"Change" by John Waite

Song#:  2234
Date:  03/02/1985
Debut:  86
Peak:  54
Weeks:  10
Genre:  Rock, Soundtrack



Pop Bits:  As Journey's "Only the Young" was closing in on the Pop Top 10, this next single from the soundtrack to the Matthew Modine coming-of-age flick Vision Quest was issued. Coming on the heels of Waite's three singles from his No Brakes album, some attention was given to the song, but it fizzled before it could reach the top half of the Pop chart. It did not chart at Rock this time around (see below). Oddly, the same week this reached the Pop chart, another song from the soundtrack, Madonna's "Crazy for You," would also debut. That song would make a much bigger splash than this reissue.

ReduxReview:  I actually like this track a bit better than his previous two singles, however just like those two songs I don't find this one terribly memorable. Occasionally, a song that missed the boat the first time around will get a second chance to become a hit. While I'm sure it was nice for Waite to see this song finally on the Pop chart, it wasn't necessarily one that needed to be reissued. It wasn't a strong song to begin with and time didn't do much to strengthen it.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  Many films from the 80s that had pop music soundtracks usually featured new (or previously unreleased) songs from popular artists. The one for Vision Quest had a mix of new and previously released tunes, such as Foreigner's 1978 #3 hit "Hot Blooded." With Waite as the peak of his solo popularity, a song from him would help boost the album. Yet instead of a new track, this song that originally appeared on his 1982 debut solo album Ignition was used. The tune had also served as Waite's debut single from the LP. It got to #16 at Rock, but was unable to made it onto the Pop chart. For whatever reason, the older tune got a second chance to become a hit and got reissued after being included on the soundtrack. This time around, it made the Pop chart, but failed at Rock (most likely because it had already had its run there three years earlier). The song was written by Holly Knight and produced by Pat Benatar's husband Neil Giraldo. Later in 2013, this song was used in the film Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues and appeared on the associated soundtrack.

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