Take it Easy was broadcast on Downtown throughout the 1980s, so each Sunday night John recalls a track that was current from the show of this week in a given year of that decade. A memory jogger for longtime listeners!
Here are the songs played from This Week in the 80s since the start of 2013:
Leonard Cohen: 'First we take Manhattan' (89)
Floy Joy: 'Weak in the presence of beauty' (86)
Keith James: 'Life in the western world' (83)
Rita Coolidge: 'Fool that I am' (81)
Dan Fogelberg: 'Longer' (80)
Louise Tucker: 'No tears to cry' (84)
Stan Ridgway: 'Walkin' home alone' (87)
Rupert Hine: 'The set up' (82)
Fine Young Cannibals: 'Ever fallen in love' (89)
Tim Finn: 'No thunder, no fire, no rain' (86)
Miracle: 'Africa' (88)
Kenny Loggins: 'Welcome to heartlight' (83)
Two Nations: 'That's the way it feels' (87)
Toto: 'Rosanna' (82)
Crowded House: 'Better be home soon' (88)
Mi-Sex: 'Blue day' (84)
Latin Quarter: 'New millionaires' (85)
Days of Grace: 'My life's in video' (82)
Genesis: 'Misunderstanding' (80)
Sting: 'Ellas danzan solas' (88)
Dillinger: 'Reggae beat' (81)
Phil Everly: 'Louise' (82)
ELO: 'Don't walk away' (80)
Tim Finn: 'Fraction too much friction' (84)
Rod Stewart: 'Tonight I'm yours (don't hurt me)' (82)
White & Torch: 'Let's forget' (83)
Londonbeat: 'Katey' (89)
Squeeze: 'Another nail in my heart' (80)
Heart: 'These dreams' (86)
Bruce Springsteen: 'Sherry darling' (81)
The Madness: 'I pronounce you' (88)
Owen Paul: 'Bring me back that spark' (87)
Moving Fingers: 'Karen' (86)
Bagatelle: 'Second violin' (81)
Style Council: 'You're the best thing' (84)
Maxi Priest: 'Wild world' (88)
Adult Net: 'Where were you' (89)
ELO: 'Getting to the point' (86)
Moody Blues: 'Vintage wine' (88)
Real Life: 'Send me an angel 89' (89)
Fleetwood Mac: 'Gypsy' (82)
Roger Daltrey: 'Without your love' (80)
Daley & Lorien: 'Architects of time' (88)
Suzanne Vega: 'Marlene on the wall' (85)
Elton John: 'Whispers' (89)
Pink Floyd: 'On the turning away' (87)
Chris de Burgh: 'Where peaceful waters flow' (83)
Radio Java: 'Fool' (84)
Rod Stewart: 'Somebody special' (81)
OMD: 'She's leaving' (82)
T'pau: 'Heart and soul' (87)
Vanessa Paradis: 'Joe le taxi' (88)
Eagles: 'I can't tell you why' (80)
April Wine: 'Just between you and me' (81)
USA for Africa: 'We are the world' (85)
Fine Young Cannibals: 'I'm not the man I used to be' (89)
Gail Davies: 'Givin' herself away' (82)
Moody Blues: 'It may be a fire' (86)
Rita Coolidge: 'All time high' (83)
Doll by Doll: 'Main travelled roads' (81)
Jon Anderson: 'All in a matter of time' (82)
Ultravox: 'Sleepwalk' (80)
Motels: 'Only the lonely' (82)
Richard Marx: 'Children of the night' (89)
Christopher Cross: 'Ride like the wind' (80)
Billy Joel: 'An innocent man' (83)
White Soxx: 'Versailles' (81)
Latin Quarter: 'Radio Africa' (84)
INXS: 'Never tear us apart' (88)
Bryan Adams: 'Heaven' (85)
Suzanne Vega: 'Gypsy' (86)
Roches: 'Losing true' (82)
Bad English: 'When I see you smile' (89)
Rococo: 'Snowscape' (80)
R&D: 'Berlin' (85)
Double: 'Captain of her heart' (86)
