"Vitamin L" by B.E. Taylor Group

Song#:  1765
Date:  01/28/1984
Debut:  89
Peak:  66
Weeks:  8
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  Pennsylvania native B.E. Taylor and his band had been gained a solid following around the Pittsburgh area since the late 70s. For a period of time he joined forces and did shows with Pittsburgh rocker Donnie Iris, who had scored a #2 hit ("The Rapper") in 1970 with his band The Jaggerz. Iris signed on with MCA and began a successful solo career, which ended up helping Taylor. He and his group signed on with MCA and with Iris and Mark Avsec producing, recorded and released a debut album titled Innermission. One track from the LP, "Never Hold Back," was a local hit and did well enough to reach #54 on the national Rock chart. It wasn't a huge hit, but it was enough for MCA to spring for another album. Love Won the Fight would feature this single that found its way onto the Pop chart to become the band's biggest success.

ReduxReview:  I'm a bit on the fence with this one. When I first started to listen, I though it was a tad too kooky and almost bordered on novelty. But as the song went on, I kind of started to dig it. Iris and Avsec's hands are all over this one as it sounds like an outtake from an Iris session. It also has a little J. Geils below the surface too. I've played it a couple of times and still can't decide whether I actually like it or find it annoying. So I guess I'll split the diff.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  B.E. Taylor was born William Edward Taylor. When he was growing up, his mother called him Billy Eddie. Eventually that was shortened to simply B.E. Sadly, just two weeks prior to me writing this post, Taylor passed away. Apparently he had an inoperable brain tumor and issues surrounding that condition took its toll.

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