Song#: 3016
Date: 02/07/1987
Debut: 74
Peak: 13
Weeks: 14
Genre: Pop, Rock
Pop Bits: Turner's second single from her album Break Every Rule, "Two People," didn't set the Pop chart afire. It stalled at a minor #30 while only making the Top 20 at both R&B and AC. The results were unexpected and a better performing single was nearly imperative in order to keep sales of the album going. For a third single, this country-rock flavored track was selected. Like her previous two singles, this one was also written by Terry Britten and Graham Lyle. The good news was that the song performed better at Pop getting close to the Top 10. The bad news is that it failed to make any of the other charts (Rock, AC, R&B). The lack of a larger crossover hit played into album sales with Break Every Rule only being certified platinum. While not necessarily a failure, the amount was a significant drop from the five million that Private Dancer had sold.
ReduxReview: This song probably should have been the LP's second single. If it had been supported with an interesting video, I think the tune would have gone Top 10. Still, it wasn't that great of a song. As I mentioned in previous posts, Break Every Rule was mostly the Britten/Lyle show and they did not bring their A-game. Besides "Typical Male," the album lacked good single candidates. There were tracks I certainly liked on the LP, but none of them would be considered hits. I think a bit more time was needed to find better material, but in the music business world, time is not a friend. So Graham and Lyle did what they could. Unfortunately, it was all fairly lackluster.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: In total, eight songs would be released as singles from Break Every Rule. However, some were released to just a specific handful of countries. One of those was the David Bowie-penned track "Girls." On her massive breakthrough LP Private Dance, Turner covered Bowie's "1984," a song from his 1974 album Diamond Dogs. For Break Every Rule, Bowie decided to write a song for Turner and came up with "Girls." The tune would be released as a single in some European markets and it actually did well in The Netherlands where it reached #16. Not long after Turner recorded the song, Bowie recorded his own take on it for possible inclusion on his 1987 album Never Let Me Down. In fact, he did two versions - one in English and one in Japanese. Neither made the cut and were left off the album. However, they were used as b-sides to singles from the album.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Saturday, January 18, 2020
Friday, January 17, 2020
"My Baby" by The Pretenders
Song#: 3015
Date: 02/07/1987
Debut: 84
Peak: 64
Weeks: 7
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: The Pretenders nabbed their second US Top 10 hit with the #10 Pop/#1 Rock track "Don't Get Me Wrong," the lead single from their fourth album Get Close. To keep things rolling, this next single was issued out. It was another big winner at Rock getting to #1. However, it didn't catch on in a more mainstream way and the song faltered early on the Pop chart. It would take seven years for them to get another single on the Pop chart. Get Close would end up reaching #25 and going gold.
ReduxReview: The hooks in this song may not be as strong or as immediate as some of their other hits, but this jangly tune was a worthwhile follow-up and it should have done better on the Pop chart. It's a sweet tune and I really like the bridge section. I'm not really sure why the crowd noises were brought in at the end, especially since this wasn't a live recording, but they are not too distracting - just an odd choice. At least it found a home on Rock radio and got to #1.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: Later in '87, the band would put out their first compilation titled The Singles. It would sell well getting to #69 and go gold. After that, Chrissie Hynde would return in 1990 with Packed!, an LP that was pretty much a solo effort, but released as by The Pretenders. It failed to produce a Pop chart hit and didn't sell well. Four years later, Hynde returned with a new lineup for Last of the Independents. Hynde co-wrote several songs for the album with the hit making team of Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly including the first single "I'll Stand By You," which became a solid hit getting to #16 Pop/#21 AC. The album would sell well going gold. The band would continue to release albums over the years, but none would do as well as their earlier efforts. Later in 2014, Hynde would officially release her first solo album titled Stockholm. Five years later, she would issue out a second solo effort, the covers LP Valve Bone Woe.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Date: 02/07/1987
Debut: 84
Peak: 64
Weeks: 7
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: The Pretenders nabbed their second US Top 10 hit with the #10 Pop/#1 Rock track "Don't Get Me Wrong," the lead single from their fourth album Get Close. To keep things rolling, this next single was issued out. It was another big winner at Rock getting to #1. However, it didn't catch on in a more mainstream way and the song faltered early on the Pop chart. It would take seven years for them to get another single on the Pop chart. Get Close would end up reaching #25 and going gold.