Johnny Hates Jazz: 'Turn back the clock' (88)
Diana Ross: 'Upside down' (81)
Alternative Radio: 'Valley of evergreen' (84)
H20: 'I dream to sleep' (83)
Fischer Z: 'So long' (80)
Heart: 'Alone' (87)
Peter Case: 'Entella hotel' (89)
REO Speedwagon: 'Take it on the run' (81)
Elton John: 'Too low for zero' (83)
Moody Blues: 'Your wildest dreams' (86)
Chicago: 'Hard to say I'm sorry' (82)
Benny Mardones: 'Into the night' (80)
The Principle: 'This is not a song by Talking Heads' (87)
Don Henley: 'The heart of the matter' (89)
Sean Tyla: 'Landing lights' (81)
Claire Hamill: 'First night in New York' (84)
Two of Us: 'Blue night shadow' (85)
Fleetwood Mac: 'Gypsy' (82)
Berlin: 'Take my breath away' (86)
Maywood: 'Late at night' (80)
Cutting Crew: 'The scattering'
Carlene Carter & Paul Carrack: 'Oh how happy' (81)
Lloyd Cole & The Commotions: 'Perfect skin' (84)
Care: 'Flaming sword' (83)
Latin Quarter: 'America for beginners' (85)
Kinks: 'Come dancing' (82)
Alan Parsons Project: 'Games people play' (81)
Tanita Tikaram: 'Sighing innocents' (89)
Bruce Cockburn: 'If a tree falls' (89)
John Lennon: 'Borrowed time' (84)
Leo Sayer: 'Have you ever been in love' (82)
Atlanta Rhythm Section: 'Indigo passion' (80)
FR David: 'Words' (83)
Dream Academy: 'Life in a northern town' (85)
Sting: 'Fragil' (88)
Grover Washington Jr. & Bill Withers: 'Just the two of us' (81)
REO Speedwagon: 'In my dreams' (87)
Roxy Music: 'Over you' (80)
Any Trouble: 'Touch and go' (83)
Eurythmics: 'Never gonna cry again' (81)
Don Henley: 'The end of the innocence' (89)
Steve Miller Band: 'Abracadabra' (82)
How We Live: 'Working girl' (87)
Time Bandits: 'Endless road (and I want you to know my love)' (85)
Godley & Crème: 'Under my thumb' (81)
Peter Schilling: 'Terra Titanic' (84)
Real Life: 'Send me an angel 89' (89)
Moving Fingers: 'The final word of history' (86)
Thom Pace: 'Waiting for their time' (80)
Eurythmics: 'Love is a stranger' (82)
Triffids: 'Bury me deep in love' (87)
Ian Hunter: 'All of the good ones are taken' (83)
FM: 'Frozen heart' (85)
Marc Almond ft. Gene Pitney: 'Something's gotten hold of my heart' (88)
Joan Armatrading: 'When I get it right' (81)
Pat Benatar: 'We belong' (84)
Chris Rea: 'Road to hell (part 2)' (89)
Rosie Vela: 'Magic smile' (86)
Future Shock: 'Santa left us microchips for Christmas' (80)
Crocodile Harris: 'Give me the good news' (82)
Cutting Crew: 'I've been in love before' (87)
Toto: 'Africa' (83)
Common Knowledge: 'Victoria' (85)
Vanessa Paradis: 'Joe le taxi' (88)
Steve Winwood: 'Arc of a diver' (81)
Alan Parsons Project: 'Don't answer me' (84)
Carly Simon: 'Let the river run' (89)
Vendetta: 'So do I' (86)
Kokomo: 'A little bit further away' (82)
Labi Siffre: 'Something inside (so strong)' (87)
Bryan Ferry: 'Slave to love' (85)
Jim Capaldi: 'Old photographs' (81)
Cyndi Lauper: 'All through the night' (84)
Lotus Eaters: 'The first picture of you' (83)
Fergus: 'Broken wings' (85)
Tanita Tikaram: 'Good tradition' (88)
Roger Glover: '(You're so) remote' (84)
