Song#: 2199
Date: 01/26/1985
Debut: 57
Peak: 18
Weeks: 16
Genre: Pop
Pop Bits: Joel's album An Innocent Man had already spawned five singles. With the fifth one, "Leave a Tender Moment Alone," not performing as well as the previous singles (it peaked at #27), it seemed like that would be it for the album. However, the song was the LPs fourth #1 at AC, so with support still happening at that format, the label thought a sixth single might still generate some interest. It did just that with AC taking the song to #3. Those results may not have been all that surprising, but the response at Pop was. It ended up surpassing the previous single and grabbed a spot just inside the Top 20. With that final success, Joel's Innocent Man era came to a close.
ReduxReview: This nostalgic tune probably should have been issued before "Leave a Tender Moment Alone." It just seemed to be a better fit for pop radio and the associated courtroom video, which featured cameos by Richard Prior and Joe Piscopo, was a fun one for MTV and the just-launched VH1 channel. It's a good tune with a bit of a rock edge and a nice horn/sax section. Besides the reflective lyrics, the song isn't necessarily as retro sounding as others on the album. I guess it's supposed to pay homage to pre-British Invasion rock, but I'm not really hearing that here. Regardless, it was a nice album closer and a good single.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: This song is about a guy who is nostalgically looking back on his years as a young man in the 50s. The lyrics contain references to certain styles and products that were popular during the era. One item mentioned was not all that familiar to a younger generation. A line in the song says "I took a fresh pack of Luckies and a mint called Sen-Sen." While folks were still familiar with Lucky Strike cigarettes, many didn't know about Sen-Sen candy. Developed in the 1890's, the licorice flavored candy was first marketed as "breath perfume" and was meant to mask odors caused by things like smoking (hence, the candy being mentioned in the same lyric line as a cigarette). It was considered the first breath mint and was quite popular from the 30s through the 50s. Although it got pushed back on the shelves as other new candies and mints came along, it remained popular and was later marketed as a nostalgia item until the candy stopped being made sometime around 2004.
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Saturday, October 21, 2017
Friday, October 20, 2017
"High on You" by Survivor
Top 10 Alert!
Song#: 2198 Date: 01/26/1985
Debut: 63
Peak: 8
Weeks: 17Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: Ever since Survivor hit #1 with "Eye of the Tiger" in 1982, they had been struggling to follow-up that major success. They finally regained some of their audience when the first single from their album Vital Signs, "I Can't Hold Back," reached #1 at Rock and #13 at Pop. It was their biggest hit since "Eye," at least until this second single came along. With a little momentum behind them now, this song took off and became their second Pop Top 10 hit. It also reached the same peak at Rock. With a pair of hits, it seemed that Survivor finally hit on the right formula for success.
ReduxReview: Songwriting duties for the band fell to members Jim Peterik and Frankie Sullivan. When the duo was on point, they cranked out delicious pop/rock tunes like this one. Nearly every section of the song contained a hook and it was loaded with memorable melodies that all fit well together. Had they written gems like this earlier, they most likely wouldn't have had to call this hit a "comeback."
ReduxRating: 8/10
Trivia: New lead singer Jimi Jamison would later do some solo work along with song contributions to various projects. One song he did was heard by millions on a weekly basis. Jamison co-wrote and performed the song "I'm Always Here," which served as the theme song to the popular TV show Baywatch during its syndicated run. It was also included on the original soundtrack album for the show that was released in 1994. Baywatch had an even bigger audience in other parts of the world and the song was issued as a single in several countries.
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Thursday, October 19, 2017
"Nightshift" by The Commodores
Top 10 Alert!
