Song#: 0648
Date: 06/27/1981
Debut: 88
Peak: 39
Weeks: 14
Genre: Southern Rock
Pop Bits: This Texas band got together in 1974 and a couple years later released their debut album for Arista. Bill Ham, who managed ZZ Top, had taken on this group but they couldn't reach the same level of success. However, they were a popular touring act and they managed to get out six LPs before calling it quits in 1983. Before doing that, they achieved their one and only chart entry with this radio hit from their album "American Exce$$."
ReduxReview: Oddly, I remember this song even though it wasn't a big hit and is not in a genre I frequently like to hear. The beginning almost plays like an older ZZ Top tune, but the chorus moves towards arena rock territory. I think by this time the band was trying to be more commercial and basically succeeded with this song. For a style that I don't usually like, this is a pretty good ditty and one that sort of stuck with me.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: Long before guiding ZZ Top to fame, Bill Ham recorded a single for Dot Records in 1960. On the same label as Pat Boone (and a similar sound), the single "Wanderer" didn't go anywhere. A decade later, he would be helping ZZ Top release their debut album.
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Saturday, December 7, 2013
Friday, December 6, 2013
"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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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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Thursday, December 5, 2013
"On and On and On" by ABBA
Song#: 0646
Date: 06/27/1981
Debut: 92
Peak: 90
Weeks: 6
Genre: Pop
Pop Bits: This third single from their "Super Trouper" LP spent quite a bit of time in the basement of the chart. It peaked only two positions higher than it debuted, but lingered around for six weeks. Although the album was their second-best peaking on the chart at #17 and went gold (their last studio album to do so), it was not their best-selling album by far. Their 1992 compilation album "Gold" would initially peak at #32, but it would go on to sell over six million copies in the US - that is more that all of their other certified albums combined. It is also their worldwide best-seller at 28 million making it on the list of the forty best-selling albums of all-time.
ReduxReview: This song is a bit rockier (well, relatively speaking) than a good chunk of ABBA songs and the Beach Boys-ee "do-do's" in the chorus are a nice reference. I think it's a pretty smart song and I'm not sure why it didn't connect with radio/listeners in the US. Due to some of their previous Eurodisco-ish hits, they may have been tagged as disco and with that genre on the outs, they may have been unfairly dumped by US radio. It's too bad because I think folks missed a solid hit here.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: This single was not chosen for release worldwide. It was issued in just a few countries including the US, where it made little impact. However, it did reach #9 in Australia and Top 20 in France.
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Date: 06/27/1981
Debut: 92
Peak: 90
Weeks: 6
Genre: Pop
Pop Bits: This third single from their "Super Trouper" LP spent quite a bit of time in the basement of the chart. It peaked only two positions higher than it debuted, but lingered around for six weeks. Although the album was their second-best peaking on the chart at #17 and went gold (their last studio album to do so), it was not their best-selling album by far. Their 1992 compilation album "Gold" would initially peak at #32, but it would go on to sell over six million copies in the US - that is more that all of their other certified albums combined. It is also their worldwide best-seller at 28 million making it on the list of the forty best-selling albums of all-time.
ReduxReview: This song is a bit rockier (well, relatively speaking) than a good chunk of ABBA songs and the Beach Boys-ee "do-do's" in the chorus are a nice reference. I think it's a pretty smart song and I'm not sure why it didn't connect with radio/listeners in the US. Due to some of their previous Eurodisco-ish hits, they may have been tagged as disco and with that genre on the outs, they may have been unfairly dumped by US radio. It's too bad because I think folks missed a solid hit here.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: This single was not chosen for release worldwide. It was issued in just a few countries including the US, where it made little impact. However, it did reach #9 in Australia and Top 20 in France.
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Wednesday, December 4, 2013
"Touch Me When We're Dancing" by Carpenters
Song#: 0645
Date: 06/20/1981
Debut: 76
Peak: 16
Weeks: 14
Genre: Pop, Adult Contemporary
Pop Bits: Immensely popular during their 70s heyday, Richard and Karen Carpenter scored three #1's, five #2's and four other Top 10's from 1970 to 1975. Tagged by critics as white-bread and saccharine, it didn't deter record buyers who gave them eight platinum and six gold albums. It wasn't until years later in the 90s that naysayers came around and lauded their music - especially Karen's voice. The duo's popularity began to wane in the late 70s as tastes were changing and their style of easy listening/AC was not in favor. They had not had a Top 20 hit since 1976 and their last studio album was the first to not go gold since their debut in 1969. But plenty of Carpenters fans still were around when they released their first album of the 80s, "Made in America," and this single found its way into the Top 20 - their last to do so. It also became their fifteenth and final #1 hit on the AC chart. The album would also be the duo's final new release due to Karen's death in 1983 of heart failure stemming from long bout with anorexia nervosa.