Richard Marx: 'Right here waiting' (89)
Bibie: 'Breaking my heart' (86)
Jennifer Warnes: 'Ain't no cure for love' (87)
Robert Palmer: 'Johnny and Mary' (80)
Billy Joel: 'This night' (83)
Midge Ure: 'Take me home' (88)
Ultravox: 'Love's great adventure' (84)
Sydney Youngblood: 'If only I could' (89)
Grateful Dead: 'Touch of grey' (87)
Paul Simon: 'Graceland' (86)
Alan Parsons Project: 'The turn of a friendly card' (80)
Mr. Mister: 'Broken wings' (85)
Maddy Prior: 'Deep in the darkest night' (83)
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young: 'American dream' (88)
Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes: 'Up where you belong' (83)
Bourgeois Tagg: 'I don't mind at all' (88)
Bonnie Tyler: 'Goodbye to the island' (81)
Fiction Factory: '(Feels like) heaven' (84)
Simply Red: 'If you don't know me by now' (89)
Rupert Hine: 'The set up' (82)
Starship: 'Nothing's gonna stop us now' (87)
Ultravox: 'Dancing with tears in my eyes' (84)
Level 42: 'Lessons in love' (86)
Smokey Robinson: 'Let me be the clock' (80)
Tom Petty: 'I won't back down' (89)
Gordon Campbell: 'I would love you' (85)
Adventures: 'The trip to bountiful (when the rain comes down)' (88)
Kevin Johnson: 'Night rider' (81)
Chris de Burgh: 'Sight and touch' (84)
Suzanne Vega: 'Left of centre' (86)
Fleetwood Mac: 'Hold me' (82)
Rocky Burnette: 'Tired of toein' the line' (80)
Freddie Mercury: 'Made in heaven' (85)
Cherry Boys: 'Kardomah cafe' (83)
Fairground Attraction: 'Find my love' (88)
Moody Blues: 'The voice' (81)
Raise the Dragon: 'The blue hour' (84)
Billy Joel: 'This is the time' (86)
White Door: 'Way of the world' (82)
Mark Germino: 'Caught in the act of being ourselves' (89)
Karel Fialka: 'Hey Matthew' (87)
Nona Hendryx: 'Keep it confidential' (83)
ELO: 'Twilight' (81)
Moving Fingers: 'Karen' (86)
Hall & Oates: 'Maneater' (82)
U2: 'All I want is you' (89)
Hooters: 'Satellite' (87)
White Door: 'Jerusalem' (83)
Mike & The Mechanics: 'The living years' (88)
Marcia Hines: 'Taking it all in stride' (81)
Dee C. Lee: 'See the day' (86)
Adrian Gurvitz: 'Classic' (82)
Carly Simon: 'Coming around again' (87)
Vendetta: 'Somewhere in the night' (85)
Climax Blues Band: 'Listen to the night' (83)
Leonard Cohen: 'First we take Manhattan' (88)
Stevie Wonder: 'Lately' (81)
Elton John: 'Too low for zero' (84)
Little Steven: 'Bitter Fruit' (88)
Deacon Blue: 'Fergus sings the blues' (89)
Kim Townsend: 'Silver tears' (85)
The Beat: 'Can't get used to losing you' (83)
Jon Anderson: 'Surrender' (82)
Mekons: 'Ghosts of American astronauts' (88)
Asia: 'Only time will tell' (82)
Cry Before Dawn: 'Witness for the world' (89)
Roaring Boys: 'House of stone' (85)
Morrissey: 'Every day is like Sunday' (88)
Claire Hamill: 'The moon is a powerful lover' (84)
The Balance: 'Russian train' (87)
Split Enz: 'One step ahead' (81)
Lilac Time: 'Return to yesterday' (88)
REO Speedwagon: 'In your letter' (81)
Paul Simon: 'Late in the evening' (80)
Gary Moore: 'Empty rooms' (84)
Corey Hart: 'Chase the sun' (88)
