"Whatever Happened to Old Fashioned Love" by B.J. Thomas

Song#:  1458
Date:  05/21/1983
Debut:  93
Peak:  93
Weeks:  2
Genre: Country Crossover, Adult Contemporary



Pop Bits:  Ever since his first single in 1966, Thomas bobbed between pop, country, and gospel and along the way grabbed five Pop Top 10's, five Country Top 10's, and thirteen AC Top 10's. Most folks remember his two biggest #1 hits, 1969's Oscar-winning "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" and 1975's "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song." When the hits stopped happening in the late 70s and early 80s, Thomas moved over to the country market and issued the 1983 LP "New Looks." This first single was released and it became a major country hit reaching the #1 spot. AC also liked the song and it hit #13 on that chart. Pop wasn't interested and the single barely scratched the chart for two short weeks becoming Thomas' final Pop chart entry. He would continue to have success at Country and AC throughout the remainder of the decade.

ReduxReview:  Although it wasn't a pop hit, I remember this song quite well. I think it was played a lot on the radio station my mom and dad listened to. Taking a cue from its title, I think this song was too old-fashioned to really make a dent in pop radio. It was perfect for country though and it became very popular. I typically don't care for these country-shuffle ditties, but I do like this one. It's well-written, not overly sentimental, and memorable. Plus, Thomas' easygoing vocals are a perfect fit.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  Thomas is a five-time Grammy award winner, but not for pop or country music. After becoming a Christian, Thomas began to record gospel albums. His first was in 1976. "Home Where I Belong" was not only a Dove Award winner (the major awards given for gospel music), it also won the Grammy for Best Inspirational Performance. Over the next four years, Thomas would nab four more Grammys in the gospel category. Although he would not win a Grammy in the pop or country categories, Thomas would receive a Grammy Hall of Fame award in 2014 for his hit "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head."

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