Top 10 Alert!
Song#: 2832 Date: 08/16/1986
Debut: 92
Peak: 4
Weeks: 23
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: Money's 1983 album Where's the Party? was a commercial disappointment. The LP's singles didn't get very far and that left the album peaking at a low #67 and failing to reach gold level sales. His career needed a reboot and after a three-year absence, Money returned with Can't Hold Back. On board to co-produce with Money was Richie Zito. The goal was to get Money back on the charts and Zito brought along demos of some radio friendly fare, which included this first single. It took a while for the song to catch on, but once it did it made a beeline to the top of the Rock chart. Success at Pop wasn't far behind and the single would become his biggest hit getting into the Top 5. It was a welcome and much needed comeback for Money and the hit helped his album reach #20 and go platinum. The song also earned Money a Grammy nod for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male.
ReduxReview: This tune had hit written all over it. I don't know what the demo sounded like, but apparently Money wasn't a fan of the tune after hearing it, but decided to record it anyway. It's a good thing he did. It was a solid vehicle for his style of rock. The tune opens on an immediately memorable keyboard/guitar riff and it just keeps getting better after that. The inclusion of "Be My Baby" was inspired and Zito's production was excellent. The thing is hooky as hell and deserved to be a big hit. It still sounds damn good.
ReduxRating: 9/10
Trivia: This song also featured the vocals of Ronnie Spector. Spector was the lead singer of the famous girl group The Ronettes. Under the guidance of producer Phil Spector, whom Ronnie would marry in 1968, The Ronettes had several charting songs including their biggest hit, 1963's #2 "Be My Baby." Ronnie Spector maintained a career for a while after The Ronettes broke up and after her tumultuous marriage to Phil Spector ended, but by the mid-80's she had basically retired from the business. When Richie Zito brought the song to Eddie Money and he heard the interpolation of "Be My Baby" within the tune, Money's first though was to get Spector to sing the part. He was advised by folks that Spector was retired and she'd never do it. In the meantime, Money and Zito brought in The Motels lead singer Martha Davis to record the part. Apparently, Davis thought Money should seek out Spector as well and get her to do it. Money finally reached Spector and eventually lured her into the studio. As the song shaped up to be a hit, interest in Spector increased. Columbia Records offered her a contract and she recorded what would be her second solo LP in 1987 titled Unfinished Business. Despite some positive notices, neither the album nor any of its singles charted. She would then release a memoir in 1990 and be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Ronettes in 2007.
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