ReduxReview: The hooks in this song may not be as strong or as immediate as some of their other hits, but this jangly tune was a worthwhile follow-up and it should have done better on the Pop chart. It's a sweet tune and I really like the bridge section. I'm not really sure why the crowd noises were brought in at the end, especially since this wasn't a live recording, but they are not too distracting - just an odd choice. At least it found a home on Rock radio and got to #1.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: Later in '87, the band would put out their first compilation titled The Singles. It would sell well getting to #69 and go gold. After that, Chrissie Hynde would return in 1990 with Packed!, an LP that was pretty much a solo effort, but released as by The Pretenders. It failed to produce a Pop chart hit and didn't sell well. Four years later, Hynde returned with a new lineup for Last of the Independents. Hynde co-wrote several songs for the album with the hit making team of Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly including the first single "I'll Stand By You," which became a solid hit getting to #16 Pop/#21 AC. The album would sell well going gold. The band would continue to release albums over the years, but none would do as well as their earlier efforts. Later in 2014, Hynde would officially release her first solo album titled Stockholm. Five years later, she would issue out a second solo effort, the covers LP Valve Bone Woe.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Thursday, January 16, 2020
"Stone Love" by Kool & the Gang
Top 10 Alert!
Song#: 3014 Date: 02/07/1987
Debut: 87
Peak: 10
Weeks: 18
Genre: R&B
Pop Bits: The band's seventeenth studio album, Forever, got a good boost via its first single, the #2 R&B/#10 Pop hit "Victory." To follow it up, this next track was selected. It would do almost equally as well reaching #4 R&B and #10 Pop. It also got to #11 at AC and #41 Dance. The pair of hits helped the album get to #9 R&B and #25 Pop. The LP would eventually go gold, but that was a bit of a drop following the double-platinum sales of their 1984 album Emergency. This song would not only be the band's last to reach the Pop Top 10, but their last to make the Pop Top 40.
ReduxReview: Just like "Victory," I don't remember this song at all. I know I would have heard it since it went Top 10, but nothing about it is familiar at all. There may be a reason for that too - it's even more forgettable than "Victory." This was the sound of a band that was just tired. Their formula was worn to the nubbin and the fact that they eked out this pair of Top 10's was really amazing. It was actually a gift because both songs are so bland. I think the band knew it too as significant changes would take place after this. Kool & the Gang certainly had their share of classic hits, but this one certainly wasn't among them.
ReduxRating: 3/10
Trivia: With lead singer James "J.T." Taylor, Kool & the Gang had their best success between 1979 and 1987 when they scored ten Pop Top 10s. Yet many people forget that the band had a period of success earlier in the 70s prior to Taylor joining. Their 1973 album Wild and Peaceful would be a gold seller thanks to a pair of hits, "Jungle Boogie" (#2 R&B/#4 Pop) and "Hollywood Swinging" (#1 R&B/#6 Pop). A follow-up album, Light of Worlds, would also go gold mainly thanks to the #1 R&B/#37 Pop single "Higher Plane." But then things quickly cooled for Kool and while they would get a few tunes into the R&B Top 10, their mainstream appeal faded away. Their 1978 album Everybody's Dancin' would be their worst charting to-date and it signaled that the group's career may be at an end. But then they hired on Taylor along with producer Eumir Deodato and rebounded big time with 1979 platinum seller Ladies Night. The next eight years would be their most fruitful.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
"Smoking Gun" by The Robert Cray Band
Song#: 3013
Date: 02/07/1987
Debut: 88
Peak: 22
Weeks: 14
Genre: Blues-Rock
Pop Bits: Guitarist Cray developed an interest in blues music at an early age. Although born in Georgia, his family ended up in Tacoma, Washington, and that is where Cray began to hone his skills. As 1974 rolled around, Cray was in Eugene, Oregon, and had formed the Robert Cray Band. Their reputation as a live act grew in the region and by 1980 they had recorded their first album, Who's Been Talkin'. As their audience grew, so did support from other blues and rock musicians and that helped their next two albums reach the lower rungs of the Pop Albums chart. Mercury Records saw potential in the group and signed them up. The band's fourth LP, Strong Persuader, would end up being their mainstream breakthrough. It was introduced by this first single, which became a major hit at Rock getting to #2. It then crossed over to the Pop chart where it nearly got inside the Top 20. The album would make it to #13 and would eventually sell over two million copies.
