Saturday, November 10, 2012

"Love Stinks" by J. Geils Band

Song#:  0129
Date:  04/12/1980
Debut:  83
Peak:  38
Weeks:  12
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  Here is one of those songs you would swear was a Top 10 hit. I remember it being all over the radio and kids screaming "love stinks!" in the hallways. However, it did about the same as their first single from the "Love Stinks" album, "Come Back" (covered in a previous entry). Despite chart position, this anthematic song would prove to be one of their most loved hits.

ReduxReview:  A big-ass arena song was not really something the band typically did, but they hit the mark just right on this one. I'm pretty sure most everyone during their dating days has screamed these lyrics in anger or while crying - or both. Nothing like a good, angry cry when some asshole or beeyatch just took a club to your heart. I'm not sure, but if love did stink I think it might smell like a butcher shop that caught on fire and was doused with saline solution. Just a hunch.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  Some have speculated that this song was Peter Wolf's response to his divorce from actress Faye Dunaway. Whatever the inspiration, it has been used in several movies including "Mr. Wrong" (done by Joan Jett) and "The Wedding Singer" (sung by Adam Sandler).

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Friday, November 9, 2012

"Goin' On" by The Beach Boys

Song#:  0128
Date:  04/12/1980
Debut:  84
Peak:  83
Weeks:  3
Genre:  Pop



Pop Bits:  As the 80s approached, the Beach Boys were having issues. They had only one Top 10 hit in the 70s (1976's "Rock and Roll Music," #5) and the internal struggles were making a mess of the group and their music. They moved to the CBS label and in 1979 issued "L.A. (Light Album)." At this time Brian Wilson's problems were hampering efforts so the band brought back former member Bruce Johnston (who had left the group in 1972) to help and co-produce the album. Critical reception was harsh and the public wasn't buying it either. The follow-up album "Keepin' the Summer Alive" presented even more problems and found the band at their most fractured. Brian Wilson was supposed to help the album (at the urging of CBS), but disputes on the music's direction forced the band to regroup and Bruce Johnston became sole producer of the album with Brian basically stepping to the side. Dennis Wilson abandoned the project early on and is barely represented on the final LP. It also represented an end to a steady stream of albums from the group as it would take five years before releasing their next studio album. This old-fashioned tune would be the first singled from the album.

ReduxReview:  I dearly love the "Pet Sounds" era of the group, some of their early songs, and a few later cuts like "Wild Honey" and "Feel Flows," but I've never been a real fan of their music. I especially have never liked these types of doo-wop, waltzy pop tunes and this is no exception. It is the sound of a once-great group unable to sustain their music in a decade where the landscape was changing rapidly.

ReduxRating:  2/10

Trivia:  This album would mark the last time Dennis Wilson appeared on a Beach Boys album. Alcohol abuse had been taking its toll through the years and after a day of drinking  in 1983, he dived into the waters of a marina and ended up drowning.

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"Steal Away" by Robbie Dupree

Top 10 Alert!
Song#:  0127
Date:  04/12/1980
Debut:  85
Peak:  6
Weeks:  23
Genre:  Pop, Soft Rock



Pop Bits:  Growing up in Brooklyn, Dupree was influenced by R&B and blues music and sang doo-wop with street corner groups. He performed around NYC and in Woodstock, New York, before making the move to L.A. for a solo career. He signed with Elektra and recorded his self-titled debut album. The first single was this slice of blue-eyed soul that could easily fit in the Doobie Brothers catalog.

ReduxReview:  This is just a great single. It's like the Doobies had a child with Hall & Oates. In fact, I've been in conversations where folks thought the song was by one of those groups. When I'd tell them it was by Robbie Dupree, they would go "who?" It's unfortunate because he is a solid musician who should get his due.

ReduxRating:  8/10

Trivia:  The success of this single lead to a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist in 1981. Unfortunately, that was the year Christopher Cross swept the Grammys including this category.

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Thursday, November 8, 2012

"You've Got What I Needed" by Shooting Star

Song#:  0126
Date:  04/12/1980
Debut:  88
Peak:  76
Weeks:  4
Genre:  Rock, Arena Rock



Pop Bits:  This Kansas City band always seemed on the brink of making it big but despite several tries they only managed to sit on the edge of stardom with a loyal fan base backing them. Their first brush was being signed by Arista in England, but they were dropped soon after. They got a second chance when Virgin Records (UK) signed them in 1978. So back to England the group went to record their debut album which yielded this minor chart entry. The group would continue to bubble under for many years recording albums and touring with big A-list bands like REO Speedwagon, Heart, and ZZ Top. They would go on to have a couple more small hits but they just never seemed to be able to break wide.

