"Don't Want No-Body" by J.D. Drews

Song#:  0449
Date:  12/27/1980
Debut:  88
Peak:  79
Weeks:  6
Genre:  Pop, New Wave



Pop Bits:  Jürgen Drews, aka J.D. Drews, is a German musician who began his recording career with songs produced by Giorgio Morodor back in the late-60s. Not much happened with those and he then found himself as part of the popular group the Les Humphries Singers (a large vocal group modeled after the US's Edwin Hawkins Singers). The group had several hit songs and albums in Germany and Drews stayed with them until he left for a full-time solo career in 1976. He had a #1 hit covering the Bellamy Brothers' "Let Your Love Flow" (as "Ein Bett im Kornfeld"), but failed to really follow it up. Drews then decided to see if the US market would be any better and he recorded an album the Unicorn label that yielded this lone chart song. He returned to Germany and continued to record and work in TV and film, remaining popular and even grabbing a Top 10 hit in Germany in 2009.

ReduxReview:  Although I like the remake better (see below), this is a pretty good shot at some pop/new wave. His vocals are kind of annoying in the verses, but I guess it kind of fits the style/attitude of the song. I think it makes for a good single, but there is just something about it that doesn't connect. Like something missing in the arrangement that really pushes it and makes it a Top 40 contender. It has a crappy ending too. But as-is, I still like it.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  This song might sound familiar to a few people. Somehow it found it's way onto the 1982 debut album of Toni Basil, "Word of Mouth." That album featured the #1 hit "Mickey." The title was shortened to just "Nobody" and it ended up being the second single released from the album. It did not hit the chart, but did go to #52 in the UK.

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