ReduxReview: I had completely forgotten about this song. I don't think I've heard it since it was a hit back in the day. Cray co-wrote this blues-rock tune and it had just enough hooky pop/rock incorporated to make it palatable to a broader audience. With a few other bluesy acts doing well on the Pop chart, like Georgia Satellites and the Fabulous Thunderbirds, the timing of this single was just about perfect. It was an easy groovin' tune with some nice guitar work from Cray.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: The album would net Cray a Grammy award for Best Contemporary Blues Recording. However, this wasn't Cray's first Grammy win. Before recording Strong Persuader, Cray was asked to record an album with two other famous blues guitarists, Albert Collins and Johnny Copeland. The LP Showdown! was released by the trio in 1985. It was critically lauded and it ended up winning the Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Recording. It would be the first of Cray's five Grammys from fifteen nominations (as of this posting date).
_________________________________________________________________________________
Date: 02/07/1987
Debut: 88
Peak: 22
Weeks: 14
Genre: Blues-Rock
Pop Bits: Guitarist Cray developed an interest in blues music at an early age. Although born in Georgia, his family ended up in Tacoma, Washington, and that is where Cray began to hone his skills. As 1974 rolled around, Cray was in Eugene, Oregon, and had formed the Robert Cray Band. Their reputation as a live act grew in the region and by 1980 they had recorded their first album, Who's Been Talkin'. As their audience grew, so did support from other blues and rock musicians and that helped their next two albums reach the lower rungs of the Pop Albums chart. Mercury Records saw potential in the group and signed them up. The band's fourth LP, Strong Persuader, would end up being their mainstream breakthrough. It was introduced by this first single, which became a major hit at Rock getting to #2. It then crossed over to the Pop chart where it nearly got inside the Top 20. The album would make it to #13 and would eventually sell over two million copies.
ReduxReview: I had completely forgotten about this song. I don't think I've heard it since it was a hit back in the day. Cray co-wrote this blues-rock tune and it had just enough hooky pop/rock incorporated to make it palatable to a broader audience. With a few other bluesy acts doing well on the Pop chart, like Georgia Satellites and the Fabulous Thunderbirds, the timing of this single was just about perfect. It was an easy groovin' tune with some nice guitar work from Cray.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: The album would net Cray a Grammy award for Best Contemporary Blues Recording. However, this wasn't Cray's first Grammy win. Before recording Strong Persuader, Cray was asked to record an album with two other famous blues guitarists, Albert Collins and Johnny Copeland. The LP Showdown! was released by the trio in 1985. It was critically lauded and it ended up winning the Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Recording. It would be the first of Cray's five Grammys from fifteen nominations (as of this posting date).
_________________________________________________________________________________
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
"Make It Mean Something" by Rob Jungklas
Song#: 3012
Date: 02/07/1987
Debut: 91
Peak: 86
Weeks: 3
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: Although born in Boston, this singer/songwriter was mainly raised in Memphis where he developed a love for blues and folk music. He later branched out to rock music and began writing his own songs. He played around Memphis for several years gaining a following and in 1983 he issued out an indie EP titled Romeos. Manhattan Records later came calling and Jungklas signed a deal with them. He then began work on a full-length debut album that would be titled Closer to the Flame. Although not officially released as a single, the song "Boystown" was pushed out to rock radio in the summer of '86 and it got to #41 at Rock. When the album was ready for release, this track was issued out as the first official single. It also got to #41 at Rock while crossing over to the lower reaches of the Pop chart. With little to support it, the album faded away quickly. A second LP got recorded, but changes at the label left it on the shelf. Jungklas then moved over to RCA for his 1991 album Work Songs for a New Moon. It came and went to little notice and that ended Jungklas' major label days.
