Monday, January 5, 2015

"Somebody's Baby" by Jackson Browne

Top 10 Alert!
Song#:  1127
Date:  07/31/1982
Debut:  73
Peak:  7
Weeks:  19
Genre:  Soft Rock, Soundtrack



Pop Bits:  Although Browne's albums were platinum sellers (his 1980 album "Hold Out" reached #1), he wasn't necessarily a singles artist. Until this single, he only managed one other Top 10 with 1972's "Doctor My Eyes" (#8) along with three other Top 20's. This one-off single recorded for the soundtrack to the film "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" became his second Top 10 and biggest hit. It would be his peak moment as his next albums contained more politically-themed material that didn't really suit the pop chart world.

ReduxReview:  This is easily Browne's most pop accessible single and it paid off for him. Initially, I didn't like this song and I wasn't a fan of Browne's.  I'm still not, but these days I can see the appeal of this tune. After listening to more of Browne's music, this song seems so out of character. I don't think anyone really expected him to put out a real mainstream pop song. The success was probably nice, but Browne wasn't interested in continuing in that direction and explored new themes with his next album.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  Directed by Amy Heckerling, "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" was received well at the box office, but not necessarily by critics. However, it became sort of a cult movie thanks to its VHS release and has since become significant due to the unknowns in the cast who later became major stars. In addition to Jennifer Jason Leigh, Phoebe Cates, Judge Reinhold, Eric Stoltz, and Anthony Edwards, the film featured three future Oscar winners - Sean Penn, Forest Whitaker, and Nicholas Cage (billed at the time as Nicholas Coppola). The soundtrack, which peaked at #54, boasted songs by four former members of the Eagles, thanks to the film's co-producer Irving Azoff who had been the band's personal manager.

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