"Welcome to Heartlight" by Kenny Loggins

Song#:  1378
Date:  03/12/1983
Debut:  65
Peak:  24
Weeks:  14
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  Loggins' album "High Adventure" made it to #13 on the strength of two Top 20 singles; "Don't Fight It" (#17) and "Heart to Heart" (#15). The LP would go gold, however that result would be a slight disappointment since his first three studio albums all went platinum. He tried to keep the momentum up with this third single, but it didn't have enough gas to join the other two singles in the Top 20. It did only slightly better at AC where it reached #17.

ReduxReview:  This was an odd single. Jungle sounds, a place called Heartlight, he's lovin' rain and thunder, and a kid's choir. Plus, the single's sleeve was the same as the "High Adventure" cover with Loggins looking like Indiana Jones a year before that film came out. What the hell is this? At the time I didn't know and didn't really care. I just liked the song and bought the single. At the time I liked the b-side, "Only a Miracle," even better. That sentimental piece doesn't sound as good now, but "Heartlight" still rocks out pretty well.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  Double Shot!  1) This song was inspired by students at a school in Los Angeles. Heartlight was the name of a private alternative school that focused on cross-cultural learning and the use of councils (as in a Native American council) in the classes. Loggins visited the school and the students had written papers on why they like the school. One student wrote in their paper "I like the love." That phrase, which is the opening line of the song, and the school itself prompted Loggins to write this song. Near the end of the song you can hear a children's choir. It includes members of the school's singing and dancing groups. Unfortunately, the school no longer exists. 2) If you look at the back cover of the "High Adventure" album, you will see that this song is just called "Heartlight." It is also listed as such on his compilation albums. A change in title was made when this song got issued as a single. The "Welcome to" part was added to avoid any confusion with the recent Neil Diamond hit "Heartlight" (#5).

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"I Won't Hold You Back" by Toto

Top 10 Alert!

Song#:  1377
Date:  03/12/1983
Debut:  67
Peak:  10
Weeks:  17
Genre:  Soft Rock, Adult Contemporary



Pop Bits:  Toto's third single, "Africa," from their Grammy-winning album "Toto IV" returned them to the Top 10 (#1 actually) after a slight misstep with the LP's second single "Make Believe" (#30). This fourth single would become another major hit for them just peaking inside the Top 10 and reaching #1 at AC. The success of "Africa" and this single pushed the album back into the Top 10 where it initially peaked at #4 when "Rosanna" was riding high on the chart. The album would eventually go triple-platinum.

ReduxReview:  I always thought this was a very pretty ballad. It almost trespasses on Alan Parsons Project territory, especially in the instrumental section. I didn't buy "Toto IV" until after this single came out (which I mentioned in the "Make Believe" post). After the two major hits and this one, I figured the album was a safe bet. I was kind of wrong. I ended up not liking the album. The three singles were the only songs I really liked. I can't say it's a bad album. After all, it won the Album of the Year Grammy. It's just the bar was set so high with the three songs that the rest were completely underwhelming. It's one of the few major hit albums from the 80s that I never upgraded to CD or digital. I bought a Toto compilation instead. As for this song, it's a delicious slice of MOR pie.

ReduxRating:  8/10

Trivia:  In addition to their own work in Toto, the band members were sought after studio musicians. They all have played on countless recordings over the years. Arguably their most memorable contributions to an album would be their work on Michael Jackson's "Thriller." Of the six members of Toto at the time, four participated in the "Thriller" sessions including Steve Porcaro who co-wrote the hit "Human Nature." Although Toto needed to tour in order to support the "Toto IV" album, they ended up delaying the tour due to their work on "Thriller."

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"Even Now" by Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band

Song#:  1376
Date:  03/12/1983
Debut:  74
Peak:  12
Weeks:  12
Genre:  Arena Rock



Pop Bits:  The band's album "The Distance" got off to a great start thanks to what would be their biggest pop hit, the #2 "Shame on the Moon" (#1 AC, #15 country). Although that song failed to make headway on rock radio, this next single would make an impact and reach #2 at Mainstream Rock. Pop audiences continued their support and sent the song up near the Top 10.