ReduxReview: I remember this artist's name because it was unusual, but I never heard any of his music. This tune has a heartland rock feel along the lines of Springsteen and Seger. There are also shades of Costello new wave tossed in too. Yet it still sounds original and not imitation. The production is nicely chunky and arena ready. There is enough hook in the chorus to make it memorable as well. It's a shame this track didn't get more attention, especially at rock radio where it seems like this would have been a bigger hit. A nice little surprise from the bottom of the chart.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: After years of performing and his not so successful attempts to break through to the masses, Jungklas made the decision to leave the music business. He went back to college and became a teacher. He taught English and science in a couple of schools around Memphis. But like many musicians, Jungklas had an itch that he just had to scratch. He returned to writing and performing sometime around 2001. A couple of years later, he put out a new album titled Arkadelphia. However, this time around he traded in his previous AOR rock for a more blues-oriented sound. He has continued to release albums and perform over the years even opening up for folk-rock icon Lucinda Williams.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Date: 02/07/1987
Debut: 91
Peak: 86
Weeks: 3
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: Although born in Boston, this singer/songwriter was mainly raised in Memphis where he developed a love for blues and folk music. He later branched out to rock music and began writing his own songs. He played around Memphis for several years gaining a following and in 1983 he issued out an indie EP titled Romeos. Manhattan Records later came calling and Jungklas signed a deal with them. He then began work on a full-length debut album that would be titled Closer to the Flame. Although not officially released as a single, the song "Boystown" was pushed out to rock radio in the summer of '86 and it got to #41 at Rock. When the album was ready for release, this track was issued out as the first official single. It also got to #41 at Rock while crossing over to the lower reaches of the Pop chart. With little to support it, the album faded away quickly. A second LP got recorded, but changes at the label left it on the shelf. Jungklas then moved over to RCA for his 1991 album Work Songs for a New Moon. It came and went to little notice and that ended Jungklas' major label days.
ReduxReview: I remember this artist's name because it was unusual, but I never heard any of his music. This tune has a heartland rock feel along the lines of Springsteen and Seger. There are also shades of Costello new wave tossed in too. Yet it still sounds original and not imitation. The production is nicely chunky and arena ready. There is enough hook in the chorus to make it memorable as well. It's a shame this track didn't get more attention, especially at rock radio where it seems like this would have been a bigger hit. A nice little surprise from the bottom of the chart.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: After years of performing and his not so successful attempts to break through to the masses, Jungklas made the decision to leave the music business. He went back to college and became a teacher. He taught English and science in a couple of schools around Memphis. But like many musicians, Jungklas had an itch that he just had to scratch. He returned to writing and performing sometime around 2001. A couple of years later, he put out a new album titled Arkadelphia. However, this time around he traded in his previous AOR rock for a more blues-oriented sound. He has continued to release albums and perform over the years even opening up for folk-rock icon Lucinda Williams.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Monday, January 13, 2020
"Hold Me" by Sheila E.
Song#: 3011
Date: 02/07/1987
Debut: 92
Peak: 68
Weeks: 10
Genre: R&B
Pop Bits: Sheila E.'s second album, Romance 1600, would be her second gold effort thanks mainly to her #11 Pop hit "A Love Bizarre," which featured Prince. When it came time for her third LP, Sheila E. remained with Prince and his Paisley Park label. This time around, Prince loosened his grip a bit and only wrote five of the LP's ten songs. Sheila E. would co-write the remaining tracks without the help of Prince. Still, even though Sheila E. is listed as producer along with David Z., Prince pretty much handled the production duties along with playing most of the instruments. When it came time to issue out a lead single, this Sheila E. co-written ballad was surprisingly selected. It would end up being a hit at R&B getting to #3. It also got to #36 at AC. The tune didn't catch on as well at Pop and it stalled in the bottom third of the chart. A second single, the Prince-penned "Koo Koo," would only get to #36 R&B. Without a more significant crossover hit, the album stopped at #56 Pop/#24 R&B and failed to go gold. "Hold Me" would be Sheila E.'s last single to reach the Pop chart.
ReduxReview: I like that Sheila E. went for a different sound with this song rather than rely on the Prince-infused tracks that kicked off her career. It was a solid, soulful track that she delivered well, but it did lean more towards an R&B audience and that didn't necessarily help it gain a mainstream acceptance. It was a well-deserved hit at R&B, but it just wasn't going to make it far on pop radio. The second single, "Koo Koo," was definitely guided by Prince. It was a fun track, but it just didn't have the same commercial appeal as her previous tunes with him and it faltered. Her days as a charting artist quickly faded after this, but in some ways it didn't really matter because she has since maintained a highly successful career as a well-respected musician.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: After some health issued sidelined her, Sheila E. left Prince's fold and struck out on her own. She signed on with Warner Bros. and recorded her 1991 album Sex Cymbal. A couple of singles did moderately well on the R&B and Dance charts, but the album didn't sell well and that ended her major label days. Over the years she would record a few more albums for smaller labels. She has been an in-demand side musician on percussion and a musical director as well. She has been featured in several films and TV shows including the CMT reality competition show Gone Country. Sheila E. was a contestant on the third and final season on the show, which attempted to turn non-country singers/entertainers into country artists. Sheila E. ended up being the third season winner and she released a single after the show titled "Glorious Train."
