"A Penny for Your Thoughts" by Tavares

Song#:  1181
Date:  09/18/1982
Debut:  78
Peak:  33
Weeks:  21
Genre:  R&B



Pop Bits:  The Tavares brothers had solid success in the 70s and began the 80s with the #10 R&B hit "Bad Times" (#47 pop). But things went downhill from there and they struggled to get anything significant on the charts. The guys decided to make a change and moved to the RCA label where they issued the LP "New Directions." This first single did provide a slight bump in their popularity by getting into the pop Top 40 and reaching #16 at R&B. It also garnered them a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Duo or Group. Unfortunately, the success would be short-lived with this single becoming their final pop chart entry. They would continue to place a few minor songs on the R&B chart, including the #10 "Deeper in Love," but by 1984 their recording career was done.

ReduxReview:  This is such a sweet single. There were a handful of terrific pop/R&B ballads hitting the charts around this time and this was one of them. It really deserved to do much better. Although they had significant hits, Tavaras has pretty much fallen off the radar these days. It's not all that surprising as they were underrated even in their heyday. Check 'em out if you get a chance.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  The brothers began working together in the 60s and initially called themselves Chubby and the Turnpikes. They had a couple of locally successful singles in the late 60s for Capitol Records. By 1973, they were just known as Tavares and they scored with the #5 R&B hit "Check It Out." Victor Tavares sang lead on the single, but decided to quit the group soon after. The remaining brothers carried on. Four of the brother became know by their nicknames - Chubby (used in their original group name), Pooch, Butch, and Tiny. The lone nickname holdout was Ralph.

_________________________________________________________________________________