Sting: 'Love is the seventh wave' (85)
Emmitt Till: 'Groovin' (85)
Cry Before Dawn: 'Ain't no living without you' (89)
Here are the songs played from This Week in the 80s since the start of 2013:
Leonard Cohen: 'First we take Manhattan' (89)
Floy Joy: 'Weak in the presence of beauty' (86)
Keith James: 'Life in the western world' (83)
Rita Coolidge: 'Fool that I am' (81)
Dan Fogelberg: 'Longer' (80)
Louise Tucker: 'No tears to cry' (84)
Stan Ridgway: 'Walkin' home alone' (87)
Rupert Hine: 'The set up' (82)
Fine Young Cannibals: 'Ever fallen in love' (89)
Tim Finn: 'No thunder, no fire, no rain' (86)
Miracle: 'Africa' (88)
Kenny Loggins: 'Welcome to heartlight' (83)
Two Nations: 'That's the way it feels' (87)
Toto: 'Rosanna' (82)
Crowded House: 'Better be home soon' (88)
Mi-Sex: 'Blue day' (84)
Latin Quarter: 'New millionaires' (85)
Days of Grace: 'My life's in video' (82)
Genesis: 'Misunderstanding' (80)
Sting: 'Ellas danzan solas' (88)
Dillinger: 'Reggae beat' (81)
Phil Everly: 'Louise' (82)
ELO: 'Don't walk away' (80)
Tim Finn: 'Fraction too much friction' (84)
Rod Stewart: 'Tonight I'm yours (don't hurt me)' (82)
White & Torch: 'Let's forget' (83)
Londonbeat: 'Katey' (89)
Squeeze: 'Another nail in my heart' (80)
Heart: 'These dreams' (86)
Bruce Springsteen: 'Sherry darling' (81)
The Madness: 'I pronounce you' (88)
Owen Paul: 'Bring me back that spark' (87)
Moving Fingers: 'Karen' (86)
Bagatelle: 'Second violin' (81)
Style Council: 'You're the best thing' (84)
Maxi Priest: 'Wild world' (88)
Adult Net: 'Where were you' (89)
ELO: 'Getting to the point' (86)
Moody Blues: 'Vintage wine' (88)
Real Life: 'Send me an angel 89' (89)
Fleetwood Mac: 'Gypsy' (82)
Roger Daltrey: 'Without your love' (80)
Daley & Lorien: 'Architects of time' (88)
Suzanne Vega: 'Marlene on the wall' (85)
Elton John: 'Whispers' (89)
Pink Floyd: 'On the turning away' (87)
Chris de Burgh: 'Where peaceful waters flow' (83)
Radio Java: 'Fool' (84)
Rod Stewart: 'Somebody special' (81)
OMD: 'She's leaving' (82)
T'pau: 'Heart and soul' (87)
Vanessa Paradis: 'Joe le taxi' (88)
Eagles: 'I can't tell you why' (80)
April Wine: 'Just between you and me' (81)
USA for Africa: 'We are the world' (85)
Fine Young Cannibals: 'I'm not the man I used to be' (89)
Gail Davies: 'Givin' herself away' (82)
Moody Blues: 'It may be a fire' (86)
Rita Coolidge: 'All time high' (83)
Doll by Doll: 'Main travelled roads' (81)
Jon Anderson: 'All in a matter of time' (82)
Ultravox: 'Sleepwalk' (80)
Motels: 'Only the lonely' (82)
Richard Marx: 'Children of the night' (89)
Christopher Cross: 'Ride like the wind' (80)
Billy Joel: 'An innocent man' (83)
White Soxx: 'Versailles' (81)
Latin Quarter: 'Radio Africa' (84)
INXS: 'Never tear us apart' (88)
Bryan Adams: 'Heaven' (85)
Suzanne Vega: 'Gypsy' (86)
Roches: 'Losing true' (82)
Bad English: 'When I see you smile' (89)
Rococo: 'Snowscape' (80)
R&D: 'Berlin' (85)
Double: 'Captain of her heart' (86)
Johnny Hates Jazz: 'Turn back the clock' (88)
Diana Ross: 'Upside down' (81)