_________________________________________________________________________________
Date: 02/07/1987
Debut: 92
Peak: 68
Weeks: 10
Genre: R&B
Pop Bits: Sheila E.'s second album, Romance 1600, would be her second gold effort thanks mainly to her #11 Pop hit "A Love Bizarre," which featured Prince. When it came time for her third LP, Sheila E. remained with Prince and his Paisley Park label. This time around, Prince loosened his grip a bit and only wrote five of the LP's ten songs. Sheila E. would co-write the remaining tracks without the help of Prince. Still, even though Sheila E. is listed as producer along with David Z., Prince pretty much handled the production duties along with playing most of the instruments. When it came time to issue out a lead single, this Sheila E. co-written ballad was surprisingly selected. It would end up being a hit at R&B getting to #3. It also got to #36 at AC. The tune didn't catch on as well at Pop and it stalled in the bottom third of the chart. A second single, the Prince-penned "Koo Koo," would only get to #36 R&B. Without a more significant crossover hit, the album stopped at #56 Pop/#24 R&B and failed to go gold. "Hold Me" would be Sheila E.'s last single to reach the Pop chart.
ReduxReview: I like that Sheila E. went for a different sound with this song rather than rely on the Prince-infused tracks that kicked off her career. It was a solid, soulful track that she delivered well, but it did lean more towards an R&B audience and that didn't necessarily help it gain a mainstream acceptance. It was a well-deserved hit at R&B, but it just wasn't going to make it far on pop radio. The second single, "Koo Koo," was definitely guided by Prince. It was a fun track, but it just didn't have the same commercial appeal as her previous tunes with him and it faltered. Her days as a charting artist quickly faded after this, but in some ways it didn't really matter because she has since maintained a highly successful career as a well-respected musician.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: After some health issued sidelined her, Sheila E. left Prince's fold and struck out on her own. She signed on with Warner Bros. and recorded her 1991 album Sex Cymbal. A couple of singles did moderately well on the R&B and Dance charts, but the album didn't sell well and that ended her major label days. Over the years she would record a few more albums for smaller labels. She has been an in-demand side musician on percussion and a musical director as well. She has been featured in several films and TV shows including the CMT reality competition show Gone Country. Sheila E. was a contestant on the third and final season on the show, which attempted to turn non-country singers/entertainers into country artists. Sheila E. ended up being the third season winner and she released a single after the show titled "Glorious Train."
_________________________________________________________________________________
Sunday, January 12, 2020
"The Finer Things" by Steve Winwood
Top 10 Alert!
Song#: 3010 Date: 02/07/1987
Debut: 95
Peak: 8
Weeks: 23
Genre: Pop, Rock
Pop Bits: Winwood's fourth album, Back in the High Life, kicked off with the Grammy-winning #1 single "Higher Love." Its follow-up, "Freedom Overspill," was not as successful. It just barely scraped the Top 20 at #20. Still, it did well enough to call for a third single and this next track was issued out. It debuted low on the Pop chart, but eventually it eased its way into the Top 10 becoming Winwood's third song to do so. It would also get to #1 at AC and #5 Rock. The hit revived sales of the album and it would go on to sell over three million copies.
ReduxReview: This tune was slightly unusual for a pop hit with its ballad-ish opening, bouncy chorus, and half-time bridge. It all flowed well together though and I think hooky chorus is what sold the tune. This really should have been the second single from the LP. I'm not sure why the lackluster "Freedom Overspill" was selected instead. It nearly killed the momentum of the album. Luckily, this song was strong enough to gain back what was lost.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: In addition to its main singles, the album featured two tracks that got enough airplay to make the Rock chart. "Take It As It Comes" would be a minor entry at #33. "Split Decision" would be a more significant hit getting to #3. That track was co-written by Winwood and former Eagle Joe Walsh. Walsh would also play guitar on the track. In 2008, Winwood and his former Blind Faith bandmate Eric Clapton got together for a series of shows at Madison Square Garden. They performed a variety of material from their Blind Faith days along with selections from their own careers. One of the songs they chose to do was "Split Decision." The shows were highly successful and an associated double-CD of selections from the shows was released (#14, 2009) and a DVD was also issued out. The DVD would be a double-platinum seller (200,000 copies for DVDs).
_________________________________________________________________________________
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)