"Words Get in the Way" by Miami Sound Machine

Top 10 Alert!

Song#:  2760
Date:  06/14/1986
Debut:  88
Peak:  5
Weeks:  24
Genre:  Pop, Adult Contemporary



Pop Bits:  The Latin-pop band's ninth album, Primitive Love, broke them to a mass mainstream audience thanks to two Top 10 gold records, "Conga" (#10) and a remix of "Bad Boy" (#8). They would keep the streak going with this next single. Although it would be their third consecutive Pop Top 10 hit and the highest peaking thus far, it just missed out on the gold-level sales mark. It would also become their first song to reach #1 on the AC chart. The hit kept album sales steady and over time it would become a triple platinum seller despite only peaking at #23 on the chart.

ReduxReview:  This was such a smart choice for a third single. After two upbeat jams, this ballad was refreshing and it brought in an even bigger adult audience. It was a lovely, well-written tune that highlighted Estefan's voice. While I liked their first two singles, this would be the one that made me go out and buy the 45. It was an easy, breezy effort that deservedly got the band into the Top 5 for the first time.

ReduxRating:  8/10

Trivia:  The bulk of the songwriting for the Primitive Love album was done by the team of Lawrence Dermer, Joe Galdo, and Rafael Vigil. Suzi Carr would lend a hand on a couple of tracks. Drummer Enrique Garcia contributed a track as did guitarist Wesley Wright. The band's lead singer, Gloria Estefan, had previously written songs that appeared on their albums and this track was her lone contribution to Primitive Love. It was her first major hit as a songwriter. It must have given her a confidence boost as more of her contributions would be included on further albums by the band and by her as a solo artist. Over the next few years, Estefan would write or co-write seven songs that would make the Pop Top 10 including three #1's.

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