"Morning Train (Nine to Five)" by Sheena Easton

#1 Alert!

Gold Record Alert!

Song#:  0498
Date:  02/14/1981
Debut:  74
Peak:  1 (2 weeks)
Weeks:  21
Genre:  Pop



Pop Bits:  Easton's background story of trying to break into the music business was all captured on film for the British TV series, "The Big Time," which took amateurs from different trades and put them in professional situations to see how they fared. For Easton, the show was a catalyst and she ended up getting a record deal with EMI. Her first UK single, "Modern Girl," was released before the show aired and didn't do well peaking at #56, but after the airing, this second single shot to #3 on the UK chart. The success of the song prompted a US release and it became Easton's first and only #1 Stateside hit. She quickly went from the show "The Big Time" to the actual big time eventually racking up eight Top 10 hits.

ReduxReview:  Honestly, this is a dorky pop song, but it is just so fun and well-done. For me it is one of those songs that starts and you go "oy, not this again." And then by the chorus you are singing and bopping along. It's just a happy tune and its hard not to smile when it is on. (And so innocent when compared to her later Princely "Sugar Walls" naughty era.)

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  The original title of this song is "9 to 5" and that is what it was released as all around the world - except for the US. At the time, Dolly Parton was about to hit #1 with her same-titled song. So to avoid any confusion, the US release was re-titled as "Morning Train."

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"Keep This Train A-Rollin'" by The Doobie Brothers

Song#:  0497
Date:  02/14/1981
Debut: 82
Peak:  62
Weeks:  5
Genre:  Soft Rock



Pop Bits:  This third single from their lackluster "One Step Closer" album couldn't do much to prompt further interest in the LP or group. By the end of the year, the last remaining original Doobie, Patrick Simmons, was headed out the door and they were expecting leader Michael McDonald to follow suit. With that, the group decided to call it quits and embarked on a farewell tour. Late in the 80s, the group would reform, but the tour officially ended the McDonald era of the group.

ReduxReview:  With the title, you might think that this song would be a throwback to the earlier Doobie sound. But alas, it is written by Michael McDonald and has that same soft rock, blue-eyed soul sound that he was famous for. Like the previous singles, it lacks any real punch and is basically forgettable.

ReduxRating:  4/10

Trivia:  Two of the Doobies in this current iteration, John McFee and Keith Knudsen, went on to form the successful country-rock group Southern Pacific after the Doobies split. The group ended up having four country Top 10 hits before disbanding in 1993.

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"Just the Two of Us" by Grover Washington, Jr. with Bill Withers

Top 10 Alert!

Grammy Alert!

Song#:  0496
Date:  02/14/1981
Debut:  83
Peak:  2
Weeks:  24
Genre:  R&B, Smooth Jazz



Pop Bits:  Saxophonist Washington was already a successful jazz/soul musician and one of the forerunners of what would become smooth jazz. From 1972 to 1978, he had seven straight #1 jazz albums with two of them hitting #1 R&B and two reaching #10 on the pop album chart. He would end up having six more #1 jazz albums, but his peak moment was his 1980 album "Winelight," which contained this single that featured the vocals of Bill Withers ("Lean on Me," #1, 1972). The song stayed at #2 for three weeks and it lifted the album to #5. Co-written by Withers, the song went on to with the Grammy for Best R&B Song.

ReduxReview:  The single version is really just a Bill Withers jam with Washington only playing in the mid-section and at the end. The full 7+ minute album version has a much longer Washington solo that fills it out. Regardless, it's a silky smooth song that is hard to resist.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  In addition to the Grammy for Best R&B Song, the song was nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year, and Withers was nominated for Best Pop Vocal, Male. The "Winelight" album also won for Best Jazzy Fusion Performance.

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"How 'Bout Us" by Champaign

Song#:  0495
Date:  02/14/1981
Debut:  84
Peak:  12
Weeks:  23
Genre:  R&B, Adult Contemporary



Pop Bits:  The group's signature tune was this first title-track single to their debut album. The ballad hit #5 on the R&B chart while just missing out on the pop Top 10. The tune would also be a major hit at AC where it reached #1. It would be their biggest hit and after a couple more albums, the group basically disbanded until a reunion in 1990 brought back members for a fourth album.