ReduxReview:  I'm not sure why I didn't buy "The Distance" back then. I have a feeling it was due to lack of money. My budget for buying LPs was limited so I had to be careful with my choices. Between this song and "Shame on the Moon" (and soon my favorite track "Roll Me Away"), it should have been an easy pick. I did finally get it, but it was many years later in the CD era. This charging tune could almost pass for a Bruce Springsteen track, but it's still got that heartland Seger touch that keeps it in his camp. It's an exciting tune that seems to have become forgotten. Despite the fact that it was a significant pop and rock radio hit, the song has been left off of every Seger compilation. That just seems odd. I consider it among his best songs.

ReduxRating:  8/10

Trivia:  By this time, the glory days of the 8-track tape format were over. Record companies and stores had been phasing them out with new titles now being stocked as LPs and cassettes. Initially, Seger's album "The Distance" was not to be issued on 8-track, but Seger insisted that a lot of his core audience were still buying 8-tracks and he wanted it available for them. His record company obliged. Although no one seems absolutely sure, this album may have been the last 8-track by a major artist that was released to stores. A couple of other major labels would continue to offer 8-tracks via their mail order clubs for a few more years. If you take those club items into account, it seems the last major artist 8-track offered for sale was Fleetwood Mac's 1988 "Greatest Hits" album.

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"Outstanding" by The Gap Band

Song#:  1375
Date:  03/12/1983
Debut:  79
Peak:  51
Weeks:  8
Genre:  R&B



Pop Bits:  The R&B outfit's album "The Gap Band IV" would be their biggest success hitting #1 R&B (#14 pop) and going platinum. The album's first two singles, "Early in the Morning" (#1 R&B/#24 pop) and "You Dropped a Bomb on Me" (#2 R&B/#31 pop), were certainly instrumental in its success. This third single would just be the icing on the cake. Although it stalled halfway up the pop chart, it was another smash at R&B hitting #1 - their third to do so. They would continue to have more success at R&B throughout the 80s and early 90s earning seven more Top 10's including a fourth #1, but this song would mark an end to their pop chart days.

ReduxReview:  After the great funk outings of "Early" and "Bomb," the band goes for a slinkier groove. As much as I'd like to do something dorky and say that the song is "outstanding," I really can't. It is definitely good, but it's not one of my favorites from the band. However, I am able to say that the vocals are outstanding. The lead vocal is what saves this from being a mid-tempo bore.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  Samples of this song have been used by many artists over the years. Songs by Mary J. Blige, Madonna, R. Kelly, and even Shaquille O'Neal have used samples from this track. Detroit rocker Kid Rock fully covered the song in a live performance. It was chosen to be the closing song on his 2006 concert album "Live Trucker."

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"Let Me Go" by Heaven 17

Song#:  1374
Date:  03/12/1983
Debut:  80
Peak:  74
Weeks:  5
Genre:  Synthpop



Pop Bits:  Martyn Ware and Ian Marsh got their first taste of success as founding members of the Human League. The band issued a pair of gold albums in the UK before clashes within the group caused Ware and Marsh to leave. Philip Oakey retained the Human League name and went on to success with their album "Dare" and it's #1 single "Don't You Want Me." Ware and Marsh then went on to form Heaven 17. With vocalist Glenn Gregory, the trio issued their UK debut album, "Penthouse and Pavement," in 1981. Although the LP featured no major hits, it would eventually do well enough to reach gold-level in the UK. As the band recorded new material for their next album, their label decided to break them in the US. They took six tracks from their debut and paired them with three new tracks for a self-titled album that featured this first single. It got a little traction thanks to its #4 showing on the US dance chart, but it never broke wide and therefore just spent a month on the pop chart. It didn't do a whole lot better in the UK where it fizzled at #41. It would be the band's only charting song in the US. The trio finally broke wide in the UK with their next LP "The Luxury Gap." The album would go platinum and featured their biggest hit, the #2 "Temptation."

