Smilin' Don's Stories Behind the Songs: 1980-1989
The History and Trivia Behind the Top 100 Hits of the 80s
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Narrated by:
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Nick Paras
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By:
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Steve Lee
About this listen
Relive the Magic of the 80s: Discover the Untold Stories Behind the Decade's Biggest Chart-Toppers! Step into a time machine and relive the golden era of music with “Stories Behind the Songs: 1980-1989.” This captivating book takes you on a journey through the biggest hits of the 80s, unraveling the secrets, inspirations, and untold stories behind the top 100 chart-toppers that defined a generation.
Remember when the radio was your lifeline, and those unforgettable tunes on your favorite FM station became the soundtrack of your life? Each chapter of this book delves into the fascinating backstory of the decade's most iconic songs, from the electrifying beats of “Call Me” to the rebellious spirit of “It's Still Rock and Roll to Me”.
Have you ever wondered:
•Who was the muse behind the song "Jessie's Girl," and was Jessie her real name?
•In the "Coming Up!" music video, Paul McCartney portrayed how many different characters? And who did those characters represent?
•What was the inspiration for Steve Miller conjured up the magic of the song "Abracadabra?"
•What is the real story behind Dire Straits' song "Money For Nothing" and who performs the song's trademark falsetto opening?
•What country banned the song, "Another Brick in the Wall, Part II" by Pink Floyd? And what was the song really about?
Not only does this book provide answers to these questions, but it also reveals the hidden treasures that lie behind the music that continues to reverberate in our times.
his book is perfect for anyone who wants to relive the magic of the 80s, discover new trivia, or simply celebrate the era that brought us some of the greatest hits ever recorded. This is more than just a book—it's a time capsule that will transport you back to the days of neon lights, big hair, and the unforgettable sound of the 80s.
©2024 Steven Lee (P)2024 Steven LeeListeners also enjoyed...
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Deep dive into The Godfather
- By C.F. on 08-28-24
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A Streetcar Named Desire
- By: Tennessee Williams
- Narrated by: Carla Gugino, Audra McDonald
- Length: 2 hrs and 52 mins
- Original Recording
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With Emmy, Grammy, and six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald as Blanche DuBois alongside Carla Gugino as Stella, O’Hara takes a fresh and visceral look at the emotionally charged relationship between these two iconic sisters. Haunted by her past, Blanche seeks refuge with Stella and Stanley (Ariel Shafir) in New Orleans, where she wrestles with the nature of her sister’s husband, her sister’s denial, and her own unraveling mind.
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Classic With Fresh Insight
- By Talia Shafir on 12-04-20
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Song of the Northwoods
- By: Jessica Huang
- Narrated by: Michele Selene Ang, Quincy Dunn-Baker, Emma Kikue, and others
- Length: 1 hr and 48 mins
- Original Recording
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After a betrayal at work costs Song Kuan her job, she retreats to her friend Lucy’s idyllic family cabin on a lake in Minnesota to lick her wounds. She devotes herself to recording Ice Cold Cases, a true-crime podcast that she and Lucy cohost with the gleeful energy of obsessed fans—until an anonymous tip about a missing-person case disrupts their equilibrium. Then Lucy disappears, leaving Song alone in an unfriendly and unfamiliar town where locals don’t take kindly to strangers asking questions.
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Asians in MN! I loved it. The vivid sounds of Northern Minnesota totally took me there, and I was hooked into the mystery.
- By Sheila Morris on 04-26-22
By: Jessica Huang
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Petty: The Biography
- By: Warren Zanes
- Narrated by: Warren Zanes
- Length: 13 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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No one other than Warren Zanes, rocker and writer and friend, could author a book about Tom Petty that is as honest and evocative of Petty's music and the remarkable rock and roll history he and his band helped to write. Born in Gainesville, Florida, with more than a little hillbilly in his blood, Tom Petty was a Southern shit kicker, a kid without a whole lot of promise. Rock and roll made it otherwise.
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Tom Petty gets some bio love
- By tru britty on 12-15-15
By: Warren Zanes
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Alice in Chains
- The Untold Story
- By: David de Sola
- Narrated by: Sebastian York
- Length: 12 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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Alice in Chains was the first of grunge's big four - ahead of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden - to get a gold record and achieve national recognition. With the charismatic Layne Staley behind the microphone, they became one of the most influential and successful bands to come out of the Seattle music scene. But as the band got bigger, so did its problems.
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Disappointing!!!!
- By Rob on 12-23-16
By: David de Sola
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Coreyography
- By: Corey Feldman
- Narrated by: Corey Feldman
- Length: 8 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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In this brave and moving memoir, Corey Feldman is revealing the truth about what his life was like behind the scenes: His is a past that included physical, drug, and sexual abuse, a dysfunctional family from which he was emancipated at age fifteen, three high-profile arrests for drug possession, a nine-month stint in rehab, and a long, slow crawl back to the top of the box office.