Song#: 2197 Date: 01/26/1985
Debut: 71
Peak: 3
Weeks: 22
Genre: R&B, Adult Contemporary, Pop
Pop Bits: After Lionel Richie's departure, The Commodores initial attempt to regroup and forge on didn't work out well. Their album Commodores 13 would be a dud that became their worst charting effort since their 1974 debut. For their next LP, they made some changes and brought on producer Dennis Lambert. In addition to producing, Lambert also co-wrote a couple of songs for the album including this title track that he wrote with Franne Golde and Commodores member Walter Orange. After work on the album was completed, it was decided that this song would serve as the lead off single. It was a solid choice as the song became a multi-format hit reaching #1 R&B, #2 AC, #3 Pop, and #6 Dance. It would be the band's most successful single of the post-Richie era. The song helped the album reach #1 at R&B and #12 Pop, and returned them to gold-level sales.
ReduxReview: Nostalgia sells and when matched properly to a song, it can result in a hit like this one. I think this is a strong song to being with and might have done well with different lyrics, but pair it with nice references to Gaye and Wilson and it turned into a real winner. Unfortunately, the band was never able to secure any material as good as this and they faded quickly. At least they got this one out and it is one that has continued to get airplay over the years. I'm sure when Lionel Richie heard this he was probably like, "dang - I should have come up with that one!"
ReduxRating: 8/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) In 1984, two icons of soul music died - Jackie Wilson and Marvin Gaye. This song pays tribute to both artists. Although most folks were familiar with Gaye, especially the younger generation thanks to Gaye's last hit, 1982's "Sexual Healing," many were not familiar with Wilson. As one of the biggest soul stars of the 50s and 60s, Wilson's music and performance style influenced generations of musicians. After being part of Billy Ward and His Dominoes, Wilson went solo in 1957. He scored sixteen R&B Top 10's (including five #1's) and six Pop Top 10's including his final big hit 1967's "(You're Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" (#1 R&B, #6 Pop), which became a #2 Pop hit in 1977 for singer Rita Cooledge. Wilson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. 2) Over the years, The Commodores racked up nine Grammy nominations. Their only win was for this song. They received the award for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Duo or Group. This was without Lionel Richie, but he received his own Grammy when he won Album of the Year for Can't Slow Down.
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Wednesday, October 18, 2017
"Beat of a Heart" by Scandal featuring Patty Smyth
Song#: 2196
Date: 01/26/1985
Debut: 74
Peak: 41
Weeks: 14
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: Scandal's second single from their Warrior album, "Hands Tied," just barely missed the Top 40 peaking at the dreaded #41 spot. For a third single, this track, which was co-written by Smyth and two of her bandmates, got issued. It became their third song to reach the Rock Top 10 (at #10), but as luck would have it, the song got blocked from entering the Top 40 and peaked at #41, making their second single in a row to do so. It was a bit of a bummer, but on the good side the singles helped the album reach platinum level. The song would also serve as the band's final charting single before they parted ways.
ReduxReview: If "Hands Tied" didn't make it at Pop, then this one certainly wasn't going to either. It's just not a very memorable or hooky single. The song did well at Rock and I think that was appropriate. However, when compared to other hits on the Pop chart, this one just didn't stand out. It's a good album track and one of the better ones on a surprisingly weak album, but it didn't have the oomph needed to make it a real hit.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: Around the same time that Scandal was breaking up, an iconic band who was at a career peak was losing their lead singer. David Lee Roth split from Van Halen and that left a vacant spot in the band. The first person Eddie Van Halen asked to fill Roth's position was Scandal singer Patty Smyth. The choice seemed a bit unconventional at the time and it certainly would have changed the dynamics of the band, but ultimately Smyth turned down the offer. In addition to being pregnant at the time and not wanting to relocate to California, Smyth also thought that the band's partying and inner fighting would be too much for her to take on, so she passed. Van Halen then went with their second choice, Sammy Hagar.
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Date: 01/26/1985
Debut: 74
Peak: 41
Weeks: 14
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: Scandal's second single from their Warrior album, "Hands Tied," just barely missed the Top 40 peaking at the dreaded #41 spot. For a third single, this track, which was co-written by Smyth and two of her bandmates, got issued. It became their third song to reach the Rock Top 10 (at #10), but as luck would have it, the song got blocked from entering the Top 40 and peaked at #41, making their second single in a row to do so. It was a bit of a bummer, but on the good side the singles helped the album reach platinum level. The song would also serve as the band's final charting single before they parted ways.