ReduxReview:  I was aware of Heaven 17, but had not heard any of their songs until I encountered this one on an 80s compilation. I'm not sure why this song did not catch on more. I wouldn't peg it for a Top 10, but it certainly deserved a Top 40 showing. Maybe the darker tone didn't set well on pop radio. Not sure. Whatever it was, it's a shame as this song and the UK version of their LP "The Luxury Gap" (which included this song) are terrific and remain touchstones of 80s British new wave. It's a bummer "Temptation" didn't catch on in the US. That song is even better.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  Double Shot!  1) The trio got their name from the 1962 novel "A Clockwork Orange" by Anthony Burgess (which was later made into the 1971 Stanley Kubrick film). In the book, Burgess mentions that the band The Heaven Seventeen is at #4 on the chart with their song "Inside." The band is also mentioned in the film version in the record store scene. One woman asks another what record she will buy and lists a few artists including The Heaven Seventeen.  2) When Human League initially formed, their original choice for a vocalist was Glenn Gregory. Unfortunately, he ended up being unavailable so they found Philip Oakey. When forming Heaven 17, Ware and Marsh once again contacted Gregory. He was available this time around and the trio was off and running.

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"Straight from the Heart" by Bryan Adams

Top 10 Alert!

Song#:  1373
Date:  03/12/1983
Debut:  81
Peak:  10
Weeks:  19
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  Canadian Adams got a little visibility in the US when his single "Lonely Nights" from his second album reached #84 the previous year. It set him up well for his next album "Cuts Like a Knife." This lead-off single was first issued in Canada where it would end up reaching #20. Its success began to spill over the border into the US where a few of months later, it would become Adams' first US Top 10 hit (#32 Mainstream Rock). The album would end up doing equally well in both countries reaching #8.

ReduxReview:  I like odd coincidences. I had one with this song. The morning of the day I wrote this post, I had this song buzzing in my head. But it wasn't the Bryan Adams version. It was the cover version done by Bonnie Tyler (see below). The kicker was that I had no idea this was the next song on the chart to be written about! Weird. Anyway, when this single came out I wasn't a fan. I just heard it as a lumbering rock ballad that didn't really go anywhere. It's actually a good pop song, but I didn't connect with it or Adams. Hearing it now, it might have been the low-key production that turned me off. It's just a boring arrangement. I think that's why the Bonnie Tyler version sticks in my head. It's much more dramatic and it serves the song quite well. I still find the Adams version a bit boring.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  Throughout the late 70s and early 80s, Adams wrote songs that got recorded by other artists. This was one of them. Initially it was picked up and recorded by American singer Ian Lloyd, lead vocalist of the Stories ("Brother Louis," #1, 1973). He placed it on his third solo album "3WC (Third Wave Civilization)" in 1980. It was not issued as a single. (Lloyd also first cut Adams' "Lonely Nights" on the LP.) Next, Irish pop band Rosetta Stone recorded the song in 1982 and issued it as a single (just a couple months prior to Adams' own single). It failed to get any attention and it ended up being the band's final single. After Adams covered his own tune, Bonnie Tyler recorded a version of the song in 1983 for her hit album "Faster Than the Speed of Night." It was issued as a single, but failed to chart.

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"Walking in L.A." by Missing Persons

Song#:  1372
Date:  03/12/1983
Debut:  83
Peak:  70
Weeks:  6
Genre:  New Wave, Synthpop



Pop Bits:  This band made three valiant attempts to grab a Top 40 single from their album "Spring Session M." They came up short with "Words" and "Destination Unknown" (both #42), and "Windows" (#63). So why not give it another go? This fourth attempt was released but it also failed to do the trick. Although it would have been great for the band to get a major hit, the four chart singles did well for the album which reached #17 and went gold.

