"The Salt in My Tears" by Martin Briley

Song#:  1460
Date:  05/21/1983
Debut:  86
Peak:  36
Weeks:  15
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  English singer/songwriter Briley got his first stab at fame when his band, Mandrake (not the German metal band), got signed to EMI when he was still a teenager. They released a couple of singles, but nothing came from them. After a stint in the prog-rock band Greenslade, he moved on to become a well-known session guitarist and vocalist. The experience served him well and helped in securing his own solo deal with Mercury. His debut album, 1981's "Fear of the Unknown," came and went with little fanfare. His next album, "One Night with a Stranger," would be his breakthrough when this first single cracked the Pop Top 40. It also did well at Rock reaching #15. Unfortunately, it would prove to be his only hit. Besides a 1985 single, "Dangerous Moments," that reached #31 at Rock, the rest of Briley's solo output tanked.

ReduxReview:  I thought this song was just okay on initial release, but I've grown to really like it over the years. I especially love the hook line "But I won't cry for the wasted years, cause you ain't worth the salt in my tears." What an awesome final kiss-off. It pairs well with Paul Carrack's 1987 single "Don't Shed a Tear" (#9).

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia: Although his solo career was brief, Briley remained a very active studio musician and songwriter. Many of his songs got recorded by artists like Michael Bolton, Barry Manilow, Pat Benatar, Kenny Loggins, Celine Dion, and even Patrick Swayze and David Hasselhoff. However, none of the songs he wrote for others would top "The Salt in My Tears" on the Pop chart.

_________________________________________________________________________________