"Harden My Heart" by Quarterflash

Top 10 Alert!

Gold Record Alert!

Song#:  0782
Date:  10/17/1981
Debut:  80
Peak:  3
Weeks:  24
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  Hailing from Portland, Oregon, husband and wife Marv and Rindy Ross formed the crux of the group with Rindy supplying the lead vocals and playing sax. The band was signed to Geffen and issued their self-titled debut album that featured this first hit single. Its success propelled the LP to #8 and it was eventually certified platinum.

ReduxReview:  Admit it - when you first heard the song you thought it was Pat Benatar. Many did (including myself) but after a couple listens there was just something off about the record. It was like Benatar-lite. Once you found out it was Quarterflash, then it all made sense. Sometimes sounding like another artist is kind of curse, but in this case I think it was an advantage. Benatar was still doing edgier rock and Quarterflash offered a similar sound that was more pop friendly. It's a great song that still plays well today.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  Before getting signed to a record deal, the group was originally known as Seafood Mama. They had recorded this song for an independent label in 1980 and it became a local hit for the band. Once on Geffen, they changed their name and re-recorded this song for their debut.

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"Snake Eyes" by Alan Parsons Project

Song#:  0781
Date:  10/17/1981
Debut:  86
Peak:  67
Weeks:  5
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  The Project was having their best success yet with two singles from their "The Turn of a Friendly Card" album reaching the Top 20: "Games People Play" (#16) and "Time" (#15). The singles helped the album get to #13 on the chart and reach platinum status - their second to do so. This third single was issued from the LP, but it couldn't match the success of the others.

ReduxReview:  Not known for being a singles band, getting two songs in the Top 20 was probably unexpected. So another follow-up was probably necessary and this one may have had the best shot even though it's not really a great singles song. It works well on the album, but on its own it just wasn't as strong as the other two hits.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  The title track of the album is actually a suite that is made up of five different songs. "Snake Eyes" is the second song in the suite.

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"Slip Away" by Pablo Cruise

Song#:  0780
Date:  10/17/1981
Debut:  88
Peak:  75
Weeks:  5
Genre:  Soft Rock



Pop Bits:  The group's sixth album, "Reflector," produced a Top 20 single when "Cool Love" reached #13. The LP's second single couldn't generate any interest and it got stuck in the bottom quarter of the chart. It would be their last song to reach the chart. The band would issue one more album before calling it quits.

ReduxReview:  This is not a bad song, but it is a snoozer of a single. There is nothing about this that would make it stand out on radio. That album did not have a bounty of great songs, but there were a couple that seemed to be more single-worthy than this one. So why this sleeper was chosen is a mystery.

ReduxRating:  4/10

Trivia:  Founding member Cory Lerios later formed a production company that composed music for films and TV. He won a Daytime Emmy in 1997 for Outstanding Musical Direction and Composition for a Drama Series for his work on the soap "Days of Our Lives."

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"I Surrender" by Arlan Day

Song#:  0779
Date:  10/17/1981
Debut:  90
Peak:  71
Weeks:  7
Genre:  Pop, Adult Contemporary



Pop Bits:  It can be fun and interesting to find out what happened to an artist after their time on the chart came to an end (and in cases like this, barely got started). Information on Arlan Day was minimal at best. The most you could find was that he was born in Manchester, England, under the name Alan Green. He got signed to the CBS label Pasha and issued the LP "I Surrender," which featured this low-charting title track single. But a search under his real name got me to a sight that told me a lot more. Green got involved in Shakespearean history and the ongoing controversy of whether Shakespeare really wrote his works or if someone else did. His research lead him to author the 2011 "I, Shakespeare," a puzzle-oriented book, and compose a musical based on the subject called "Bard," which apparently will debut in 2016. But way before all this, Green (aka Arlan Day) landed on the pop chart for a brief moment and hit #27 at AC.

ReduxReview:  While I wouldn't say this is a lost treasure of the 80s, I would say it is an interesting find. It has a nice SoCal pop/jazz sound that is easy and breezy. Nothing about it will blow you away, but it's certainly pleasant enough hear while enjoying cocktails on a sunny day.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  Green's publishing career started much earlier. Back in 1986, he wrote a book that is considered the first desktop-self-published celebrity book. Along with Monkee Davy Jones, Green wrote "They Made a Monkee Out of Me" on his MacPlus computer. Green had been Jones' musical manager and friend and the bio ended up becoming a hit. Green followed that with "Mutant Monkees," which won an award at MacExpo for best desktop-published book in 1992.

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"Waiting for a Girl Like You" by Foreigner

Top 10 Alert!
Platinum Record Alert!

