"Only for Love" by Limahl

Song#:  2394
Date:  07/20/1985
Debut:  84
Peak:  51
Weeks:  7
Genre:  Synthpop



Pop Bits:  After leaving his band Kajagoogoo, lead singer Limahl was able to grab a solo chart hit in the US with the movie theme "The NeverEnding Story" (#17). To follow it up, this track from his debut solo album Don't Suppose was selected for release. It made it about halfway up the Pop chart before falling. The tune would also get to #28 at Dance. It would be Limahl's last single to reach the US charts. In the UK, this was the first single from his album and it was issued in 1983 prior to "NeverEnding Story." The song made it to #16 with "NeverEnding" getting to #4 the following year. Like in the US, his chart fortunes dried up at home. He would issue two more album, but they disappeared quickly. Many years later, Limahl would rejoin Kajagoogoo for various live performances.

ReduxReview:  This urgent little tune kind of sounds like a rejected track from Howard Jones' debut album. The chorus is catchy, but the rest of the song is forgettable. Limahl wrote all the songs for the album (save for the later addition of "NeverEnding") and he just didn't have anything as strong as "Too Shy" or "NeverEnding" for hit contention. At least those two songs garnered Limahl the distinction of being a double one-hit wonder! If it wasn't for "NeverEnding," his solo career would have been over even quicker than it was as this song wasn't going to do anything

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  It was a chance meeting that ended up getting Limahl the job to sing "NeverEnding Story." In 1984, he was asked by his record label to participate in the Tokyo Music Festival. He took a chance to do so and ended up winning a silver award (the top prize of the night went to Laura Branigan). While he was there he got to meet legendary producer Giorgio Moroder. Moroder was working on tracks for the film The NeverEnding Story and Limahl's manager began chatting up Moroder. Not long after the festival, Limahl got a call to fly to Germany and sing the film's title song for Moroder. Limahl not only ended up with a hit song from the deal, but Moroder then co-wrote and produced most of the tracks on Limahl's second solo album Colour My Days.

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