"Don't Try to Stop It" by Roman Holliday

Song#:  1634
Date:  10/01/1983
Debut:  90
Peak:  68
Weeks:  6
Genre:  Swing, New Wave



Pop Bits:  These British swing revivalists got their foot in the door with their #54 song "Stand By," which also reached #61 in the UK. The results were good enough to call for a full album and they issued Cookin' on the Roof. The LP included the majority of their self-titled EP plus several new songs. This next single appeared on both and it really attracted listeners in the UK who took it to #14. The US still wasn't that interested and kept it in the bottom half of the chart.

ReduxReview:  I didn't care too much for "Stand By" and since it didn't grab my attention, I quickly lost interest in the band. However, this song is an improvement. Why this song wasn't issued first is a mystery because it makes for a better single. It's catchy, memorable, and fun. It almost has a "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" vibe to it (and pre-dates that hit). Very enjoyable.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  The band got its name from the 1953 film Roman Holiday. Starring Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn (her first leading role), the romantic comedy was a hit that ended up receiving ten Oscar nominations. It won three awards including Best Actress for Hepburn. It also won Best Story for Dalton Trumbo, but he did not receive the award, nor was he initially credited on the film. This was during the infamous Hollywood blacklisting days and Trumbo was on the list (of entertainment folks who were supposedly aligned with the Communist party). Due to his blacklisting, he got another writer, Ian McLellan Hunter, to take the credit in order for the film to get made. It was Hunter's name that appeared in the film and he also accepted the Oscar (with very few people knowing he was doing it in place of Trumbo). Trumbo passed away in 1976. Decades later, his name was officially restored to the film and in 1993 his family was given an Oscar in recognition of the one he should have originally received.

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