Top 10 Alert!
Song#: 4149
Date: 12/23/1989
Debut: 68
Peak: 5
Weeks: 19
Genre: Rock
**This is the last song to be covered in this blog. It was the highest debuting song on the very last Pop chart of 1989 wrapping up the decade. I made it! I covered all songs to enter the Pop chart in the 80s. Thanks to any and all who followed along or even dropped in for an entry or two.
Pop Bits: This glam rock supergroup fronted by John Waite was able to score a #1 Pop gold record with the Diane Warren-penned power ballad "When I See You Smile." It was the second single from the band's self-titled debut album. For a follow up, the label selected another power ballad from the album, "Price of Love," which was written by band member Waite and Jonathan Cain. It would do well enough to become the band's second Pop Top 10 hit (#30 Rock/#38 AC). The pair of hits would help send the album to #21 and it would become a platinum seller. Two other singles from the LP would make the Pop chart. "Heaven Is a 4 Letter Word" would get to #66 (#12 Rock) while "Possession" would make it to #21 (#42 AC).
ReduxReview: With perhaps the most single worthy rock track already released ("Forget Me Not," #45), it wasn't surprising that the label chose to push out another power ballad in hopes of a second hit. The ploy worked, but at what price? <pun intended> With their only other Top 40 entry another power ballad, it sort of painted the band in a corner. Obviously they could rock out, but it seemed all folks wanted was big ballads featuring Waite's voice. It kind of put the band at odds. Were they a hard rock supergroup or commercial balladeers? It all would lead to a breakup after their second album, which wasn't surprising as that tends to happen with supergroups like this. But before all that they scored one last Top 10 with this tune. It was a nicely done, but really wasn't all that memorable. I think it had just enough radio ready flare to ride the coattails of "When I See You Smile." Had it been released first, I don't think it would have done nearly as well. It didn't have legs either as I haven't heard this song since its chart days.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: With the debut album becoming a success, the band needed to record a follow up. They did so and in 1991 their second album Backlash was ready. Unfortunately, it seems tensions rose in the band during the recording of the LP concerning the direction of the band, so they were on shaky ground even before the LP's release. Then it all came crashing down when the LP's first single, "Straight to Your Heart," stalled at #42 Pop (#9 Rock) and a second single failed to chart. In turn the album stalled at #72 and couldn't even go gold. With those results, the band called it quits. John Wait would return to a solo career while Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain would eventually reform Journey along with Bad English drummer Deen Castronovo. Bassist Ricky Phillip would mainly return to session work while later joining an iteration of Styx.
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Congratulations! I have completely enjoyed reading your blog and refer it quite frequently. Was wondering if you were going to tackle the 90's or just take a well deserved break. For the most part, I tended to agree with your observations. Great blog and best wishes!!
ReplyDeleteThanks very much! It has been fun. I will take a break and decide what to do next. If I do another decade, it will be the 70s. So many cool things in that decade. And I wasn't a big fan of the 90s.
DeleteThank you so much for this blog. I loved reading your stories and guessing what number you would rate each song.
ReplyDeleteWe'll miss you! This blog was a great look back on the decade when I followed the charts religiously. The 90's music and the whole Soundscan-ing of Billboard took some of the fun out the chart watching for me (Soundscan was a positive in some ways, though). That said, do you know of any blogs that look back week by week on the 90's Billboard?
ReplyDeleteThanks! I don't know of any following the 90s. If I do another decade I'll go back to the 70s as I find it much more interesting. Yes, Soundscan certainly changed things!
DeleteWasn't there are chart on 12/30/89? I'm showing 5 debut songs that week.
ReplyDeleteNo. The last Billboard issue of 1989 was on 12/23. Not sure if they still do it, but they would wrap up the year with a double issue that would cover two weeks and not publish a chart for that second week. So there was no chart for 12/30. They used to say that the last chart of the year was "frozen" and each song that would be on the first chart of the following year would have an extra week added to its total.
DeleteAMAZING JOB! This is such excellent work and such a valuable repository. Huge kudos!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that very much! Thanks for following along. It has been a fun journey!
DeleteI just started reading a few months ago, but I have enjoyed checking it daily and looking at the archives. Sad to see it end, and look forward to what you’re doing next! (although I imagine you want a break)
ReplyDeleteThanks! Glad you found the blog. Lots of posts to keep you busy until I decide what is next!
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