"I Don't Wanna Dance" by Eddy Grant

Song#:  1561
Date:  08/13/1983
Debut:  90
Peak:  53
Weeks:  7
Genre:  Reggae



Pop Bits:  After being in the music business since the late 60's, Grant finally grabbed his first US solo hit with the #2 "Electric Avenue." The funky reggae tune made him a worldwide star and his album Killer on the Rampage became his best selling disc. This song was selected as the second single from the LP in the US. The tune was initially the first single from the album released in the UK and it became Grant's first and only #1 hit there ("Electric Avenue" would hit #2). Unfortunately, the US didn't care for it all that much and the song stopped short of the Top 50.

ReduxReview:  After the terrific "Electric Avenue," this song just sounds...silly. If Huey Lewis & the News turned into a reggae band, this is probably what they would have sounded like. Why on earth this became a hit in the UK is beyond me. It hasn't aged well either. That dated production may be what is throwing me off. I can dig a goofy, fun tune, but there still has to be some meat on it. It just sounds like Grant was putting too much effort into being more mainstream pop and the results were not good. I just don't connect with this at all. Man, I needed a Metallica palate cleanser after that.

ReduxRating:  3/10

Trivia:  As his hit days were winding up, Grant made a permanent move to Barbados. Once there, he would build his own commercial recording studio called Blue Wave. The state-of-the-art facility and exotic location would attract many musician looking to record their next song or album. Those that have recorded at Blue Wave include The Rolling Stones (and solo Mick Jagger), Sting, Rihanna, and the Happy Mondays.

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