Song#:  0778
Date:  10/10/1981
Debut:  42
Peak:  2
Weeks:  23
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  It is interesting that Foreigner's single "Urgent" from their massive hit album "4" peaked at #4. But this second single from the LP broke through the "four" barrier and reached #2. In doing so, it also set a chart record. The song stayed in the #2 position for a record-setting 10 weeks. It had the unfortunate luck of getting stuck behind Olivia Newton John's mega-hit "Physical" for 9 of those weeks and by the time the 10th week was rolling around, the single was loosing power and it got bested by Hall & Oates' "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)." The single still holds the record for amount of weeks at #2, but it had to share the record in 2002 when Missy Elliot's "Work It" achieved the same frustrating feat.

ReduxReview:  I have to admit that I didn't like this song when it came out. I can't even explain why. I guess I just didn't connect with the tune. It was all over the radio back then and I remember whenever it came on I would immediately change the station. But time passes by and tastes change and I have come to like the song. I can't say the same about their next big hit ballad...

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  The group's album "4" was originally titled "Silent Partners." The cover design showed a man asleep in bed and hovering over him were a pair of binoculars. Apparently the band thought this image had homosexual overtones and completely rejected the cover. They changed the album title and selected a new design that depicted the number 4 in the countdown of a film leader. The rejected image can be seen here. Maybe it is just me, but I don't get how this depicts homosexuality. Hmmm...

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"The Old Songs" by Barry Manilow

Song#:  0777
Date:  10/10/1981
Debut:  57
Peak:  15
Weeks: 16
Genre:  Pop, Adult Contemporary



Pop Bits:  Although the Manilow sound was waning at pop radio, he was still a draw at AC and this first single from his "If I Should Love Again" album was proof as it became his thirteenth #1 on that chart. That support probably helped this get into the pop Top 20, one of his last to do so. Manilow would collect up another platinum award with the disc peaking at #14, but he wouldn't see chart heights like this again for a studio album until a sudden resurgence in popularity in 2006 spawned his second #1 album, "The Greatest Songs of the Fifties."

ReduxReview:  Even though his style of music was being ushered out the back door, before leaving Manilow proved that he could sell a big-ass ballad better than anyone. He had a little fuel left in the tank with this album and this single was one of his best latter-day hits. It's classic Manilow done in his inimitable style.

ReduxRating:  8/10

Trivia:  Manilow's given name is Barry Alan Pincus. He became Manilow after adopting his mother's maiden name.

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"One More Night" by Streek

Song#:  0776
Date:  10/10/1981
Debut:  78
Peak:  47
Weeks:  7
Genre:  Soft Rock, Pop



Pop Bits:  Not much is known about this L.A.-based group except that they were signed to CBS Records and issued a self-titled debut album in 1981. This was the first single lifted from the LP and it got as far as the Top 50. Apparently, that wasn't enough to keep them going and no other recordings were done by the band.

ReduxReview:  Well, not necessarily surprised they kind of disappeared after this. It's a bland pop/rock power ballad that has one of those arm-swaying choruses that teenagers like - ala the "American Idol" front audience. But apparently not enough as it didn't get very far. I will say that it sounds like they really committed and put their all into the song, but unfortunately the material is just not that great.

ReduxRating:  4/10

Trivia:  Double Shot!  1) One member of the band was Billy DeMartines. He was a member of Iron Butterfly for a couple of years beginning in 1975 on keyboards and vocals.  2) The band was managed by Charles Roven. He switched from music to film soon after becoming a movie producer. He has been credited on several hit films including "12 Monkeys," "Three Kings," and "The Dark Knight." He most recently was a producer on the film "American Hustle" for which he received an Oscar nod via the Best Picture category.

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"When She Dances" by Joey Scarbury

Song#:  0775
Date:  10/10/1981
Debut:  80
Peak:  49
Weeks:  9
Genre:  Pop



Pop Bits:  After the surprise #1 success of "Theme from 'Greatest American Hero' (Believe It or Not)," Scarbury quickly cobbled together an album called "America's Greatest Hero" to capitalize on the single's success. This follow-up single from the album just didn't catch fire like the TV theme and it fizzled before reaching the Top 40. It would be Scarbury's final chart single and his only full album release.