ReduxReview: If "Hands Tied" didn't make it at Pop, then this one certainly wasn't going to either. It's just not a very memorable or hooky single. The song did well at Rock and I think that was appropriate. However, when compared to other hits on the Pop chart, this one just didn't stand out. It's a good album track and one of the better ones on a surprisingly weak album, but it didn't have the oomph needed to make it a real hit.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: Around the same time that Scandal was breaking up, an iconic band who was at a career peak was losing their lead singer. David Lee Roth split from Van Halen and that left a vacant spot in the band. The first person Eddie Van Halen asked to fill Roth's position was Scandal singer Patty Smyth. The choice seemed a bit unconventional at the time and it certainly would have changed the dynamics of the band, but ultimately Smyth turned down the offer. In addition to being pregnant at the time and not wanting to relocate to California, Smyth also thought that the band's partying and inner fighting would be too much for her to take on, so she passed. Van Halen then went with their second choice, Sammy Hagar.
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Tuesday, October 17, 2017
"Why Can't I Have You" by The Cars
Song#: 2195
Date: 01/26/1985
Debut: 79
Peak: 33
Weeks: 17
Genre: Synthpop, New Wave
Pop Bits: This Boston band's LP Heartbeat City would sell over four million copies thanks to four Top 20 hits including their #3 ballad "Drive." After the quartet of hit singles, the album was beginning to wane, but in order to extend its popularity it was decided that this fifth single would be issued. While the song got some attention at Rock radio and reached #11 on that chart, it seemed that the Pop audience was losing interest and the single stalled just inside the Top 40. It would close a highly successful chapter in the band's career.
ReduxReview: This mysterious track works well for the band, but it doesn't really click as a single. I think they should have called it at four singles and left this to just Rock radio airplay. It sold a few singles, but it probably wasn't enough to really have made any difference to their bottom line, especially considering the promotional costs, which included a video made for the song. It's definitely a quality track that works well on the album, but there was no need to push it out as a single. I think record companies started to get greedy after Michael Jackson's seven single run from "Thriller" and just tried to eke out every dollar they could from any album that hit big, like Heartbeat City.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: The Cars were one of those successful American bands that never fully caught on in the UK. Prior to Heartbeat City, only four of their singles reached the UK chart with "My Best Friend's Girl" being their only Top 10 entry at #3. They finally got a second UK Top 10 when "Drive" reached #4. Two other singles were issued in the UK with minimal results. "You Might Think" reached #88 while the track "Heartbeat City," which was not issued as a single in the US, got to #78. None of their albums would get higher than #25. Despite the lack of results on the charts, the band's tours in the UK and Europe were highly successful.
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Date: 01/26/1985
Debut: 79
Peak: 33
Weeks: 17
Genre: Synthpop, New Wave
Pop Bits: This Boston band's LP Heartbeat City would sell over four million copies thanks to four Top 20 hits including their #3 ballad "Drive." After the quartet of hit singles, the album was beginning to wane, but in order to extend its popularity it was decided that this fifth single would be issued. While the song got some attention at Rock radio and reached #11 on that chart, it seemed that the Pop audience was losing interest and the single stalled just inside the Top 40. It would close a highly successful chapter in the band's career.
ReduxReview: This mysterious track works well for the band, but it doesn't really click as a single. I think they should have called it at four singles and left this to just Rock radio airplay. It sold a few singles, but it probably wasn't enough to really have made any difference to their bottom line, especially considering the promotional costs, which included a video made for the song. It's definitely a quality track that works well on the album, but there was no need to push it out as a single. I think record companies started to get greedy after Michael Jackson's seven single run from "Thriller" and just tried to eke out every dollar they could from any album that hit big, like Heartbeat City.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: The Cars were one of those successful American bands that never fully caught on in the UK. Prior to Heartbeat City, only four of their singles reached the UK chart with "My Best Friend's Girl" being their only Top 10 entry at #3. They finally got a second UK Top 10 when "Drive" reached #4. Two other singles were issued in the UK with minimal results. "You Might Think" reached #88 while the track "Heartbeat City," which was not issued as a single in the US, got to #78. None of their albums would get higher than #25. Despite the lack of results on the charts, the band's tours in the UK and Europe were highly successful.