ReduxReview:  As with most of their material, this is a solid rock track. I think they needed one really, really great track to push them and I don't think they were able to come up with it. Again, they came close but I guess it just wasn't in the cards for them. But if you like this type of 80s rock, look them up.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  Shooting Star would be the first American band signed by Virgin Records - a UK label. When they went to England to record their first album, it ended up being produced by Gus Dudgeon - Elton John's long-time producer.

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"Say Goodbye to Little Joe" by Steve Forbert

Song#:  0125
Date:  04/12/1980
Debut:  89
Peak:  85
Weeks:  3
Genre:  Contemporary Folk, Pop



Pop Bits:  It's one thing to be compared to a legendary artist, but it is a whole other ball of shizzle to be called "the next" so-and-so. It is practically a curse. In fact, whenever you have heard a new artist called "the next," how did that end up panning out? Most likely not great. Steve Forbert was one of unfortunate artists to experience this when he was initially hailed as the next Bob Dylan. With his similar vocal sound and writing style, Forbert was a quick fave of critics who placed the burden of the comparison on him. Initially it paid off as his second album produced the #11 hit "Romeo's Tune" and it was followed up with this minor chart entry. But his follow-up albums failed to produce any hits and just as quickly as he was placed on the pedestal, it was knocked out from under him. Making matters worse, a disagreement with his label also hindered his recording career and he was unable to release anything for six years. But Forbert continued on and has been steadily recording and touring since. His most recent album, "Over with You," was release in 2012.

ReduxReview:  I had never heard "Romeo's Tune," which is quite a fine song with a memorable piano lick that I'm sure sounded great on the radio. He actually reminds me more of Rod Stewart on this track than Dylan. This follow-up single is good, but nowhere near as catchy as "Romeo." I think he has more in common with John Prine or John Hiatt than Dylan, which is good because I'm not a Dylan fan.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  Forbert has a brief cameo appearance playing Cyndi Lauper's boyfriend in her video for "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun." He appears near the end of the song arriving at the party in a tux and carrying flowers.

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Wednesday, November 7, 2012

"I Was Looking for Someone to Love" by Leif Garrett

Song#:  0124
Date:  04/12/1980
Debut:  98
Peak:  78
Weeks:  5
Genre:  Pop



Pop Bits:  Leif Garrett could be a poster child for the cautionary tale of teen idols out of control. In the 70s he was all over the place - TV, film, records, and on posters plastered on bedroom walls. He had already been acting for a few years before releasing his debut album in 1977. He placed a couple of cover tunes in the Top 20 ("Surfin' USA" and "Runaround Sue") and then contributed to the disco craze with his only Top 10 hit "I Was Made for Dancin'." But when the 80s arrived his days as a teen heartthrob were numbered and the music suffered as well. Soon he would have legal issues stemming from a car accident along with arrests for drug use. He continued to work in TV and film through the years and even did some music projects. His last major appearance on TV was (unfortunately) in 2010 when he appeared on that season of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.

ReduxReview:  Teen idols who were actors to begin with made some of the crappiest music around. The publicity machine would capitalize on their popularity and push them into a studio to churn out albums for them. Typically, the artist had little control over these projects and once they did gain control (at least for the more legit artists), it was too late and their peak popularity had already passed. This was the case with Garrett, but he hung in a bit longer than most getting five albums out between '77 and '81. But a solid career in music wasn't meant to be and this standard MOR ballad didn't help his case.

ReduxRating:  3/10

Trivia:  Garrett's sister is Dawn Lyn, a famous child actor in her own right. She played the role of Dodie on the hit series "My Three Sons." The two have acted together on TV and in films such as all three of the "Walking Tall" movies.

