"One Lover at a Time" by Atlantic Starr

Song#:  3228
Date:  08/15/1987
Debut:  85
Peak:  58
Weeks:  13
Genre:  R&B, Pop



Pop Bits:  The band's seventh album, All in the Name of Love, would be their biggest seller. It would reach #4 R&B/#18 Pop and go platinum thanks to its first single, "Always," hitting #1 at R&B, Pop, and AC. For a second single, this next track was released. It would just scratch the R&B Top 10 at #10 and get to #16 at Dance, but it couldn't get out of the bottom half of the Pop chart. Two other tracks would peak in the bottom half of the R&B chart while another song, "Let the Sun In," would make it to #28 at Dance. Afterwards, some changes would take place in the band and they would return with a new album in 1989. However, they wouldn't get back on the Pop chart until 1991.

ReduxReview:  The band sort of made a name for themselves with crossover ballads, so it was going to take a pretty great tune to score a hit with an upbeat track. They gave it a good shot with this tune and while it did well at R&B, it just didn't catch on at pop radio despite spending quite a few weeks trying. I like the track. It kind of has a bouncy, pop-leaning DeBarge feel to it. I'd consider it a "cute" little tune, which doesn't necessarily translate to a hit. They needed something meatier than this to get that upbeat hit. They would have one more significant crossover hit later in 1991 (see below) and it would be another ballad, of course.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  After everything with the album was wrapped up, lead singer Barbara Weathers took off for a solo career. She was replaced by Porscha Martin. The band then recorded their next album, 1989's We're Movin' Up. Its first single, "My First Love," would hit #1 at R&B, but miss the other charts. A second single fizzled and that left the album missing out on the gold/platinum certifications from their previous two albums. Once again the female lead singing position was vacated and it got filled this time around with Rachel Oliver. The new lineup recorded the 1991 LP Love Crazy. The track "Masterpiece" ended up being a #3 R&B/#3 Pop/#2 AC hit that became the band's only gold single, but it didn't help album sales and they ended up off of the Warner roster. A 1994 album for Arista yielded little results and it would be their last for a major label. The band would continue to perform and record indie albums in various lineups over the years.

_________________________________________________________________________________