV shows in 1980:  Dallas, The Dukes of Hazzard, M*A*S*H*, The Love Boat, The Jeffersons, Little House on the Prairie, Alice, Three’s Company, One Day at a Time, Too Close for Comfort, Magnum P.I., and Diff’rent Strokes.

Favorite movies from 1980:  Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, The Shining, The Blues Brothers, Airplane!, Raging Bull, Caddyshack, Ordinary People, 9-to-5, Friday the 13th, Somewhere in Time, The Blue Lagoon, Private Benjamin, Altered States, Dressed to Kill, Xanadu, American Gigolo, Urban Cowboy, Coal Miner’s Daughter, Stir Crazy, Bronco Billy, and The Jazz Singer.

On this week’s broadcast, hear all the Progressive Rock from that year along with a few other surprises — all from the year 1980.  It’s streaming right now on both Live365 and TuneIn apps!

I thank you for listening!

– Fred