"So Much in Love" by The Venetians

Song#:  3034
Date:  02/28/1987
Debut:  97
Peak:  88
Weeks:  5
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  This Australian rock band was formed by UK-born Rik Swinn in 1982. They were signed to Parole Records and released a single in '83 titled "Sound on Sound." It just scratched the Aussie chart with a follow-up single "Chinese I's" doing a little better. It was enough to call for a full album and the band delivered Step Off the Edge in 1985. Singles from the LP didn't do that well, but Parole gave the band another chance and they recorded and released this single late in '85. It ended up being a major hit reaching #3 in Australia. That success gave them the opportunity to record a second album Calling In the Lions, which was issued out in '86. A second single, "Inspiration," then made it to #19. The hits helped them get a distribution deal in the US on Chrysalis Records and "So Much in Love" got released early in '87. Surprisingly, it first got attention in clubs and the tune made it to #35 on the US Dance chart. It then crossed over to Pop for a few weeks. Further singles failed to reach any US chart. The band put out a third album in 1988 titled Amazing World, but it was less successful than their previous effort. The following year, the band called it quits.

ReduxReview:  This tune has a Euro-rock feel to it. It's like a cross between Simple Minds and Tears for Fears with a dash of U2 tossed in. The song is well-produced and the hook is solid. I think the issue for US radio is that it sounded somewhat like the other bands mentioned and there wasn't really anything that set these guys apart. It was average post-new wave rock. Again, it's a good listen. There just wasn't anything really different or special about it.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  The band's drummer, Tim Powles, would be the one who would have the highest profile career in music. He would perform with other established band such as The Divinyls, but he found a home as a member of the successful Australian rock band The Church. Powles would join up with them in 1994. Soon after, he began contributing as a songwriter and then moved into the producer's chair. As of this posting date, he is still writing, drumming, and producing with The Church. He has also done production work for other artists including the Aussie rock band Regular John. Powles engineered and produced their 2009 debut album. His work earned him an ARIA (Australia's Grammys) nomination for Producer of the Year.

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