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"Biggest Part of Me" by Ambrosia

Top 10 Alert!
Song#:  0123
Date:  04/05/1980
Debut:  60
Peak:  3
Weeks:  19
Genre:  Pop, Soft Rock



Pop Bits:  When mentioning the band Ambrosia, for most folks they think of two big soft rock classics that both peaked at #3, "How Much I Feel" and this hit. But their first two albums were prog-rock affairs with their second album "Somewhere I've Never Travelled" incorporating symphonic elements as well. It wasn't until they signed on with Warner Bros. that they moved towards a more commercial soft rock sound. These recordings were not embraced by critics, but thanks to the two singles above, the new sound was welcomed by record buyers. However, the success was short-lived and after one more album in 1982 the band would call it quits.

ReduxReview:  Like the salad that shares their name, this is a smooth and creamy dish that you think "ugh" when it is mentioned, but then when you taste the stuff, it's not too bad. And typically there are seconds involved. But a first and second helpin' of their two bit singles is plenty. A little too much Ambrosia might make you sick. (However, their "Somewhere..." album is kind of a lost treasure - highly recommended for listening.)

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  Ambrosia's self-titled debut album was engineered by Alan Parsons (of the Alan Parsons Project) and it received a Grammy nomination for best engineered recording. Parsons then ended up producing the second album "Somewhere I've Never Travelled," which also got an engineering Grammy nod. Parsons and the band were intertwined during this time as all band members performed on the Alan Parsons Project's debut "Tales of Mystery and Imagination." This album inspired Ambrosia to incorporate symphonic elements on the "Somewhere..." album. In fact, Parsons competed against himself at the 1977 Grammys when "Somewhere..." and "Tales of..." were both nominated for best engineered recording. Unfortunately, neither won. It went to George Benson's "Breezin'" album.

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Tuesday, November 6, 2012

"Lucky Me" by Anne Murray

Song#:  0122
Date:  04/05/1980
Debut:  81
Peak:  42
Weeks:  8
Genre:  Pop, Country Crossover, Adult Contemporary



Pop Bits:  Anne Murray became an unexpected trailblazer when her first single "Snowbird" became the first single by a female Canadian artist to achieve gold status in the US. In 1978 she also became the first to hit #1 with her song "You Needed Me." With her unmistakable alto, Murray had great success on the US pop and country charts with her sound that straddled both genres. She has won four Grammy awards and a record-setting twenty-four Juno awards (the Canadian version of the Grammys). She was just coming off of a remake of the Monkees "Daydream Believer" (#12 - her last pop Top 20) when this single was release. Although its lack of pop reception ended up being the start of her declining popularity on the pop chart, she would continue to have success on the country charts with six more #1's still ahead of her.

ReduxReview:  I've never been a big fan of Anne Murray. I love her voice - you can detect it anywhere you hear it - but I was never in love with a lot of her material. She had some terrific singles in the 70s, but when the 80s arrived it seemed she was trying to pick songs that kept her on the pop chart and move along with the times. It didn't work. This is a very lackluster AC song and one that I wouldn't even think of as single-worthy.

ReduxRating:  4/10

Trivia:  Anne Murray got some hip publicity in 1999 when she was referenced in the song "Blame Canada" from the animated film "South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut." The line states "Blame Canada! With all their hockey hullabaloo, and that bitch Anne Murray too!" The song was nominated for an Academy Award and was sung on the telecast by Robin Williams. Murray stated that she was not offended by the reference. She was invited to participate in the Oscar performance, but a scheduling conflict prevented her from appearing.

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"When the Feeling Comes Around" by Jennifer Warnes

Song#:  0121
Date:  04/05/1980
Debut:  83
Peak:  45
Weeks:  6
Genre:  Pop, Adult Contemporary



Pop Bits:  Warnes had a breakthrough hit in 1977 with the #6 "Right Time of the Night" from her self-titled album. Although her follow-up album "Shot Through the Heart" couldn't produce another pop Top 10 hit, the first single "I Know a Heartache When I See One" did peak at #10 on the country chart (and #19 pop). This song was the third single released from the album. After this album, Warnes didn't record another solo disc for eight years. But in between and around that time she became the queen of soundtrack songs contributing to at least seven soundtracks in the 80s, some with great chart success.

ReduxReview:  This is a pleasant enough song that would fit nicely alongside a Jimmy Buffett tune in a Key West bar. Warnes is a terrific singer and a wonderful interpreter of song, but sometimes she didn't pick the strongest of songs. With the right material, she soars. But when she sings slight material like this, it's forgettable.

