Song#: 1407
Date: 04/09/1983
Debut: 77
Peak: 46
Weeks: 10
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: Egan came close to getting his first big break when his Georgetown college band Sageworth and Drums almost inked a deal with Warner Bros. Records. It fell through and the band broke up. Luckily, while in D.C. Egan got involved in the country-rock music scene which included Emmylou Harris, who was just beginning her association with ex-Flying Burrito Brothers member Gram Parsons. Soon, everyone was out in L.A. with Egan's composition "Hearts on Fire" getting recorded by Parsons and Harris (for Parsons' seminal 1973 album "Grievous Angel"). Egan dove deeper into the SoCal music scene backing many artists while doing his own solo work. He finally got picked up by Columbia Records and issued his 1977 debut album, "Fundamental Roll," which was co-produced by newfound friends Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks. A year later, Buckingham also co-produced Egan's follow-up album "Not Shy." It featured the #8 gold record "Magnet and Steel," a song Egan wrote about Stevie Nicks (she sang backup on it as well). His career seemed set, but it would prove to be his peak moment as his next two albums tanked. He moved over to MCA for the album "Wild Exhibitions." It featured this single that came close to getting him back into the Top 40. It would be his final pop chart entry and his last album for sixteen years.
ReduxReview: I discovered this song just a year or so ago when I got an 80s rock radio compilation. It kind of has a Dave Edmunds feel to it. And like a lot of song along those lines, they really can't compete on the pop chart with the likes of "Billie Jean," or Duran Duran. That doesn't mean the songs are bad. Many are terrific. But it wasn't exactly what the kids were clamoring for. Egan's song is a good one, but I don't think it is something that would storm the charts, especially around this time. Egan's album had some more help from Lindsey Buckingham, which I think you can hear with the cool background vocals. I can't confirm it, but I wouldn't be surprised if Buckingham provided the guitar solo.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: For the rest of the 80s and 90s, Egan kept busy with music and other projects including trying to break into acting. During this time, Egan did do one thing that many burgeoning actors would do - appear on a game show. In fact, he was on two of them. In 1985, Egan appeared on the short-lived game show "Catch Phrase." He ended up winning the game four times. The following year he appeared on "Scrabble," but was not able to win. In regards to prizes won on the shows, Egan said in an online QA session "I won some money and lots of household gadget and way overpriced watches and things (contestants pay the tax, of course) and we're still eating Rice A Roni around here."
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