"Someday, Someway" by Robert Gordon

Song#:  0647
Date:  06/27/1981
Debut:  90
Peak:  76
Weeks:  4
Genre:  Rockabilly



Pop Bits:  Once Gordon heard Elvis Presley, he knew he had found his profession. He joined a couple of bands that got some attention early in his career, including the NYC punk group Tuff Darts, but ultimately he struck out on his own working on the rockabilly sound he first heard as a kid. Timing is everything and Gordon recorded his first record in collaboration with rockabilly legend Link Wray and it was issued in 1978, just when the genre was beginning a resurgence. The LP did pretty well and a single, "Red Hot," reached #83 on the chart (oddly due to the death of Presley as Gordon's music/voice were deemed similar and the song got airplay). Later, he signed with Presley's home label, RCA, and issued four albums for them. The last one, "Are You Gonna Be the One," featured this single which would be his last song to reach the chart.

ReduxReview:  Gordon was lucky to get hold of this song and it's a shame it didn't do better on the chart. It's a great song with Gordon's take a little more frantic than the writer's version (see below), which works well. Also, Gordon has a nice voice that is perfect for the tune. Fortunately, the song later did make it to the Top 40 and got some more exposure.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  Double Shot!  1) Gordon's second LP contained the Bruce Springsteen-penned "Fire." The song was offered to Gordon after Springsteen saw him perform. Springsteen even played piano on the recording. But the song ended up getting overshadowed when The Pointer Sisters recorded their hit #2 version.  2) This song was written by a then up-and-coming new artist Marshall Crenshaw. He would eventually do his own version the following year and reach the Top 40 with it, eclipsing the peak of Gordon's version.

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