ReduxRating:  4/10

Trivia:  Warnes became close friends with Leonard Cohen in 1971. She has contributed vocals to six of his albums and has been on tour with him. In 1987 after her long hiatus, she recorded a disc of Cohen compositions that she interpreted. "Famous Blue Raincoat" won rave reviews and has since become a favorite of audiophiles.

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Monday, November 5, 2012

"White Hot" by Red Rider

Song#:  00120
Date:  04/05/1980
Debut:  83
Peak:  48
Weeks:  7
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  Red Rider were very popular in their homeland of Canada and it seemed like their fortunes would crossover to the US, but besides this debut single and another chart song a few years later, the US pretty much ignored the group. However, their second album produced the song "Lunatic Fringe" which ended up getting lots of AOR airplay and is probably their best known song here even though it never hit the pop chart.

ReduxReview:  With a title like "White Hot" I was expecting a blazing rock tune. But from the mysterious opening to the shuffling beat, it was more like a mix of Alan Parsons Project and Little River Band. I like the opening a lot and thought it was going to lead to something more intense, but I was a bit let down by the actual song. It is a pleasant listen, but not outstanding.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  The group would remain together for almost a decade before finally calling it a day in 1989. At that time the band's leader Tom Cochrane set out on a solo career and had even more success in Canada than Red Rider did. He also landed his sole US Top 10 hit in 1991 with "Life Is a Highway."

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"The Good Lord Loves You" by Neil Diamond

Song#:  0119
Date:  04/05/1980
Debut:  85
Peak:  67
Weeks:  6
Genre: Pop, Adult Contemporary



Pop Bits:  From 1966 through the 70s, Diamond had 56 chart songs but only 13 would get to the Top 10. Some of his songs are so familiar that you'd expect them to be Top 10 hits, but many were not. Songs like "Solitary Man," "If You Know What I Mean," "Desiree," and the title track to his 1979 album "September Morn'" all peaked out of the Top 10. His track record is not a shabby at all, but the legacy of some of his songs might make one believe he had many more. The big AC ballad "September Morn'" was just coming off the chart when this second single was released.

ReduxReview:  First, let me say that Diamond is awesome and when he connected, he hit that mutha out o' da park. However, when he cut a nasty one you could smell it from here to the sweet Carolinas. The whole "September Morn'" album is just bizarre. It features oddball remakes like "Stagger Lee," a weird "Golden Years" take on "Dancing in the Street," and a calypso-like version of his own "I'm a Believer." Then a pseudo-jazz tune with "Jazz Time," and this truly odd contemporary Christian song - something that doesn't seem to fit Diamond at all. It is one of the few chart songs Diamond did not write, which seems logical in this case. The music and arrangement are actually quite good and fit Diamond like a glove. But the lyrics are so out of place here and I just don't get it. At least the album had one certified Diamond classic with the title track. Other than that, this was a train wreck of an album.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  Yes, if you don't know by now, Diamond wrote "I'm a Believer," made famous by the Monkees. He also contributed "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You" and "Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)" to them as well. Diamond actually wrote and recorded these himself before the Monkees did with intent on releasing them, but the Monkees' versions hit the streets first.

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Sunday, November 4, 2012

"We Live for Love" by Pat Benatar

Song#:  0118
Date:  04/05/1980
Debut:  88
Peak:  27
Weeks:  14
Genre:  Rock, New Wave



Pop Bits:  Benatar's debut album "In the Heat of the Night" was released in 1979 and got off to a slow start. The first two singles from the album went nowhere, but the third single finally clicked as the hard-rockin' "Heartbreaker" became her first pop hit peaking at #23. This second single did similarly well and it boosted her album to a #12 peak, eventually going platinum.

ReduxReview:  Anthematic and driving, Benatar proved she could easily step into Debbie Harry's high heels and stomp around in the new wave arena. If you heard this on the radio back in the day like I did, that high chorus just grabbed your attention. It didn't take me long to become a fan.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  Double Shot!  1) This song was written by Neil Giraldo, the lead guitarist in Benatar's band. The pair continued to write/produce/work together and eventually got married in 1982.  2) Benatar had some interesting covers on her debut album. In addition to her take on John Mellencamp's "I Need a Lover," the album also had a cover of Nick Gilder's "Rated 'X'" and the Alan Parson's Project's "Don't Let It Show." The album's producer Mike Chapman also grabbed two songs he and his writing partner Nicky Chinn did for the group Smokie and one they wrote for Sweet.

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