ReduxReview:  Four singles in and they were still pumping out solid material. This one may not be the best of the bunch, but it is just as hooky and memorable. It's a bit more forceful and rock oriented, which is a nice change from the previous singles. It may not be the perfect description, but I've always thought this sounded like The Cars meets "Cars" by Gary Numan with Cyndi Lauper at the wheel. And I mean that all in a good way.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  Back in the early 80s it was a bit uncommon for an album to spawn four chart singles. Typically, this feat would stem from a hit album from a major artist where songs from the LP hit #1 and/or the Top 10. The Beatles accomplished this feat as did Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours" album, which contained four Top 10's including one #1. Hall & Oates had two early 80s album that featured four chart singles each, "Voices" and "Private Eyes." Again, there were #1 songs involved. Missing Persons accomplished this feat without a single song cracking the Top 40. It was a rarity. After "Thriller" and MTV made it possible to have more than four hit singles from an album, it became more common. Both "Thriller" and Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA" would grab seven Top 10 hits each. Yet it was Michael Jackson's sister Janet that would claim the singles crown. Her "Rhythm Nation: 1814" album would contain seven Top 5 hits. In these digital days where most any song can get some airplay somewhere, multiple chart hits from one album are common, although many of those songs spend just a few weeks in the bottom half of the chart. It appears two Taylor Swift albums may hold the record for most songs to reach the pop chart. "Fearless" and "Red" both boasted eleven songs that found their way onto the pop chart. Of those charting songs, four singles from each album would be Top 10 hits.

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"Always Something There to Remind Me" by Naked Eyes

Top 10 Alert!

Song#:  1371
Date:  03/12/1983
Debut:  85
Peak:  8
Weeks:  22
Genre:  Synthpop



Pop Bits:  This English duo of Pete Byrne and Rob Fisher developed Naked Eyes in 1981. The pair were fans of 60s girl singers (Dusty Springfield, Cilla Black, etc.) and thought it would be fun to cover one of those hits to go with their demos. They chose this Burt Bacharach/Hal David tune and this song, along with their others, got the immediate attention of EMI Records. The duo signed on and proceeded to formally record their self-titled debut LP (titled "Burning Bridges" in the UK). This tune that they chose to cover then got issued as the album's first single. In the US, the song slowly gained momentum until it finally peaked at #8 during the summer. In their UK homeland, the tune was basically ignored. It could only muster a #59 showing. It would be the duo's only Top 10 hit.

ReduxReview:  I think this song was perfect for a synthpop remake. There was something about all the early versions that just did not connect with an audience. Most were dramatic recordings with soft, pretty verses that led to loud choruses with blaring horns that sounded like a taunting child. It usually ended with a screaming finale. It was all just too much. Of the chart versions (see below), Warwick had the most classic Bacharach/David arrangement, but R.B. Greaves' soul/pop take was a much smoother ride and probably the best version up to that point. But Naked Eyes' take kind of blows them all away. They took a rough song and sanded it down to the basics to create something slicker and more attractive. The consistent feel along with all the fun Fairlight sounds made the tune far more pop friendly. It also helped that they added that instantly recognizable opening. I loved it right from the start and it still plays well.

ReduxRating:  9/10

Trivia:  As mentioned above, this is a remake of a Bacharach/David tune written in 1963 and originally titled "(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me." That year, Dionne Warwick sang on the demo, but the song was then give to singer Lou Johnson to formally record. His version came out the following year and reached #49 on the pop chart (his biggest hit). Later that year, English singer Sandie Shaw covered the tune and took it to #1 in the UK (this is the version that inspired Naked Eyes to record the song). However, Shaw's single would only get to #52 in the US. Then in 1968, Dionne Warwick gave the song a shot but it still failed to gain interest and could only reach #65. Singer R.B. Greaves became the first artist to reach the Top 40 with the song when his 1970 version got to #27 (#50 R&B). And then finally, twenty years after the song was written, it hit the Top 10 with the Naked Eyes version.

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"Desperate But Not Serious" by Adam Ant

Song#:  1370
Date:  03/12/1983
Debut:  86
Peak:  66
Weeks:  8
Genre:  New Wave



Pop Bits:  Ant's first solo album, "Friend or Foe," contained his first US chart hit "Goody Two Shoes" (#12 US/#1 UK). This next single reached the chart, but it would only linger around the bottom third for a couple of months. In the UK, the single would stall at #33. However, Ant got a second UK Top 10 from the album when the title track hit #9. The song failed to get any attention in the US.