ReduxReview: You know, back in the day it was beyond uncool to like the Carpenters. They had such a clean, all-American image and their AC tunes were poo-poo'd by so many. Of course, I had a secret love of them and was especially fond of Karen's voice. I think it was/is one of the best in all of pop music. I like to call it "sadly beautiful." Her tone was amazing and she just seemed so committed to each song. Nowadays, most anyone says "oh, I love the Carpenters" and to that I say thanks for coming out of the closet! You should have back in the day, you bandwangoner. Yeah, their music could be spotty (the hits are amazing while some of their album material was pretty awful), but I adored them then, as I do even more now. Their "Made in America" album was not very good, but it did have a couple of highlights - this single being one of them. Although not top-notch Carpenters, it was one of their better latter day tunes.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) This song was originally done by the group Bama in 1979. Their single reached #42 on the AC chart that year. A few other country artists covered the song with the most successful being the group Alabama who took the single to #1 on the country chart in 1986. 2) Carpenters were nominated for several Grammy awards and won three including Best New Artist in 1970.
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Date: 06/20/1981
Debut: 76
Peak: 16
Weeks: 14
Genre: Pop, Adult Contemporary
Pop Bits: Immensely popular during their 70s heyday, Richard and Karen Carpenter scored three #1's, five #2's and four other Top 10's from 1970 to 1975. Tagged by critics as white-bread and saccharine, it didn't deter record buyers who gave them eight platinum and six gold albums. It wasn't until years later in the 90s that naysayers came around and lauded their music - especially Karen's voice. The duo's popularity began to wane in the late 70s as tastes were changing and their style of easy listening/AC was not in favor. They had not had a Top 20 hit since 1976 and their last studio album was the first to not go gold since their debut in 1969. But plenty of Carpenters fans still were around when they released their first album of the 80s, "Made in America," and this single found its way into the Top 20 - their last to do so. It also became their fifteenth and final #1 hit on the AC chart. The album would also be the duo's final new release due to Karen's death in 1983 of heart failure stemming from long bout with anorexia nervosa.
ReduxReview: You know, back in the day it was beyond uncool to like the Carpenters. They had such a clean, all-American image and their AC tunes were poo-poo'd by so many. Of course, I had a secret love of them and was especially fond of Karen's voice. I think it was/is one of the best in all of pop music. I like to call it "sadly beautiful." Her tone was amazing and she just seemed so committed to each song. Nowadays, most anyone says "oh, I love the Carpenters" and to that I say thanks for coming out of the closet! You should have back in the day, you bandwangoner. Yeah, their music could be spotty (the hits are amazing while some of their album material was pretty awful), but I adored them then, as I do even more now. Their "Made in America" album was not very good, but it did have a couple of highlights - this single being one of them. Although not top-notch Carpenters, it was one of their better latter day tunes.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) This song was originally done by the group Bama in 1979. Their single reached #42 on the AC chart that year. A few other country artists covered the song with the most successful being the group Alabama who took the single to #1 on the country chart in 1986. 2) Carpenters were nominated for several Grammy awards and won three including Best New Artist in 1970.
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Tuesday, December 3, 2013
"You Are Forever" by Smokey Robinson
Song#: 0644
Date: 06/20/1981
Debut: 79
Peak: 59
Weeks: 7
Genre: R&B
Pop Bits: Robinson was at the peak of his solo career with the single "Being with You" (#2) being his biggest pop hit and the same-titled album reaching #10 - his only solo album to do so. Unfortunately, this follow-up single petered out quickly and killed the momentum, as did most of his early-to-mid 80s singles. It would take another six years before he would see the Top 10 again.
ReduxReview: Although written by Robinson (as was "Being with You"), it is just not as strong as that hit. It's a pleasant song, but it just pales in comparison when put next to that song or his other hits. It couldn't make much headway on the R&B chart either peaking at #31.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: In addition to hits with The Miracles and his own solo works, Robinson also wrote major hits for other artists including classics like "My Guy" (Mary Wells, #1, 1964), "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (The Temptations, #11, 1964), and "My Girl" (The Temptations, #1, 1965).
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Date: 06/20/1981
Debut: 79
Peak: 59
Weeks: 7
Genre: R&B
Pop Bits: Robinson was at the peak of his solo career with the single "Being with You" (#2) being his biggest pop hit and the same-titled album reaching #10 - his only solo album to do so. Unfortunately, this follow-up single petered out quickly and killed the momentum, as did most of his early-to-mid 80s singles. It would take another six years before he would see the Top 10 again.
