Song#: 3550
Date: 06/18/1988
Debut: 95
Peak: 53
Weeks: 11
Genre: Dance-Pop, Blue-Eyed Soul
Pop Bits: This British band broke through at home with their 1985 album Cupid & Psyche 85. It would be a #5 gold record thanks to a pair of Top 10 hits including the #10 "Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)." In the States, they would also do well with the single "Perfect Way" reaching #11 and the album getting to #50. It would take them three years to finally issue a follow up and hopefully beat the sophomore slump. While Provision would be less successful, it still performed fairly well in the UK getting to #8 and becoming their second gold LP. Its first single, "Oh Patti (Don't Feel Sorry for Loverboy)," would top out at #13. In the States, a different song was slated for the first single. "Boom! There She Was," a collaboration with Roger ("I Want to Be Your Man," #3 Pop), got issued out. It received some attention reaching #12 Dance and nearly cracking the top half of the Pop chart. Nothing else from the LP charted and that left it peaking at a minor #113. After everything from the album wrapped up, the band went on hiatus; one that would last over a decade. They would release albums in 1999 and 2006. Neither performed well on the charts.
ReduxReview: This song was nearly there. The chorus could have been a bit stronger, but what truly holds back the track is the production. Lead singer Green Gartside's vocals are so buried in the mix that you can't even understand him. The melody and chorus are totally lost. Roger's talk box parts are also under the radar too. I can hear that something good could have come of this tune, but the execution nearly killed it. A top-notch producer and a stronger singer could have turned this into a hit. Instead it turned into a missed opportunity.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: Band member and co-songwriter David Gamson wouldn't sit idle during the break following Provision. He would write and produce music for other artists including Luther Vandross, Sheila E, Roger, and George Benson. He would also produce the first two albums by Meshell Ndegeocello, both of which were nominated for Grammys. Gamson's biggest success as a songwriter came when he co-wrote "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" with Jörgen Elofsson, and Ali Tamposi. The song was originally pitched to Leona Lewis, but she turned it down. It was then suggested to Kelly Clarkson. She liked the tune and brought it to producer Greg Kurstin. He made additions to the last verse, which got him a writing credit, and got it recorded with Clarkson. It would be released in 2012 as the second single from her album Stronger. The song would become Clarkson's third #1. It also topped both the AC and Dance charts.
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