"When You Walk in a Room" by Paul Carrack

Song#:  3552

Date:  06/18/1988

Debut:  92

Peak:  90

Weeks:  3

Genre:  Pop, Rock

Pop Bits:  Carrack's One Good Reason would be his most successful solo album in the US. It would reach #67 mainly on the strength of its first single, the #9 "Don't Shed a Tear." The title track would serve as the second single and would crack the Pop Top 30. With that result, the label decided to push out a third single and this cover tune would be selected for release. The song had been released in '87 in the UK as the LP's first single, but it only made it to #48. It would end up just being a blip on the US Pop chart spending a minor few weeks at the bottom. The song did become a hit in Australia reaching #7.

ReduxReview:  Carrack takes an oldie from the 60s (see below) and gives it a late 80s makeover. I liked what he did with the tune. There was a retro feel to it all, yet the production and the more rock-oriented arrangement made it sound fresh and modern. Unfortunately like DeShannon's original, it barely made the Pop chart. It really should have done much better (DeShannon's should have as well).

ReduxRating:  8/10

Trivia:  Double Shot!  1) This is a remake of a song originally written and recorded by Jackie DeShannon. It was first released as the b-side to another song in 1963, but then it was changed to the a-side in '64. It got on the Pop chart, but only for one week at #99. With that result, the song might have quickly faded into obscurity, but it got picked up and recorded by the UK band The Searchers. Their 1964 single would be a hit in the UK getting to #3. In the US the song would crack the Top 40 at #35. With the song now reaching a larger audience, other artists would begin to do their own cover versions. While Carrack would be the only other artist to get the song on the US Pop chart, two other singers would have success with it on the US Country chart. Stephanie Winslow, who had a string of Top 40 Country entries in the late 70s/early 80s would record a version that reached #29. Later in '94, Pam Tillis would put out her take on the song. It would reach #2 on the Country chart. It was one of four Top 10 hits from her album Sweetheart's Dance, which would prove to be her most successful studio LP reaching #6 (#51 Pop) and going platinum.  2) The background/duet vocal on this song was done by Linda Taylor. Taylor was an in-demand session singer in the UK. Carrack most likely had a connection to Taylor because she had also worked on the 1985 debut album of Mike + the Mechanics, of which Carrack was a member. Taylor would attempt a solo career of her own. In 1982, she would record a debut album titled Taylor Made. It wouldn't get anywhere, but it did include the #13 US Dance chart entry "You and Me Just Started" (which is a really good post-disco dance track).

_________________________________________________________________________________