The 1980s had many twists and turns musically. We were still very much in classic rock territory. New Wave had taken us on from punk rock and added in more keyboards and electronics. Power ballads were everywhere, and pop, disco, and funk all had a place still.
In many ways, the 1980s music was as crazy as the fashions of the day. Big hairstyles overshadowed huge shoulder pads. Cool folk rolled up jacket sleeves to look like Don Johnson as Crockett on Miami Vice, or at least those keen to try and be cool did. The music scene followed those fashions and developed its style and sounds to match.
There was one short-lived music craze back at the very start of the decade that came and went quickly. That, on balance, was probably good news in the end! Who recalls the blitz of medley singles that hit the charts in 1981 and 1982? The following singles were all Hot 100 hits at that time.
Stars on 45 started the 1980s medley single music craze
It all started with a single most people will know as “Stars On 45 Medley.” The official title was nowhere near as snappy. The single came from a Dutch producer and was released under the name of Stars On 45 in June 1991.
It was a mix of several songs merged one into the next the other with a disco beat through a clap track and drum loop. Largely based on Beatles songs, it was a huge dancefloor and party hit. The official title for this first of a style was noted as“Intro Venus/Sugar Sugar/No Reply/I’ll Be Back/Drive My Car/Do You Want to Know a Secret/We Can Work It Out/I Should Have Known Better/Nowhere Man/You’re Going to Lose That Girl/Stars on 45.”
“Stars on 45 Medley II”
Soon after, in August 1981, the follow-up was released in a very similar style and format. This had nine Beatles songs with that beat and drum loop keeping it all together. The title stayed simpler, the songs featured were "Good Day Sunshine"/"My Sweet Lord"/"Here Comes the Sun"/"While My Guitar Gently Weeps"/"Tax Man"/"A Hard Day's Night"/"Please Please Me"/"From Me to You"/"I Wanna Hold Your Hand"/"Stars on 45."
By now, it was hard to go to a party, wedding, or family celebration where these tunes weren't being blasted out. Honestly, the extended 12” megamix versions that appeared would leave you exhausted with their relentless approach. A simple idea and floor filler was getting to be a painful chore.
Going beyond the Stars on 45 releases
“The Beach Boys Medley”
The beat went on. October 1981 saw the Beach Boys take a bunch of their songs to apply the format, too. They replicated the Stars On 45 approach and merged them into one long flow. Top hits like “Good Vibrations” and “Surfin' USA” got the treatment.
“Hooked On Classics”
A switch in style in January 1982 had Louis Clark, an ex-ELO member, taking the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra through a series of extracts from top classical music. It was still aimed at the dancefloor, but many listeners spent their time working out which advert or movie the extract came from. It did open up classical music to the mainstream, and a lot of albums from the series were sold. On the whole, that is no bad thing by any measure.
The other Four Seasons and a touch of Doo Wop
The classics venture didn't feature Vivalsi’s Four Seasons, but the Frankie Valli group did get a mention in early 1981. A medley single of some of the Four Seasons' top songs was a bit for Gidea Park. That features vocalist Adrian Baker, who went on to join the Four Seasons later. Doo-wop style songs had their own medley focus through” Memories of Days Gone By,” a March 1981 single from Fred Parris and the Five Satins.
Movie Music
Movie themes and songs were next up for the treatment. Meco had a hit with a collection of themes from eight classic movies, including Gone With the Wind and The Magnificent Seven. He’d previously had some success with a mainly sci-fi-based movie theme collection, picking up some Star Wars movies, among others. Another collection of Beatles songs was released as “The Beatles Movie Medley.”
Some final flourishes for the medley craze
We’re still in 1982 and another Stars on 45 mix, this time covering Stevie Wonder songs hit the Hot 100 followed by a “Hooked On Big Bands.” The latter brought some swing to the sounds with the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Before we could beg for some peace and quiet and a break from the Medley frenzy, “Hooked On Swing” with some more Glenn Miller-style tunes had some more chart success. In December of that same year, an Elvis Presley medley was released and in the charts.
Other medleys followed. The likes of Abba, the Rolling Stones, and other top artists were featured. But these didn't hit the Hot 100, and the craze faded away. That is, until Jive Bunny popped up in 1989 with “Swing the Mood.” As I recall, it brought a few of those earlier medleys back onto party DJs' playlists. It may have been fun in the early days, but the novelty didn't last too long, even if it had some great songs at the core of it.