#1 Alert!
Gold Record Alert!
Song#: 3374
Date: 01/16/1988
Debut: 79
Peak: 1 (1 week)
Weeks: 25
Genre: R&B, Soul, Funk
Pop Bits: After having great success with his debut album in the UK, D'Arby then came home to the States to conquer the charts as well, yet his first single failed to impress. "If You Let Me Stay" would only get to #19 R&B and #68 Pop. The results didn't bode well for him or his album, but then this next single was pushed out. It got off to a slow start, but luckily MTV hooked into it and put the video in heavy rotation. That helped the song move up the chart and after a lengthy 17 weeks it would reach #1 at Pop. It also got to #1 R&B while getting to #7 Dance and #44 AC. It would end up becoming a gold single. The hit sparked sales of the album and the same week "Wishing Well" hit #1, the LP would reach its peak of #4. By that point it had already become a platinum seller as well.
ReduxReview: This sparsely arranged track was a bit of an old funk throwback. The hooky chorus along with that whistling synth line and D'Arby's gruff, soulful voice created something unique that caught the attention of radio listeners. The associated video that featured D'Arby's fascinating look (ooo - that hair!) and interesting dance moves only upped the ante and helped to make the song ready for prime time. It certainly grabbed my ears and I promptly went out and got the album. While D'Arby would go on to release some interesting (and even frustrating) material, this was his peak moment.
ReduxRating: 8/10
Trivia: With his first single, "If You Let Me Stay," being released in time for the '87 Grammy Awards, D'Arby was able to secure a nomination for Best New Artist. By the time that award was being handed out in March of '88, "Wishing Well" had just cracked the Pop Top 40. He would lose the award to Jody Watley. However, D'Arby's debut album didn't hit shelves until after the '87 eligibility period. That made it available for the '88 awards. D'Arby would then go on to win the award for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male.
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