Song#: 1452
Date: 05/14/1983
Debut: 86
Peak: 61
Weeks: 7
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: Formed in 1979, this Canadian band got signed to Capitol Records and issued a self-titled debut album in 1982. The LP's first single, "You Remind Me," did well enough to make it into the Canadian Top 40 and reach #33 on the US Rock chart. However, it missed the US Pop chart. A second single didn't generate any interest, but this third single got the band their lone Canadian Top 10 hit (#8) while spending a few weeks on the US Pop chart. Unfortunately, the band split up two years later before they could issue a follow-up.
ReduxReview: Here is another instance where everyone thought the single was dead and buried only to have it resurrected years later as a hit. A Las Vegas DJ started spinning the tune in 1989 and suddenly the song took off. It would go on to hit #1 on the US Pop and AC charts - six years after it was first released and four years after the band split. Like most folks, I knew the song from that reissue. At this point and time I had no idea it existed, which is too bad. I probably would have bought the single. It's a tad treacly, but it's a good ballad with a killer vocal.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) Members of Sheriff would go on to form other bands. Two of them would form Frozen Ghost while two others would form Alias. Both bands had some success. Frozen Ghost would grab five Canadian Top 40 singles (including "Should I See," which reached #69 in the US in 1987). Alias would grab a major hit in 1990 with "More Than Words Can Say" (#1 Canada, #2 US). 2) Apparently, lead singer Freddy Curci holds a Guinness Book of World Records title for longest note held in a hit pop song (without any studio trickery). Depending on where the clock starts, he seems to hold the last note 20-25 seconds. The record states 30 seconds, but that may include the rev up to the note, which was all done in the same breath.
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Weird. I never realized this came out so early. It seems so representative of later ballady hair metal. Very cool.
ReplyDeleteI didn't either, actually. I thought it was 1985-ish or so. I do remember when it re-came out that it was an older song, but didn't realized it reached back to '83.
DeleteIn New Jersey, this was a big, big hit the first time around in 1983, where fans would call in to request it night after night (they had a request countdown in those days). By the time the song got its revival, I was living in Chicago, and couldn't at first understand why this song was all of a sudden getting on the radio again. Still feel like it's one of the best of the Canadian hard rock power ballad bunch.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how regional songs can be. There were several major radio hits in Boston that didn't do well on the national chart or even make it at all. I guess some songs just don't play well in all areas of the country.
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