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Monday, October 16, 2017
"Playing to Win" by LRB
Song#: 2194
Date: 01/26/1985
Debut: 81
Peak: 60
Weeks: 8
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: The Little River Band went through a major change when their lead singer and original member Glenn Shorrock left the band. He was replaced by John Farnham and their first effort together, The Net, didn't yield the results expected. With a pair of middling Top 40 single entries, the album stalled early and failed to go gold (after having four gold/platinum studio albums in a row). The band was in flux at the time with both personnel and direction issues. A couple of long-time members took off and the sound of the band began to have a harder edge. With Farnham still fronting the band, they recorded their eighth studio album, Playing to Win. The title track was chosen for the first single and upon release it got some exposure at Rock and ended up at #15 on that chart. However, their new sound didn't translate to Pop and it halted before it could get close to the Top 40. It would end up being their final single to reach the Pop chart.
ReduxReview: This certainly isn't the smooth soft rock sounds of LRB. The changed up sound is almost a cross between Kansas and Styx with a little Toto thrown in. It probably wasn't the best move for them. It's fine to change up things, but there was a lot going on with the band around this time and they just went a bit too far overboard with the changes. They might as well have broken up and started a new band. It might have worked out better. This anxious song isn't all that bad, but it's certainly no "Reminiscing" or even "The Night Owls." To me, it sounds like a band trying too hard and not getting anywhere.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) In addition to the changes in personnel and sound, the band began to bill themselves with the acronym that fans knew them by - LRB. The album and singles were all credited as such. However, the change only lasted for one album since it really didn't work out. 2) The band recorded one more album with Farnham at the helm before he left for a solo career. Once Farnham was out, original vocalist Glenn Shorrock rejoined the band. They smoothed out their sound and over the course of two albums they managed to get three songs into the Top 30 of the AC chart. After that, the band stopped recording and just toured. There would be numerous personnel changes over the years with a few indie albums released, but none of them included anyone from the band's original line-up. As of this posting date, the band still tours, but the only member from their hitmaking days to stay in the band is bass guitarist Wayne Nelson, who joined the group in 1980.
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Date: 01/26/1985
Debut: 81
Peak: 60
Weeks: 8
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: The Little River Band went through a major change when their lead singer and original member Glenn Shorrock left the band. He was replaced by John Farnham and their first effort together, The Net, didn't yield the results expected. With a pair of middling Top 40 single entries, the album stalled early and failed to go gold (after having four gold/platinum studio albums in a row). The band was in flux at the time with both personnel and direction issues. A couple of long-time members took off and the sound of the band began to have a harder edge. With Farnham still fronting the band, they recorded their eighth studio album, Playing to Win. The title track was chosen for the first single and upon release it got some exposure at Rock and ended up at #15 on that chart. However, their new sound didn't translate to Pop and it halted before it could get close to the Top 40. It would end up being their final single to reach the Pop chart.
ReduxReview: This certainly isn't the smooth soft rock sounds of LRB. The changed up sound is almost a cross between Kansas and Styx with a little Toto thrown in. It probably wasn't the best move for them. It's fine to change up things, but there was a lot going on with the band around this time and they just went a bit too far overboard with the changes. They might as well have broken up and started a new band. It might have worked out better. This anxious song isn't all that bad, but it's certainly no "Reminiscing" or even "The Night Owls." To me, it sounds like a band trying too hard and not getting anywhere.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) In addition to the changes in personnel and sound, the band began to bill themselves with the acronym that fans knew them by - LRB. The album and singles were all credited as such. However, the change only lasted for one album since it really didn't work out. 2) The band recorded one more album with Farnham at the helm before he left for a solo career. Once Farnham was out, original vocalist Glenn Shorrock rejoined the band. They smoothed out their sound and over the course of two albums they managed to get three songs into the Top 30 of the AC chart. After that, the band stopped recording and just toured. There would be numerous personnel changes over the years with a few indie albums released, but none of them included anyone from the band's original line-up. As of this posting date, the band still tours, but the only member from their hitmaking days to stay in the band is bass guitarist Wayne Nelson, who joined the group in 1980.
