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Thursday, November 29, 2012

"King of the Hill" by Rick Pinette and Oak

Redux Spotlight Alert!
Song#:  0160
Date:  05/10/1980
Debut:  88
Peak:  36
Weeks:  14
Genre: Soft Rock, Pop



Pop Bits:  Here is a lost group where not a lot of information is available. From what I can gather, the band Oak was from New Hampshire. They formed in 1969 and hit the bar band circuit. The band would split and reform several times before really setting sights on being a full-time successful group. They finally got their shot at the big time when they signed with Mercury. I believe their band name was originally Pinette (Rick Pinette was the lead singer/writer), but Mercury didn't like it and the band became Oak. Their first single, "This Is Love," hit the chart and peaked at #58 in 1979. Further singles would be credited to Rick Pinette and Oak. This song was their biggest chart hit and it would be followed up with one more album and chart single before the band would split.

ReduxReview:  As I've said before, this is a big part of the reason why I'm doing this project. This song was a fun find. It is a big-ass ballad with everything but the kitchen sink. It scratched the Top 40, but it reminds me of one of those songs that wasn't big the first time around, but was rediscovered years later and went Top 10 - like the group Sheriff whose song "When I'm With You" peaked at #61 in 1983 and then reappeared in 1989 and went to #1. Unfortunately, this song didn't have a second life but I'm glad I discovered it. Yes, I know it is not a brilliant song, but I really love it - the opening piano riff, Pinette's big voice, the strings, the horn, the big last note. Totally awesome. The vinyl of their self-titled debut was slightly hard to find, but I got one coming my way! This is very deserving of a Spotlight mention.

ReduxRating:  8/10

Trivia:  After the band split, Pinette formed the Rick Pinette Band and toured all around the northeast. It appears that he gave up the music business and is now a motivational speaker located in Florida. He does corporate events and also school assemblies where he incorporates music and goes by "Mr. Rick."

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14 comments:

  1. Man... between the horn, the pounding piano and the grandiose singing style, this song has just about everything you need. Nice find.

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    1. Absolutely. I don't expect much from the album itself, but I'll find out if they have another good tune or two when it arrives.

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  2. I'm finding this post quite a while after you wrote it but wanted to say that I was born and raised in Maine. Oak was centered in Maine but did a ton of shows in New England. I was a freshman in high school when their debut came out (with the song King of the Hill) and saw them several times. I also have their second album, Set The Night on Fire. Both albums I still have in my collection on vinyl.

    You're correct that King of the Hill doesn't really tread any new musical territory, but Pinette's voice is great and this song is produced delicately enough to keep it sound so smooth and mellow.

    Nice write up, glad you got to hear King of the Hill! If you're still looking for some Oak tunes check out "Set The Night on Fire" and "Nothing to Lose" on YouTube.

    --Joe Mason
    Orono, Maine

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    1. Thanks for the note! I have seen more on YouTube and it's a shame they didn't go further. I've turned this song on to several folks who really love it as well. Just goes to show you that a great song will always have an audience somewhere - even many years later!

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  4. Thanks so much for this information! It’s so hard to find I formation about this song and band. I remember hearing it on American Top 40 back in 1980 but I didn’t hear it on the radio in the Cleveland area. I love it for all the reasons you mention. It’s a bit cheesy but great!

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    1. Thanks for the comment. It's a great lost song and I'm glad folks are rediscovering it here. A little cheez whiz like this is pretty tasty sometimes!

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  5. Rick Pinette was from my hometown of Berlin, NH as was the entire original OAK. But Rick moved on and formed the eventual OAK with musicians in the Portland Maine area I believe. His original Berlin band recorded one single "More Than A Friend" and Steppin Out" I believe you can fi d them on You Tube if you are interested in hearing Rick in his early years. After he became a motivational speaker and moved to Florida, he became a pastor and had Internet shows as Pastor Rick. He eventually went to work on the Jim Bakker religious TV shows. It was on the set of Jim Bakker show where Rick suffered a heart attack and died. This was several years ago.

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    1. Thanks for the additional information. I'm sorry to hear of his passing. I still adore this song.

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  6. While "King Of The Hill" is a good song I thought "Set The Night On Fire" was the better song of the two and always felt "Fire" should've been at least a Top 30 hit.

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    1. "Fire" certainly could have done better, even though I wasn't a big fan of the song. I was partial to the pop balladry of this tune.

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  7. Outstanding find. A true hidden gem that deserves rediscovery. Thank you for all of the great work you do to maintain this website!

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    1. Thanks very much! Glad you enjoy the site. Yes, this song can still give me chills. I keep hoping some TV show or film will pick this up and use it. That exposure would be awesome for the tune.

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  8. Chart Run: 88 - 78 - 68 - 61 - 59 - 55 - 49 - 45 - 41 - 38 - 36 - 36 - 69 - 94

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