Song#: 1155
Date: 08/28/1982
Debut: 90
Peak: 84
Weeks: 3
Genre: R&B
Pop Bits: The Tops' first album for the Casablanca label, "Tonight!," featured their comeback hit "When She Was My Girl" (#11 pop, #1 R&B). Their next album for the label, "One More Mountain," wasn't so fortunate as this first single barely made a dent in the pop chart and only got to #40 at R&B. The lack of a hit doomed the album and it failed to hit the pop album chart. It would be their last effort for the ailing label.
ReduxReview: Is it me or does this song have shades of "Cupid?" Hmmm. Regardless, it's not a great song and nowhere near the quality of "When You Were My Girl." It sounds like a bad knockoff of an older Motown hit. What's sad is that the b-side should have been a hit (see below). It eventually was, but lead singer Levi Stubb's original take on "I Believe in You and Me" is just beautiful. I never cared much for Whitney's take and I think Stubbs' sensitive reading outshines the diva's overly-dramatic gospel version. Sometimes restraint says a lot more than histrionics. I think this was a missed opportunity at a hit single. It far outshines this bland a-side.
ReduxRating: 3/10
Trivia: The b-side to this single received some attention as well and the single became a double-sided R&B chart entry which, as mentioned above, peaked at #40. The song went on to be a hit for a diva superstar. Whitney Houston covered "I Believe in You and Me" for inclusion on the soundtrack to her film "The Preacher's Wife." Her 1996 rendition reached #4 on both the pop and R&B charts while hitting #2 at AC. Houston would receive a Grammy nod for Best Female R&B Performance for the song.
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