Alternative Radio: 'Valley of evergreen' (84)
H20: 'I dream to sleep' (83)
Fischer Z: 'So long' (80)
Heart: 'Alone' (87)
Peter Case: 'Entella hotel' (89)
REO Speedwagon: 'Take it on the run' (81)
Elton John: 'Too low for zero' (83)
Moody Blues: 'Your wildest dreams' (86)
Chicago: 'Hard to say I'm sorry' (82)
Benny Mardones: 'Into the night' (80)
The Principle: 'This is not a song by Talking Heads' (87)
Don Henley: 'The heart of the matter' (89)
Sean Tyla: 'Landing lights' (81)
Claire Hamill: 'First night in New York' (84)
Two of Us: 'Blue night shadow' (85)
Fleetwood Mac: 'Gypsy' (82)
Berlin: 'Take my breath away' (86)
Maywood: 'Late at night' (80)
Cutting Crew: 'The scattering'
Carlene Carter & Paul Carrack: 'Oh how happy' (81)
Lloyd Cole & The Commotions: 'Perfect skin' (84)
Care: 'Flaming sword' (83)
Latin Quarter: 'America for beginners' (85)
Kinks: 'Come dancing' (82)
Alan Parsons Project: 'Games people play' (81)
Tanita Tikaram: 'Sighing innocents' (89)
Bruce Cockburn: 'If a tree falls' (89)
John Lennon: 'Borrowed time' (84)
Leo Sayer: 'Have you ever been in love' (82)
Atlanta Rhythm Section: 'Indigo passion' (80)
FR David: 'Words' (83)
Dream Academy: 'Life in a northern town' (85)
Sting: 'Fragil' (88)
Grover Washington Jr. & Bill Withers: 'Just the two of us' (81)
REO Speedwagon: 'In my dreams' (87)
Roxy Music: 'Over you' (80)
Any Trouble: 'Touch and go' (83)
Eurythmics: 'Never gonna cry again' (81)
Don Henley: 'The end of the innocence' (89)
Steve Miller Band: 'Abracadabra' (82)
How We Live: 'Working girl' (87)
Time Bandits: 'Endless road (and I want you to know my love)' (85)
Godley & Crème: 'Under my thumb' (81)
Peter Schilling: 'Terra Titanic' (84)
Real Life: 'Send me an angel 89' (89)
Moving Fingers: 'The final word of history' (86)
Thom Pace: 'Waiting for their time' (80)
Eurythmics: 'Love is a stranger' (82)
Triffids: 'Bury me deep in love' (87)
Ian Hunter: 'All of the good ones are taken' (83)
FM: 'Frozen heart' (85)
Marc Almond ft. Gene Pitney: 'Something's gotten hold of my heart' (88)
Joan Armatrading: 'When I get it right' (81)
Pat Benatar: 'We belong' (84)
Chris Rea: 'Road to hell (part 2)' (89)
Rosie Vela: 'Magic smile' (86)
Future Shock: 'Santa left us microchips for Christmas' (80)
Crocodile Harris: 'Give me the good news' (82)
Cutting Crew: 'I've been in love before' (87)
Toto: 'Africa' (83)
Common Knowledge: 'Victoria' (85)
Vanessa Paradis: 'Joe le taxi' (88)
Steve Winwood: 'Arc of a diver' (81)
Alan Parsons Project: 'Don't answer me' (84)
Carly Simon: 'Let the river run' (89)
Vendetta: 'So do I' (86)
Kokomo: 'A little bit further away' (82)
Labi Siffre: 'Something inside (so strong)' (87)
Bryan Ferry: 'Slave to love' (85)
Jim Capaldi: 'Old photographs' (81)
Cyndi Lauper: 'All through the night' (84)
Lotus Eaters: 'The first picture of you' (83)
Fergus: 'Broken wings' (85)
Tanita Tikaram: 'Good tradition' (88)
Roger Glover: '(You're so) remote' (84)
Richard Marx: 'Right here waiting' (89)
Bibie: 'Breaking my heart' (86)
Jennifer Warnes: 'Ain't no cure for love' (87)
