Song#: 3069
Date: 03/28/1987
Debut: 91
Peak: 88
Weeks: 3
Genre: Pop, Rock
Pop Bits: Hart's first two albums each generated a Top 10 hit. His third album, Fields of Fire, had yet to achieve that after two attempts. Both singles would only make the Top 30 with "I Am By Your Side" doing the best at #18. Still in search of a better result, this third single was pushed out. Unfortunately, it was pretty much a non-starter spending a few minor weeks at the bottom of the Pop chart. Yet the two Top 30 singles generated enough interest in the album to make it go gold. It would be his last album to reach that sales level in the US.
ReduxReview: This urgent, rock-leaning track was certainly different from the two ballads he had released from the album. It was more in-line with the synth rock/new wave sounds from his second album Boy in the Box. The tune also had a Rick Springfield feel. It wasn't too bad of a song, but it just wasn't right for the US pop audience. It was neither as hooky or fun as his #7 hit "Sunglasses At Night" and it didn't have the mainstream appeal of his big ballads. It was fine for an album track, but it wasn't going to get anywhere on the chart.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: In his homeland of Canada, Hart's Fields of Fire album would generate five Top 40 entries including a #1 and another Top 10. When the singles were exhausted from that album, a one-off single was released in Canada titled "Too Good to Be Enough." It was kind of a promotional item with the single being packaged in a folded up poster. The song would get to #24 on the Canadian chart. There is a story that this song was originally supposed to be used for the soundtrack to the 1987 Eddie Murphy sequel Beverly Hills Cop II. Hart had fielded other offers to appear on soundtracks, but had previously balked because they wanted him to sing another composer's song and he preferred to sing his own tunes. It seems he finally decided to get involved in soundtracks when an opportunity for Beverly Hills Cop II came his way. Yet somehow this song (if indeed he did intend if for the film) was set aside and Hart was talked into recording a song called "Hold On" written by James Wirrick. Oddly, that song had already been recorded by another artist for use in the film. San Francisco singer Keta Bill originally recorded "Hold On" and her version was used in the Playboy Mansion scene of the movie. However, due to legal or other issues, her take would not be included on the soundtrack album and instead a new version of the song (nearly all rewritten) by Hart would be. Hart's take can briefly be heard in the film - just enough to get listed in the film's credits and to make it a valid as a part of the soundtrack album.
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