ReduxReview:  I've always liked this ballad. I think it is smooth and pretty and the vocals are quite nice. It is just kind of romantic and soothing. The only thing that drives me nuts on the song is when the lead vocal near the end goes "some...PEE...pohl." It's a big annoying but doesn't fully distract from this good tune.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  With the spelling of their name, the group was obviously not named after the French wine region (Champagne). They took their name from their hometown, Champaign, Illinois.

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"Yesterday Once More/Nothing Remains the Same" by The Spinners

Song#:  0494
Date:  02/14/1981
Debut:  85
Peak:  52
Weeks:  8
Genre:  R&B



Pop Bits:  The Spinners' previous two hits were medleys that combined a remake with a new tune. They hit the Top 10 with "Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me, Girl" (#2, gold) and "Cupid/I've Loved You For a Long Time" (#4). So why not try it again? This first single from their "Labor of Love" album followed the same formula by revisiting "Yesterday Once More" (originally a hit for The Carpenters, #2, 1973) and combining it with the new original "Nothing Remains the Same." Unfortunately, the magic didn't strike a third time and the song failed to even reach the top half of the chart (and only #32 R&B). 

ReduxReview:  Although it jams along quite well, I just don't think The Carpenters' chestnut really works here. It is not as enticing as the previous two remakes - especially "Working My Way Back to You." And the secondary song really derails the song as it is pretty unmemorable. The formula just didn't work this time.

ReduxRating:  4/10

Trivia:  The second song of each medley was written by Michael Zager, who also produced the songs. Zager himself had a couple of minor chart singles including the #36 "Let's All Chant" in 1978. (Which, if you have not heard, or don't think you have, you should - I completely forgot all about this song! It's a great disco tune.)

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"It's a Love Thing" by The Whispers

Song#:  0493
Date:  02/14/1981
Debut:  87
Peak:  28
Weeks:  15
Genre:  R&B



Pop Bits:  Following up their platinum selling self-titled album, featuring the gold hit "And the Beat Goes On," The Whispers put out the LP "Imagination. This first single didn't do as well as "And the Beat," but it did reach #2 on the R&B chart and it was enough to get the album to gold status.

ReduxReview:  This is a good single right along the lines of "And the Beat." I'm slightly surprised it didn't do better on the chart. I didn't remember "Beat," but once I heard this song I remembered it right away - mainly the chorus. When that dated keyboard sound started this song, I was a little worried. But the song kicked right in and I was a-jammin'. I think I like this a bit better than "Beat." It jams a bit harder and I love the swirling string lines in the background.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  Included on the "Imagination" album is the song "Up On the Soul Train." Written by Don Cornelius, the song served as the theme to TV's "Soul Train" show from 1980-1983.

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"Being With You" by Smokey Robinson

Top 10 Alert!

Gold Record Alert!

Song#:  0492
Date:  02/14/1981
Debut:  89
Peak:  2
Weeks:  25
Genre:  R&B, Adult Contemporary



Pop Bits:  Robinson's solo career after he left the Miracles in 1972 didn't amount to much on the pop chart with his best showing being the #26 "Baby That's Backatcha," from the classic "A Quiet Storm" album. Things finally changed for him when "Cruisin'" went Top 10 in 1979. After another slight lull, Robinson stormed the chart with this single. It spent three weeks in the #2 spot (#1 R&B) and became his biggest solo hit.

ReduxReview:  I've always kind of considered this the "Baker Street" of R&B. It starts off with a mysterious, recognizable sax section and then transfers to a happier pop-like song. Both songs are great and for me it is Robinson's best solo song.

ReduxRating:  8/10

Trivia:  In 1975, Robinson wrote and recorded the album "A Quiet Storm." With funk dominating the R&B music scene, Robinson decided to write an R&B album that was opposite in nature. The music was elegant and mature and it quickly became a romantic favorite. The album became highly influential as it inspired the "quite storm" radio format, typically a late-night program that played slow R&B jams and some light jazz. Other artists popular on quiet storm shows were Luther Vandross, Anita Baker, Sade, Al Green, and Barry White.

