Song#: 2179
Date: 01/12/1985
Debut: 90
Peak: 83
Weeks: 8
Genre: R&B
Pop Bits: Ronald Broomfield started in the music biz in Miami as part of a family band called La Voyage. They did well on the club scene and would go through a few names changes like Tight Connection and Simplicious. Along the way there were some recordings, but nothing that prompted any real attention. By the early 80s, the family group was done and Broomfield set out on his own. With a name change to Eugene Wilde, he was signed to Philly World records and recorded this first single. It caught on quickly at R&B and soon became his first #1 hit on that chart. The single was also able to crossover to Pop for a couple of months. An album would follow, which spawned two more charting songs at R&B. It sold well getting to #14 on the R&B chart.
ReduxReview: This smooth groove is nicely produced and well performed by Wilde. I also like the rev up to the final chorus. It was unexpected and effective. There are a couple of very minor drawbacks though. This nearly sounds like Wilde was channeling Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing" when he wrote this. It's not a copy, but it certainly sounds similar to that classic. The other thing is the lyrics. Yeesh. He kinda makes Ray Parker, Jr., seem like Keats by comparison! I'm not expecting deep, thoughtful poetry in pop music, but I'd like something a notch above the basic "hold you tight, make you scream all night" stuff. I gotta look past that though as the song is solid.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: With an impending solo career, Broomfield's manager thought a name change was in order. Broomfield's middle name was Eugene and that seemed to do the trick for the first name. Apparently, the last name of Wilde was inspired by an advertisement that Broomfield saw that was promoting a place called the Wilde Flowers club. With the name now established, Wilde then set out to write and record his debut single and album.
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