ReduxReview:  I think the problem with this follow-up is that it is nothing like the pure pop of "Believe It or Not." It has a more laid back blue-eyed soul feel that doesn't really go with the previous song's straight-ahead pop/rock sound. If I had heard this back in the day, I probably would not have guessed the song was by Scarbury. When a quickie album is pulled together like this, it doesn't usually work in favor of the artist. They don't have time to establish their sound or an identity and it all ends up a little messy and inconsistent. The same thing would happen soon for another artist with an unexpected hit - Michael Sembello and his "Maniac." These are talented folks who, if given time, might have come out with something solid. But labels will push for product while things are hot and the artist usually ends up with a one-and-done deal. Ah well. I guess having one big hit is better than none at all.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  Included on the "America's Greatest Hero" album was a song called "Take This Heart of Mine." It was written by an up-and-coming musician who would would have his own chart hits in a few years - Bruce Hornsby.

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"Wired for Sound" by Cliff Richard

Song#:  0774
Date:  10/10/1981
Debut:  83
Peak:  71
Weeks:  4
Genre:  Pop



Pop Bits:  Since his first chart entry in 1959, Richard could barely dent the US pop chart even though he was a huge star in the UK. He finally broke through with 1976's "Devil Woman" (#6) and several more hits followed including two other Top 10's. But his streak began to wind down when this title-track single to his next LP came out. Again, the song was another hit for him in the UK reaching #4, but in the US it could only muster a month on the chart. Richard will still grab one more Top 40 entry, but this basically brought an end to his success in the US.

ReduxReview:  This song is a bit unusual. It kind of has an early new wave-ish Billy Joel sound to it. I like the tune, but I'm not sure it is the best single. Richards's voice is a little strange here. It seems a little thin as compared to his other hits. It takes a few listens to really latch onto the song, but it's a nice add to his catalog.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  The "Wired for Sound" LP would be Richard's fourth and last regular studio album to reach the US chart. His best showing was 1976's "I'm Nearly Famous," which only reached #76. By comparison, it would become his thirteenth UK Top 10 studio album and not even close to being his last. Out of his 42 UK studio albums, 39 of those would reach the chart. This includes 27 Top 10's with the most current one coming in 2013. You can easily boost that number by adding in all his live albums, compilations, and soundtracks that have reached the chart and Top 10 as well.

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"Bet Your Heart on Me" by Johnny Lee

Song#:  0773
Date:  10/10/1981
Debut:  84
Peak:  54
Weeks:  9
Genre:  Country



Pop Bits:  Lee broke into the mainstream with his #5 hit "Lookin' for Love" from the "Urban Cowboy" soundtrack. The #1 country hit was also included on his album "Looking for Love," which generated a second country #1 plus two other Top 10's. However, he remained absent from the pop chart until this title track from his follow-up album was issued. It became his third #1 country song and got about half way up the pop chart. He would go on to have several more country hits, but this would be his last song to reach the pop chart.

ReduxReview:  This is a well-done, well-written country tune that sounded like a lot of other songs on the country chart at the time. It's not country-country, but it's not country-pop either. It falls somewhere in between and thanks to "Urban Cowboy" there was quite a lot of artists fiddlin' with this style. It's okay, but there is not much to grab onto here and it just leaves me going...meh...

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  In addition to his music career, Lee did some acting roles on the side. His first appearance was in a 1979 TV movie called "The Girls in the Office." This was followed by his role in "Urban Cowboy." He then did some spots in hit TV shows like "Fantasy Island," "The A-Team," and others.

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"Never Too Much" by Luther Vandross

Song#:  0772
Date:  10/10/1981
Debut:  85
Peak:  33
Weeks:  15
Genre:  R&B



Pop Bits:  Vandross initially began his music career in the shadows of others as a background vocalist. Most famously, he sang on David Bowie's 1975 "Young Americans" LP (and co-wrote the song "Fascination" with Bowie) and performed on the subsequent tour. But it would be a few more years before he would begin to make a name for himself as a solo artist. Singing with the group Change, he would lead two songs to #1 on the dance chart, "The Glow of Love" and "Searchin'." He left that group and got signed to Epic where he recorded his debut album "Never Too Much." This title track single became a #1 hit at R&B and reach the Top 40 at pop. The album would also reach #1 and would nab him two Grammy nominations. One for Best New Artist and one for Best R&B Vocal Performance Male.

ReduxReview:  I think this song is appreciated much more now than on initial release. It was an R&B smash, but pop seemed a bit resistant. Regardless, it turned out to be a classic Luther song and the one that jump started his career. It's a pretty terrific jam.

ReduxRating:  8/10

Trivia:  Although "Never Too Much" was his official solo debut, Vandross did make an earlier attempt at a recording career. After his work with Bowie, Vandross assembled a group called Luther. They were signed to Cotillion Records and they recorded two albums in 1976 and 1977. Despite a couple minor R&B chart songs, the LP's fizzled and they were dropped from the label.

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