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"Proud" by The Joe Chemay Band

Song#:  0491
Date:  02/14/1981
Debut:  90
Peak:  68
Weeks:  8
Genre:  Pop, Soft Rock



Pop Bits:  Most music listeners may not know the name Joe Chemay, but I can probably guarantee you have heard him on record. As a bass player and vocalist, Chemay was a very popular studio session musician. He has played on recordings by the Beach Boys, Pink Floyd ("The Wall"), Kenny Rogers, Lionel Richie, Shania Twain, George Strait, Christopher Cross, and the list goes on-and-on. When the 80s rolled around, Chemay put together his own band and got signed to an RCA label. The group debuted their LP "The Riper The Finer" in 1981 and saw this first single get a little chart action. It would be the only chart song for the group and their only LP.

ReduxReview:  This is pretty nice slice of West Coast pop with a few lite-jazz touches. It's right in line with some of the other tunes I've covered already like "Who'll Be the Fool Tonight" by Larsen/Feiten Band. It's a good, solid song that may not have been a smash hit, but is worthy of a listen.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  Chemay would move to Nashville and continue his session work in addition to running a music production/marketing/music business company called Trifectone. He issued one solo album in 2007 called "Unformattable."

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"Fade Away" by Bruce Springsteen

Song#:  0490
Date:  02/07/1981
Debut:  65
Peak:  20
Weeks:  12
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  After all the accolades and hype as the new face of rock 'n' roll, Springsteen finally got a song into the Top 10 with "Hungry Heart" (#5) from his epic double-LP "The River." This follow-up single did a little business and nicked the Top 20, but the hit first single was enough to propel the album to #1 - his first.

ReduxReview:  I know this song from the album, but I never realized this was released as a single. I'm a little surprised it made it so far up the chart as it doesn't sound like it would make a good single. But the strength of the lead single and attention on the album probably helped. It's a good Springsteen ballad, but it has never been one of my favorites of his.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  Initially, Springsteen recorded and put together a single album and handed it in. The original title was to be "The Ties That Bind" and it contained ten songs. However, he felt like the disc needed to be bigger and more fleshed out so he took it back and then returned it as the double-LP "The River."

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"Don't Stand So Close to Me" by The Police

Top 10 Alert!

Grammy Alert!

Song#:  0489
Date:  02/07/1981
Debut:  78
Peak:  10
Weeks:  18
Genre:  Rock, New Wave



Pop Bits:  The Police just had their first Top 10 hit in the US with "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" (#10) when this second single from their "Zenyatta Mondatta" LP peaked at the same spot. The story of a schoolgirl's crush on her teacher ended up topping the charts in the UK becoming their third to do so. The song also won the group the Grammy for Best Rock Performance by Duo or Group.

ReduxReview:  I've always loved how the song starts out so dark and mysterious. It's actually one of the rare songs where I prefer the verse over the chorus. Usually, the chorus is your hook and what folks tend to remember and love about a song. The chorus here was always a bit clunky to me, but overall it is still a great song.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  In addition to the Grammy for Rock Performance, the group also won one for Best Rock Instrumental Performance for Andy Summers' composition "Behind My Camel." It was a sort of vindication for Summers as it was the first song he fully wrote himself and the other two band members didn't like it. Sting has even said he hated the song and refused to even play on it. I doubt winning a Grammy would change their minds, but I'm sure it gave Summers something to rub in their faces.

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"While You See a Chance" by Steve Winwood

Top 10 Alert!

Song#:  0488
Date:  02/07/1981
Debut:  80
Peak:  7
Weeks:  18
Genre:  Pop, Rock



Pop Bits:  Winwood had already found great success as a part of the legendary rock groups The Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, and Blind Faith (with Eric Clapton). But the demands of recording and touring constantly finally wore on Winwood and he scaled back ended up issuing his first solo album in 1977. The self-titled debut peaked at #22 but failed to produce any chart songs. That changed when he released "Arc of a Diver" and this first single shot into the Top 10. After so many years in successful groups, Winwood found himself getting attention as solo artist and it would continue for him throughout the 80s.

ReduxReview:  With its distinctive drippy/buzzy keyboard lick, the song is pretty memorable right off the bat. It's a terrific song and one that I've always liked. Oddly enough, I never bought the song but I do have it now. For me, it is one of his best solo songs and an excellent pop tune.

ReduxRating:  8/10

Trivia:  Winwood started in music at an early age and by age 15 he and his brother Muff found themselves in The Spencer Davis Group when it was formed in 1963. By 1966, Winwood wrote the band's first Top 10 hit, the classic "Gimme Some Lovin'" (#7).

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