ReduxReview: Although written by Robinson (as was "Being with You"), it is just not as strong as that hit. It's a pleasant song, but it just pales in comparison when put next to that song or his other hits. It couldn't make much headway on the R&B chart either peaking at #31.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: In addition to hits with The Miracles and his own solo works, Robinson also wrote major hits for other artists including classics like "My Guy" (Mary Wells, #1, 1964), "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (The Temptations, #11, 1964), and "My Girl" (The Temptations, #1, 1965).
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Monday, December 2, 2013
"The Kid Is Hot Tonight" by Loverboy
Song#: 0643
Date: 06/20/1981
Debut: 81
Peak: 55
Weeks: 7
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: Canadian group Loverboy's self-titled debut album was platinum success in the US bolstered by the rock hit "Turn Me Loose" (#35 pop). Their follow-up single was this lead track off the album which hit the Canadian Top 20, but fell short on the US chart.
ReduxReview: Although not quite as good or memorable as "Turn Me Loose," it's a pretty good chunk of early-80s rock and a worthy follow-up to that song.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: The artwork for the cover of their debut album was done by Canadian artist Barbara Astman. Her work often will be a mix of photography with other modern technological media. She will also user her own image as the basis for her work, as she did on the "Loverboy" cover. The image displayed is a self-portrait Polaroid pic of the artist that includes lyrics from the album typed directly on the photo. The cover was her first commercial piece of work.
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Date: 06/20/1981
Debut: 81
Peak: 55
Weeks: 7
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: Canadian group Loverboy's self-titled debut album was platinum success in the US bolstered by the rock hit "Turn Me Loose" (#35 pop). Their follow-up single was this lead track off the album which hit the Canadian Top 20, but fell short on the US chart.
ReduxReview: Although not quite as good or memorable as "Turn Me Loose," it's a pretty good chunk of early-80s rock and a worthy follow-up to that song.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: The artwork for the cover of their debut album was done by Canadian artist Barbara Astman. Her work often will be a mix of photography with other modern technological media. She will also user her own image as the basis for her work, as she did on the "Loverboy" cover. The image displayed is a self-portrait Polaroid pic of the artist that includes lyrics from the album typed directly on the photo. The cover was her first commercial piece of work.
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Sunday, December 1, 2013
"Some Changes Are for Good" by Dionne Warwick
Song#: 0642
Date: 06/20/1981
Debut: 82
Peak: 65
Weeks: 6
Genre: Pop, Adult Contemporary
Pop Bits: After her second successful album with her new label home Arista ("No Night So Long," #23 LP, #23 pop title-track), Warwick issued her first solo live album in a decade. "Hot! Live and Otherwise" was a double-LP that featured three sides of live performances and one side of new studio recordings. The disc was not a major success, petering out at #72, and this first studio-track single didn't do well in promoting the album. A second attempt at a single with "There's a Long Road Ahead of Us" fared even worse and couldn't get on the chart.
ReduxReview: Although not a bad tune, it's just another standard balls-out pop ballad that isn't really a standout. Warwick sounds as good as usual and belts it up, but it's kind of wasted on a paint-by-numbers song.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: Warwick's first #1 pop hit came in 1974 in a duet with the Spinners. Produced by Thom Bell, "Then Came You" was not an initial favorite of Warwick's. She wasn't a fan of the song but Bell thought different. They apparently made a bet by ripping a dollar bill in half, signing a half, and exchanging the halves. Bell said if the song didn't hit #1, he's send her the other half. Well, guess who got half of a dollar bill sent to him with an apology on it...?
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Date: 06/20/1981
Debut: 82
Peak: 65
Weeks: 6
Genre: Pop, Adult Contemporary
Pop Bits: After her second successful album with her new label home Arista ("No Night So Long," #23 LP, #23 pop title-track), Warwick issued her first solo live album in a decade. "Hot! Live and Otherwise" was a double-LP that featured three sides of live performances and one side of new studio recordings. The disc was not a major success, petering out at #72, and this first studio-track single didn't do well in promoting the album. A second attempt at a single with "There's a Long Road Ahead of Us" fared even worse and couldn't get on the chart.
ReduxReview: Although not a bad tune, it's just another standard balls-out pop ballad that isn't really a standout. Warwick sounds as good as usual and belts it up, but it's kind of wasted on a paint-by-numbers song.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: Warwick's first #1 pop hit came in 1974 in a duet with the Spinners. Produced by Thom Bell, "Then Came You" was not an initial favorite of Warwick's. She wasn't a fan of the song but Bell thought different. They apparently made a bet by ripping a dollar bill in half, signing a half, and exchanging the halves. Bell said if the song didn't hit #1, he's send her the other half. Well, guess who got half of a dollar bill sent to him with an apology on it...?
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