"Heartbreak Hotel" by The Jacksons

Song#:  0430
Date:  12/06/1980
Debut:  84
Peak:  22
Weeks:  16
Genre:  R&B



Pop Bits:  The first single from their second self-produced album "Triumph," just missed the Top 10 as "Lovely One" peaked at #12 (#2 R&B). This second single couldn't get inside the Top 20 but it matched the peak of the first single on the R&B chart. It was enough to give The Jacksons their second platinum album in a row.

ReduxReview:  This is a far better single than their previous "Lovely One." It has shades of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" with it's theatrical approach, creepy lyrics, and sound effects. I think it is one of Michael's best songs that he contributed to a Jacksons album. His solo albums would still have better material, but this is a good tune. I'm not sure why it stalled out so low on the chart.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  This song was written by Michael Jackson and he supposedly titled it without knowing that Elvis Presley had a big hit with a song with the same title. When Jackson found this out, he changed the name of the song to "This Place Hotel" to avoid confusion with the Presley hit. Later pressings of the album reflected the title change, but when the song hit the pop chart it was listed as "Hearbreak Hotel."

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