"Second Nature" by Dan Hartman

Song#:  2211
Date:  02/09/1985
Debut:  80
Peak:  39
Weeks:  12
Genre:  Pop, Blue-Eyes Soul



Pop Bits:  Hartman's second single from his I Can Dream About You album, "We Are the Young," became a #1 Dance hit while getting to #25 at Pop. A third single, "Name of the Game," wasn't connecting and failed to break through, so this fourth single was quickly pushed out. It was able to reach #14 at AC and #40 Dance while just getting inside the Pop Top 40. Unfortunately, it would end up being Hartman's final single to reach the charts. He would continue to write and produce for other artists, which included James Brown's 1985 #4 hit "Living in America." Hartman would die of a brain tumor in 1994.

ReduxReview:  This song is kind of in the same league as Wham's "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" except not quite as fluffy and fun. Had this song been released before that one, there's a chance it might have done a little better, but it still wouldn't have been a Top 10 contender. It's another solid entry in Hartman's catalog and it's too bad his follow-up work didn't see the light of day (see below). Hartman and his co-writer Charlie Midnight knew how to write good songs, so it would have been interesting to hear more from them.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  Hartman's label, MCA, was certainly pleased with the results from the album and were most likely anxious to get a new one out soon. Hartman went back to work in the studio and began recording his follow up. Titled White Boy, Hartman wanted to do something a bit edgier, complex, and more mature. When completed, he handed it in to the label. The folks there were less than pleased with the results. They wanted more "I Can Dream About You'' style hits and that is not what they got. Although the label recognized that the songs were actually quite good, they didn't think the songs suited the image Hartman had already established with his hits. Therefore, with the label not behind the album, it ended up getting shelved and still remains unreleased. However, one song from the album, "Waiting to See You," did find its way onto the soundtrack to the 1986 comedy Ruthless People. Another song from the album, "I'm Only Fooling Myself," was picked up and recorded by singer Paul Young. It was included on Young's 1991 hits compilation From Time to Time.

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