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Didn't like the Two Coreys, but liked this.
- By ricketsj on 04-29-14
By: Corey Feldman
What listeners say about Smilin' Don's Stories Behind the Songs: 1980-1989
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Roman Mikulenčák
- 11-23-24
Music Memories Unlocked
To the 80s and makes the songs come alive with their real stories. It’s full of fun facts and surprising details about your favorite hits. If you love 80s music, this will bring back great memories. A perfect mix of nostalgia and trivia!
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- D. R. R. Hatch
- 11-19-24
Stories behind the songs
When you learn the story behind any song, it makes it that much better. This is a really cool history and trivia behind some of the world's best music to ever grace this planet. The 80's was an amazing time with so many great things that happened, the music being one of those great things!
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- Kris Woo
- 11-23-24
Brought back a lot of great memories
As an 80s baby, this brought back a lot of good memories. I enjoyed learning interesting facts and stories about some of the biggest songs from that decade. I also liked the narrator’s voice, as he's friendly and engaging, and sounds like a friend along for the road trip. If you’re a fan of music and stories, this one is worth checking out.
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- David
- 11-21-24
Like a time machine back to the 80s!
I grew up in the 80s listening to all these amazing songs, so it's really cool to hear the stories behind the songs ("Every Breath You Take" blew my mind). Narrated wonderfully by Nick Paras, it has the right amount of information, style, and fun to keep you listening for hours. I recommend it to anyone who loves this music and wants more background trivia knowledge to stuff in their brain! Highly recommended!
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- #Millennial
- 11-19-24
Nostalgic
Nostalgia--that's what you get when you listen to this audiobook, especially for those who love 80s music. It's cool listening to the behind-the-scenes stories of these songs. The mix of trivia and history keeps it interesting, and it made me appreciate those iconic hits even more. If you grew up with 80s radio or just love the music from that era, you will enjoy listening to this audiobook. It is entertaining, fun, and full of little surprises that make you want to share what you learned with everyone. A must-listen for music lovers!
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- Michael
- 11-21-24
Crazy interesting stories!
I was really suprised to learn more about some of these songs I love and some more that I forgot about until hearing this audiobook! There are some truly great songs to learn about and some truly cool things going on behind the scenes that you never could have guessed.
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- Knowledge1000
- 11-17-24
Backstage Pass to the 80s!
This book is like cracking open a time capsule full of neon, big hair, and epic tunes! Smilin’ Don’s Stories Behind the Songs is pure 80s gold. Every page is packed with fun trivia and wild stories behind the biggest hits of the decade. Totally a must-read for any 80s music lover!
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- J.S.
- 11-24-24
A Nostalgic Trip
If you're an 80s music buff or just love a good trip down memory lane, "Smilin' Don's Stories Behind the Songs: 1980-1989" is a great listen. This book is all about the stories, inspiration, and secrets behind the biggest hits of the decade.
Ever wondered who the real "Jessie's Girl" is or why they banned "Another Brick in the Wall" somewhere? This book gives you the answers, and then some. It's a total blast from the past, like you're back in the 80s with all the neon and the sweet tunes. If you love music and want to reminisce and learn some cool stuff, this is for you!
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- Juan Cueva
- 11-21-24
The 80s Come Alive with Heart and Fun
This book is a joy to read. The author takes you back to the 80s with stories that feel so real and close, like you’re hearing them from an old friend. The way each song is explained is clear and easy to follow, but also so exciting.
One part that really stayed with me was the story of Blondie. It brought back a memory from years ago when I was in my classroom with my little ones. One day, a child started singing and dancing to a song from that time. They didn’t know all the words, but they sang with so much happiness. It reminded me that music doesn’t need to be perfect to touch the heart.
The author captures that feeling—the way songs bring us together, no matter how young or old we are. What I really loved was how the stories showed that even famous artists started small, dreaming big. It teaches us that hard work and a little faith can take us far.
Reading this book felt like a gift. It makes you want to dance, sing, and remember all the good times. The author wrote everything so clearly that even someone who doesn’t know much about music will enjoy it. And if you lived through the 80s, it’s even better.
I think anyone who loves music or just good stories will find this book special. It’s a reminder to hold onto the things that make us smile.
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- Kaylee
- 11-21-24
Such a unique book!
This book was so interesting I’m glad I picked it up! This book covered so many fascinating songs that I’ve listened to my entire life but have never thought twice about. Now I know the backstory to a lot of these things and other interesting facts I never would have known otherwise.
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