"Anything Can Happen" by Was (Not Was)

Song#:  3883

Date:  05/06/1989

Debut:  89

Peak:  75

Weeks:  6

Genre:  Sophisti-Pop, Soul

Pop Bits:  This oddball dance-funk group headed up by Don and David Was got their first and only Pop Top 10 hit with the quirky "Walk the Dinosaur" (#6). It was the second single from their third album What Up, Dog? For a follow-up, this next track was selected. It did saw some action at Dance (#19) and AC (#36), but it didn't get far at Pop where it peaked right at the bottom quarter point on the chart. It didn't do much to help further sales of the album, which had already peaked at #43. This single would be the group's last one to reach the Pop chart.

ReduxReview:  After the wacky "Walk the Dinosaur," I'm not sure folks were expecting or wanting this classier sophisti-pop tune. I can't say it was a bad choice for a single as I think an artist like Breathe or Johnny Hates Jazz could have ridden this into the Top 40. But as a follow-up to "Dinoaur" it wasn't quite right for Was (Not Was).

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  The group would return in 1990 with their fourth album Are You Okay? As they did with their previous LPs, the Was "brothers" recruited some interesting artists for cameos. The tracks included appearances by Leonard Cohen, The Roches, Jeff Lorber, Iggy Pop, Doug Fieger (of The Knack), and MTV VJ Downtown Julie Brown. The LP's first single was a remake of the 1972 #1 Pop/#5 R&B classic by the Temptations "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone." The song would make it to #10 at Dance, but would only reach #60 R&B while not even cracking the Pop chart. A second single would be a minor entry on the Dance chart. With those results, the album halted at #99. In 1992, the group would issue out the compilation LP Hello Dad...I'm in Jail. It featured the single "Shake Your Head," which reached #4 in the UK. The track featured the odd vocal pairing of Ozzy Osbourne and actress Kim Basinger. Following the compilation, Don and David Was quietly put the band on hiatus. David Was would go on to produce albums by artists like Rickie Lee Jones and branch out into film and TV music. Don Was would have a prolific career as a producer and would go on to win five Grammys including one for Producer of the Year. The pair would reunite for the 2008 album Boo!

_________________________________________________________________________________