"Hunters of the Night" by Mr. Mister

Song#:  1834
Date:  03/17/1984
Debut:  85
Peak:  57
Weeks:  8
Genre:  Pop, Rock



Pop Bits:  For friends Richard Page and Steve George, their early 80s days were filled with songwriting and session work. The pair worked with artists like Al Jarreau, Kenny Loggins, REO Speedwagon, and others. By 1982, they were ready to start another band and with two other members formed Mr. Mister. Their connections and track record got them a deal at RCA and as '84 began, their debut album, I Wear the Face, was set to go. This first single announced their arrival. It wasn't a major success only getting to #36 at Rock and missing the top half of the Pop chart, but it did well enough for RCA to keep them on for another album, which ended up being a very good decision.

ReduxReview:  I remember this song and the album coming out. I was fascinated by the song's title and the album's cover. I almost bought the album based on those two things. I didn't and it was years before I got to hear this song. After I did, I was kind of glad I didn't get the album. I didn't dislike the song, but it just wasn't something that caught my ear. I kind of like the anxious keyboard part and the smooth chorus is good, however the tune is just not memorable. It didn't have enough power to be a radio hit. They were on the right track, but it would take another album before they could write a couple of songs that were destined to be hits.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  Mr. Mister was actually Page and George's second signed band. Back in 1977, the pair got work supporting Andy Gibb both in the studio and on tour. That backing band, lead by Page and George, decided to work on their own project and a demo tape got the attention of Epic Records. With the band name set as Pages, they recorded a self-titled debut that came out in 1978. It got nowhere, but somehow Epic kept them on for another album and Future Street did just slightly better with its first single "I Do Believe in You" making a brief appearance on the Pop chart at #84. It still wasn't the results they were looking for, so Page and George moved over to Capitol and issued a second self-titled LP in 1981. It was a failure and afterwards, the band split up. Page and George would have better success once they formed Mr. Mister.

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