"Don't Make Me Do It" by Patrick Simmons

Song#:  1498
Date:  06/18/1983
Debut:  84
Peak:  75
Weeks:  5
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  Ex-Doobie Brother Simmons issued his debut solo album Arcade in 1983. It didn't make a huge splash, but it did contain the #30 single "So Wrong" (#8 Dance/#18 Rock/#77 R&B). This second single couldn't muster up much support and it flamed out rather quickly after a few weeks. It would be Simmons' final Pop chart entry as a solo artist.  Simmons later joined a reformed Doobie Brothers in 1987 and he has remained with them ever since. He would issue another solo recording in 1995 titled Take Me to the Highway, but it didn't make any waves.

ReduxReview:  Excepted for the updated production, there is not much difference between this version and the original (see below). Neither are major winners, but Simmons' is a good listen with its Springsteen-ish vibe. The problem I had with Simmons' album was that the songs were inconsistent. Just compare "So Wrong" with this song. There is nothing remotely in common. If I didn't know any better, I'd swear they were done by two separate artists. The album also features Doobie-ish funk and even a remake of The Chi-Lites R&B classic "Have You Seen Her" (1971, #3 Pop/#1 R&B). It just lacked any focus, which is too bad because I think he was on to something with "So Wrong." He had my attention - aaannndd now its gone.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  This is a remake of a song done by Huey Lewis & the News. Written by the band, the song appeared on their 1980 self-titled debut. It was not issued as a single. That debut album didn't even crack the Album chart, but its success around the band's San Francisco home base led to Chrysalis flipping the bill for another album. It would pay off when their second album, Picture This, would go gold. It featured their first Top 10 hit "Do You Believe in Love?" (#7 Pop/#12 Rock).

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