Robert Palmer: 'Johnny and Mary' (80)
Billy Joel: 'This night' (83)
Midge Ure: 'Take me home' (88)
Ultravox: 'Love's great adventure' (84)
Sydney Youngblood: 'If only I could' (89)
Grateful Dead: 'Touch of grey' (87)
Paul Simon: 'Graceland' (86)
Alan Parsons Project: 'The turn of a friendly card' (80)
Mr. Mister: 'Broken wings' (85)
Maddy Prior: 'Deep in the darkest night' (83)
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young: 'American dream' (88)
Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes: 'Up where you belong' (83)
Bourgeois Tagg: 'I don't mind at all' (88)
Bonnie Tyler: 'Goodbye to the island' (81)
Fiction Factory: '(Feels like) heaven' (84)
Simply Red: 'If you don't know me by now' (89)
Rupert Hine: 'The set up' (82)
Starship: 'Nothing's gonna stop us now' (87)
Ultravox: 'Dancing with tears in my eyes' (84)
Level 42: 'Lessons in love' (86)
Smokey Robinson: 'Let me be the clock' (80)
Tom Petty: 'I won't back down' (89)
Gordon Campbell: 'I would love you' (85)
Adventures: 'The trip to bountiful (when the rain comes down)' (88)
Kevin Johnson: 'Night rider' (81)
Chris de Burgh: 'Sight and touch' (84)
Suzanne Vega: 'Left of centre' (86)
Fleetwood Mac: 'Hold me' (82)
Rocky Burnette: 'Tired of toein' the line' (80)
Freddie Mercury: 'Made in heaven' (85)
Cherry Boys: 'Kardomah cafe' (83)
Fairground Attraction: 'Find my love' (88)
Moody Blues: 'The voice' (81)
Raise the Dragon: 'The blue hour' (84)
Billy Joel: 'This is the time' (86)
White Door: 'Way of the world' (82)
Mark Germino: 'Caught in the act of being ourselves' (89)
Karel Fialka: 'Hey Matthew' (87)
Nona Hendryx: 'Keep it confidential' (83)
ELO: 'Twilight' (81)
Moving Fingers: 'Karen' (86)
Hall & Oates: 'Maneater' (82)
U2: 'All I want is you' (89)
Hooters: 'Satellite' (87)
White Door: 'Jerusalem' (83)
Mike & The Mechanics: 'The living years' (88)
Marcia Hines: 'Taking it all in stride' (81)
Dee C. Lee: 'See the day' (86)
Adrian Gurvitz: 'Classic' (82)
Carly Simon: 'Coming around again' (87)
Vendetta: 'Somewhere in the night' (85)
Climax Blues Band: 'Listen to the night' (83)
Leonard Cohen: 'First we take Manhattan' (88)
Stevie Wonder: 'Lately' (81)
Elton John: 'Too low for zero' (84)
Little Steven: 'Bitter Fruit' (88)
Deacon Blue: 'Fergus sings the blues' (89)
Kim Townsend: 'Silver tears' (85)
The Beat: 'Can't get used to losing you' (83)
Jon Anderson: 'Surrender' (82)
Mekons: 'Ghosts of American astronauts' (88)
Asia: 'Only time will tell' (82)
Cry Before Dawn: 'Witness for the world' (89)
Roaring Boys: 'House of stone' (85)
Morrissey: 'Every day is like Sunday' (88)
Claire Hamill: 'The moon is a powerful lover' (84)
The Balance: 'Russian train' (87)
Split Enz: 'One step ahead' (81)
Lilac Time: 'Return to yesterday' (88)
REO Speedwagon: 'In your letter' (81)
Paul Simon: 'Late in the evening' (80)
Gary Moore: 'Empty rooms' (84)
Corey Hart: 'Chase the sun' (88)
Sting: 'Love is the seventh wave' (85)
Emmitt Till: 'Groovin' (85)
Cry Before Dawn: 'Ain't no living without you' (89)