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Sunday, October 15, 2017
"Crazy" by Kenny Rogers
Song#: 2193
Date: 01/26/1985
Debut: 86
Peak: 79
Weeks: 8
Genre: Pop, Country Crossover, Adult Contemporary
Pop Bits: Rogers' sixteenth studio album, What About Me, became another platinum seller for the artist thanks to the title track hit, which was done in a trio style with James Ingram and Kim Carnes. The song hit #1 at AC while going to #15 Pop. Country didn't respond as well and the song faltered at #70. However, Rogers regained his Country audience with this second single from the album. The ballad would hit #1 becoming his sixteenth to do so. It was also another AC Top 10'er getting to #5. But like Country did on "What About Me," Pop proceeded to ignore this tune and it barely made a dent in the chart.
ReduxReview: It's kind of crazy (so to speak) that this song just utterly failed at Pop. With "What About Me" hitting #15, it seemed a big, hooky, Lionel Richie-ish ballad would achieve similar results. It didn't and I'm not really sure why. Maybe it was just too standard of a song - like, we've heard this before, even from Rogers (i.e. "Through the Years"). Perhaps it was just a bit too bland. Whatever the case, it didn't grab a Pop audience. However, even though it sounded nothing like a country tune, it got to the top of that chart. Weird. I think the song has a good chorus and I always remember it, but the rest of the song is a bit flat. At the point when the song should really soar, it doesn't. Overall, I think the song is just barely a cut above average.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: Singer/songwriter Richard Marx co-wrote this hit with Rogers. The pair also co-wrote "What About Me" along with producer David Foster. Marx contributed one other track to the album, "Somebody Took My Love," which he co-wrote with David Pomeranz. Over the next few years, Marx would continue to write and sing background for other artists before finally landing his own solo deal in 1987. His very first solo single, "Don't Mean Nothing," would be the first of nine Top 10 hits for the artist. But it was his work on this Kenny Rogers album that got him established in the business.
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Date: 01/26/1985
Debut: 86
Peak: 79
Weeks: 8
Genre: Pop, Country Crossover, Adult Contemporary
Pop Bits: Rogers' sixteenth studio album, What About Me, became another platinum seller for the artist thanks to the title track hit, which was done in a trio style with James Ingram and Kim Carnes. The song hit #1 at AC while going to #15 Pop. Country didn't respond as well and the song faltered at #70. However, Rogers regained his Country audience with this second single from the album. The ballad would hit #1 becoming his sixteenth to do so. It was also another AC Top 10'er getting to #5. But like Country did on "What About Me," Pop proceeded to ignore this tune and it barely made a dent in the chart.
ReduxReview: It's kind of crazy (so to speak) that this song just utterly failed at Pop. With "What About Me" hitting #15, it seemed a big, hooky, Lionel Richie-ish ballad would achieve similar results. It didn't and I'm not really sure why. Maybe it was just too standard of a song - like, we've heard this before, even from Rogers (i.e. "Through the Years"). Perhaps it was just a bit too bland. Whatever the case, it didn't grab a Pop audience. However, even though it sounded nothing like a country tune, it got to the top of that chart. Weird. I think the song has a good chorus and I always remember it, but the rest of the song is a bit flat. At the point when the song should really soar, it doesn't. Overall, I think the song is just barely a cut above average.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: Singer/songwriter Richard Marx co-wrote this hit with Rogers. The pair also co-wrote "What About Me" along with producer David Foster. Marx contributed one other track to the album, "Somebody Took My Love," which he co-wrote with David Pomeranz. Over the next few years, Marx would continue to write and sing background for other artists before finally landing his own solo deal in 1987. His very first solo single, "Don't Mean Nothing," would be the first of nine Top 10 hits for the artist. But it was his work on this Kenny Rogers album that got him established in the business.
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