ReduxReview:  This mysterious track kind of sounds James Bond-ish at the beginning. After the fun romp of "Goody Two Shoes," I don't think this song was what folks were wanting/expecting. Ant seemed to shove spaghetti western guitar and a horn section into a British new wave tune ala The Fixx. It's all very interesting, but it doesn't make for a good single.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  Ant's real name is Stuart Goddard. In the mid-70s he ended up being hospitalized after an overdose. After his stay in the hospital ended, he decided to change his name. He chose Adam from the bible and then Ant, which he thought were resilient creatures. To show her support, his wife at the time, Carol Mills, changed her name to Eve.

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"Photograph" by Def Leppard

Rated 10 Alert!

Song#:  1369
Date:  03/12/1983
Debut:  87
Peak:  12
Weeks:  17
Genre:  Hard Rock



Pop Bits:  Although there were hard rock/heavy metal artists who had hit the pop chart earlier, this is arguably the song that brought the genre to the masses in the 80s. This English band had gained a foothold in the US with their previous two albums, so by the time their third one, "Pyromania," was issued, they were set to conquer. And they certainly did. With Robert John "Mutt" Lange at the controls, the band refined their sound a little to incorporated more radio-friendly melodic rock. It paid off handsomely as this single proved by almost hitting the pop Top 10. Of course at rock radio it was a #1 smash and it helped the album reach #2 - stopped from the top spot by "Thriller." The album was quickly certified platinum, but over the years the multi-platinum awards kept rolling until it finally reached Diamond status, which is 10x platinum. The video for this song certainly helped sales as it became one of MTV's most requested videos at the time. Pop metal had finally arrived.

ReduxReview:  I wasn't into hard rock in the early 80s, but there were a few songs that got their hooks in me. This was one of them. The damn song just freakin' rocked. Lange brilliantly helped the band form their songs and gave them this massive sound that you just had to crank to 11. The guitars crashed. Joe Elliott's voice soared. And it had cowbell! I mean, come on! The record delivered the goods in spades. It rocked the 80s and beyond.

ReduxRating:  10/10

Trivia:  Thanks to his work with Mutt Lange on Foreigner's "4" album, Thomas Dolby (who was hitting the chart at this time with "She Blinded Me with Science") played keyboards on "Pyromania." However, he is credited as Booker T. Boffin. Apparently, Dolby's solo career was taking off and he though it might be confusing for fans to have his name associated with a hard rock album. So Lange suggested the credit name and it stuck.

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"Smiling Islands" by Robbie Patton

Song#:  1368
Date:  03/12/1983
Debut:  90
Peak:  52
Weeks:  12
Genre:  Soft Rock, Adult Contemporary



Pop Bits:  Patton's Christine McVie-produced album "Distant Shores" got some attention thanks to the #26 single "Don't Give It Up" (#41 AC). It wasn't enough for his label (Liberty) to ask for more so he packed up and moved over to Atlantic. His first album for them, "Orders from Headquarters," featured this first single that couldn't quite climb into the top half of the pop chart. It did better at AC where it reached #16. Despite the album not selling well, Atlantic green-lit one more LP. "No Problem" came out in 1984, but quickly disappeared. It would be Patton's last album. He continued to write songs for other artists before branching off into composing music for film and TV.

ReduxReview:  This is kind of an odd song. Although the tinkling keyboards sound dated now, the arrangement is kind of nice with a little Caribbean feel going on at some points along with the accordion sound in the chorus. I think this was meant to be an easygoing song that would conjure up visions of tropical islands. The problem is that it may be too laid-back. It's almost sleep inducing. And then there is the sudden change of vocalists at the end. I don't really get that. I guess she's the other island? Dunno. It's just a strange choice. The song is an easy listen, but it's way too lazy to scale the pop chart heights.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  Patton's LP "Orders from Headquarters" continued his Fleetwood Mac connection. The end of this song features a vocal solo by Stevie Nicks. Christine McVie also makes a guest appearance on the album closer "Look Away."

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