"Cryin'" by Vixen

Song#:  3783

Date:  01/28/1989

Debut:  86

Peak:  22

Weeks:  13

Genre:  Hard Rock, Glam Rock

Pop Bits:  This all-female band kicked off their career with the Top 30 hit "Edge of a Broken Heart." The tune was co-written (with Fee Waybill) and produced by newly minted star Richard Marx. The rockin' tune was a good introduction to the band and they would follow it up with this mid-tempo track. It would do just slightly better hitting #22 on both the Pop and Rock charts. The two songs helped their self-titled debut album reach #41. A third single would be released, but it failed to reach the charts.

ReduxReview:  Although this song did slightly better on the chart, it seems that "Edge of a Broken Heart" is the one that most folks remember from Vixen. I haven't heard this song since it was on the chart. The track was another good pop/rock tune from the band that sort of sounded like an outtake from Heart's 1985 comeback album. It wasn't quite as hooky or memorable as "Edge of a Broken Heart," but it was definitely good enough for a Top 30 showing.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  Double Shot!  1)  This is a remake of a song originally co-written (with Gregg Tripp) and recorded by guitarist Jeff Paris. He got his first break in the late 70s with the disco/soul/pop band Pieces (then under his real name Geoffrey Lieb), who recorded one album in '79. That band evolved into L.A.X. They would record a pair of albums that yielded three Dance chart entries including the 1980 #4 "All My Love." After that band dissolved, Paris would leave behind disco and soul for hard rock. He began to write songs that got picked up by artists like Lita Ford and Y&T. Paris then secured a solo record deal and in '86 released a debut album titled Race to Paradise. However, it was his second LP, 1987's Wired Up that got the attention of Vixen. They would end up recording three songs from Wired Up for their debut album including "Cryin'." In addition, Vixen would record a track from Paris' debut album as well, but it was only included as a bonus track on the Japanese release of the CD.  2) On the band's first album, half of the tracks had members co-writing the songs. When it came time to record their follow up LP, 1990's Rev It Up, band members would co-write all but one of the tracks. The only one they did not compose was the Diane Warren tune "It Wouldn't Be Love." With Warren's track record as a hit maker, one might assume that the band recorded the song with an eye toward releasing it as a single. However, that didn't happen. The LP's first single was "How Much Love," which got to ##11 Rock and #44 Pop. The follow up "Love Is a Killer" would stall at a low #71 Pop. The album would top out at #52. That apparently wasn't a good enough result for the band's label, EMI, and it seems Vixen was left off their roster. That along with internal struggles led to Vixen's demise. Like many bands from the 80s who split up, there would be several reunions with various members, a lawsuit, and a couple of indie albums recorded. Yet nothing could match the success of their debut LP and its two Pop Top 30 hits.

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