Song#: 0578
Date: 04/25/1981
Debut: 82
Peak: 39
Weeks: 11
Genre: Pop, R&B
Pop Bits: Band leader Billy Vera would eventually become known for the #1 single "At This Moment" (1986), but long before that, Vera put three singles on the chart in 1967 and 1968. His first two were duets with R&B artist Judy Clay with "Country Girl - City Man" doing the best at #36. He then had a solo entry with Bobby Goldsboro's "With Pen in Hand" (#43). But as the 70s came in, Vera focused his music efforts on songwriting and even got a #1 country hit with Dolly Parton recording his "I Really Got the Feeling" (1979). Vera developed The Beaters to play the club's around L.A. and their shows caught the attention of Alfa Records who signed the group. The resulting album, "Billy & the Beaters," was recorded live and this first single just scratched the Top 40.
ReduxReview: Again, I'm not a fan of live recordings. But in this case the album contained songs not previously released in studio versions. So these, in effect, are the originals. Vera and the band sound great and the song is a nice throwback to some old-school rock 'n' soul. With Bruce Springsteen hitting with "Hungry Heart" around this time, this fits right in there and it did pretty well on the chart.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: Vera is also a Grammy winner, but not for music. He wrote the liner notes to the Ray Charles compilation set "Singular Genius: The Complete ABC Singles" (2011) and nabbed a Grammy for Best Album Notes.
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