"If Your Heart Isn't in It" by Atlantic Starr

Song#:  2692
Date:  04/19/1986
Debut:  97
Peak:  57
Weeks:  12
Genre:  R&B, Adult Contemporary



Pop Bits:  It took seven albums, but Atlantic Starr finally scored a major hit on the Pop chart with "Secret Lovers" (#3). The song was their fourth R&B Top 10 reaching #4 and their first to hit #1 at AC. It was the fourth single from their album As the Band Turns, but because it was such a major hit a follow-up single seemed appropriate. This track was selected to be issued out and it did equally as well as "Secret Lovers" on the R&B chart getting to #4 as well as reaching #11 at AC. However, it lost its footing at Pop and tripped before getting into the top half of the chart.

ReduxReview:  Why the obvious hit "Secret Lovers" was the fourth (?!) single remains a mystery, but since it really broke the band wide they had to do a follow up. This ballad was selected and it ended up doing quite well at R&B and AC. For some reason, it just didn't click as well at Pop. While it's not as memorable "Secret Lovers," it was still a good song and probably should have at least made the Top 40.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  This song was written by Hamish Stuart. From 1972 to 1983, Stuart was a member of the Scottish funk/R&B group Average White Band. In addition to guitar, bass, and vocal contributions, Stuart also wrote songs for the band. He co-wrote their two biggest hits, 1974's "Pick Up the Pieces" (#1 Pop/#5 R&B) and 1975's "Cut the Cake" (#10 Pop/#7 R&B). The band would score three top 10 albums during the 70's including the #1 AWB in 1974. Hamish would also work for Chaka Khan in the late 70s/early 80s and would co-write her 1981 #1 R&B hit "What Cha' Gonna Do for Me" (#53 Pop).

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