Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Sorry Ringo...

After their breakup in 1970, the 4 individual Beatles found enormous success on their own (or, in Paul's case, with Wings) throughout the decade of the 70s.  But once the 1980s hit, only 3 of the 4 enjoyed anything resembling their 1970s success.

Paul McCartney's "Tug Of War" album from 1982
Paul McCartney placed 3 songs at #1 during the 80s - one with Wings ("Coming Up"), one with Stevie Wonder ("Ebony and Ivory"), and one with Michael Jackson ("Say Say Say").  Paul would add 4 additional Top 10s to that list before the decade was done.  Paul would also top the Album Chart with his "Tug Of War" album in 1982.

Sadly, John Lennon was murdered in December of 1980.  His music lived on, however; John landed 4 songs in the Top 10 during the 1980s, including a #1 ("(Just Like) Starting Over").  His "Double Fantasy" album with wife Yoko Ono would not only top the Album Chart in 1981, it would also win a Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

John and Yoko share a "Double Fantasy" in 1980
George Harrison did not have the success of John and Paul, but he still managed two Top 10 songs during the 1980s, including a #1 in 1988 with "Got My Mind Set On You".  His 1981 tribute to the late John Lennon, "All Those Years Ago", would peak at #2 in the summer of that year.  George also hit the Top 10 on the Album Chart with "Cloud Nine" in 1988, and also as a member of the Traveling Wilburys the following year.

Which leaves us just one remaining Beatle, drummer Ringo Starr.  Ringo managed only one song on the charts during the 1980s -- "Wrack My Brain" peaked at #38 in 1981.  "Stop and Smell the Roses", Starr's 1981 album, would peak at #98.  And that's the last we would hear from Ringo during the decade.

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