"24/7" by Dino

Song#:  3792

Date:  02/04/1989

Debut:  86

Peak:  42

Weeks:  14

Genre:  Pop, Blue-Eyed Soul

Pop Bits:  This singer/songwriter's single "Summergirls" got an extra push when picked up by 4th & B'way Records in 1988. It would do fairly well reaching the halfway mark on the Pop chart. That seemed to be enough for the label to ask for a full album and Dino then worked up his debut effort 24/7 writing, arranging, and producing all of the tracks. Once finished, this title track single would be issued out as a single. The song would nearly crack the Pop Top 40 while getting to #43 Dance. However, it was at R&B that the song did best peaking at #12. That success set Dino up well for his next single.

ReduxReview:  I wasn't a big fan of the freestyle workout "Summergirls," but this next single certainly showed Dino in a much better light. The chilled out, soulful groove was a totally different feel and the production was on-point for the time period. Dino even sounded much better on the tune, which had a memorable chorus. The lyrics have a whiff of cheez-whiz to them, but the rest of the track is good enough to overcome that. I remember this song from back in the day and was always surprised that it didn't do better on the Pop chart. It sounded like an easy Top 20 to me.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  Later on in his career, Dino would write or co-write songs for other artists. In 1995, a song he co-wrote with Rebecca Byram, "My Promise to You," would get picked up and recorded by the male vocal trio No Mercy. Consisting of Americans Marty Cintron and twin brothers Ariel and Gabriel Hernández, No Mercy was assembled in Germany by producer Frank Farian (of Milli Vanilli fame). Their first single, a remake of Everything But the Girl's #2 hit "Missing," didn't fare that well, but a second single from their debut album My Promise (self-titled for US release), "Where Do You Go," would be a worldwide hit. It would make the Top 10 in several countries including the US where it reached #5. Follow up singles didn't perform quite as well, but the hit was enough to get albums sold. In the US, the LP would only reach #104, but touring, fans, and other promotion helped get it certified gold in 1997. Dino's "My Promise to You" would be on that album, but it was not issued out as a single. No Mercy would release a far less successful LP in 1998 and an indie effort in 2007.

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