"Sara" by Bill Champlin

Song#:  1124
Date:  07/31/1982
Debut:  82
Peak:  61
Weeks:  8
Genre:  Pop, Adult Contemporary



Pop Bits:  The first single from Champlin's second LP "Runaway" got him near the top half of the chart. "Tonight, Tonight" reached #55 and would be his best solo success. This second single did about as well hitting #61. Neither of the songs really put him on the map, but it helped extend his relationship with producer David Foster and that association led to Champlin becoming a member of Chicago. He would contribute songs to the band and sing lead on several singles including the 1988 #1 hit "Look Away." He remained with the band until 2008.

ReduxReview:  This song seems less Foster-ized than "Tonight, Tonight" and runs along the lines of West Coast pop. It's a good song that has some nice moments and is certainly a pleasant listen, but there's nothing special about it that could raise it out of the pop chart basement.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  Champlin co-wrote this song with a guy more famous for his TV role (and being a famous musician's dad) than his music. Canadian Alan Thicke had been working in TV since the 70s hosting game shows and even producing/co-writing shows like "Fernwood 2-Night." American audiences were introduced to Thicke via his 1983 late night talk show attempt "Thicke of the Night." The show failed after a season, but then he went on to star in the hit TV show "Growing Pains." Along the way, Thicke worked on music and with his wife at the time, soap actress Gloria Loring, he co-wrote several TV show themes including "Diff'rent Strokes" and "The Facts of Life." This co-write with Champlin is one of Thicke's few legit pop forays. Music ended up running in the family as Thicke's son, Robin, went on to have one of the biggest hits of 2013 - the controversial #1 "Blurred Lines."

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