Saturday, August 23, 2014

"Hang Fire" by The Rolling Stones

Song#:  0956
Date:  03/20/1982
Debut:  78
Peak:  20
Weeks:  11
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  This single from the band's "Tattoo You" album was the third to reach the Top 20. It would also be a rock radio hit reaching #2 on the Mainstream Rock chart. The politically charged lyrics about England's economy may have had something to do with the tune not getting a single release in the UK. Like other songs on "Tattoo You," this one was written and recorded originally during the sessions for their 1978 album "Some Girls." The group reworked the song for "Tattoo You."

ReduxReview:  I didn't like this song when it came out and considered it a disappointment after two great singles. Of course, I feel differently now and while I don't think it ranks among their best, it's a solid, quick jam that I've grown to enjoy, especially since "Tattoo You" has become one of my favorite Stones albums.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  Although not released as a single from the album, the song "Little T&A" became a hit at rock radio reaching #5.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Friday, August 22, 2014

"Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" by Elton John

Song#:  0955
Date:  03/20/1982
Debut:  79
Peak:  13
Weeks:  17
Genre:  Soft Rock



Pop Bits:  Although the decade started out well for John with the #3 "Little Jeannie," subsequent singles were minor chart entries at best and his last album "The Fox" even failed to reach gold status. His next LP, "Jump Up!," didn't really revive his career but thanks to this tribute song (see below), the album performed a bit better and got him back to gold status.

ReduxReview:  John didn't have many good songs around this time, but this one is a standout from the period. Not only is it a heartfelt tribute, but it's just a good overall tune. This is a song that I've appreciated more as I've gotten older. I liked it back then, but was perhaps a little too young to fully take in the lyrics. The arrangement is a little dated, but the sentiment still shines through.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  Elton was good friends with John Lennon and both had worked together on record and in concert. After Lennon's murder, Elton was reluctant to do any type of tribute song. But when Elton's writing partner Bernie Taupin presented the lyrics to "Empty Garden," Elton felt differently and was inspired to write the music and record the song. It has been said that the empty garden of the song refers to Madison Square Garden, the location of Lennon's last concert appearance in 1974. Lennon was a guest on stage during an Elton John concert. The pair performed three songs including Lennon's only US #1 solo single, "Whatever Gets You Through the Night." On that recording, Elton provided backing vocals and piano. In the studio, Elton bet Lennon that it would be a #1 single and if it did, Lennon would have to appear at one of Elton's concerts to perform the song. Hence, the appearance at Madison Square Garden - it was to settle a bet.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Thursday, August 21, 2014

"Let's Hang On" by Barry Manilow

Song#:  0954
Date:  03/20/1982
Debut:  81
Peak:  32
Weeks:  10
Genre:  Pop



Pop Bits:  After a couple of modestly charting ballads from his album "If I Should Love Again," Manilow turns up the tempo with this remake (see below). Although a nice change of pace, the single could only muster a Top 40 showing at pop. On the AC chart, it was another winner for Manilow reaching #6.

ReduxReview:  Manilow does an admirable job with this song even though it can't come close to touching the original. He expands the sound quite a bit and gives it a modern Vegas-y touch that fits the song well. It's a more anxious version with Manilow really give it all he's got in the last modulated chorus. Critics found it easy to dismiss the cover (as they did with most Manilow recordings), but had they gotten off Mt. Snobby for a few minutes, they might have had some fun with this cover.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  The original version of this song was done in 1965 by The Four Seasons. Their single reached #3 on the pop chart.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

"Man on the Corner" by Genesis

Song#:  0953
Date:  03/20/1982
Debut:  82
Peak:  40
Weeks:  11
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  This third single from the band's "Abacab" album followed the first two into the Top 40 ("No Reply At All" #29, "Abacab" #26). It marked the first time they got three Top 40 singles from the same album. They would easily break that record in a few years with their "Invisible Touch" album, but for now the accomplishment made the "Abacab" album their most successful to date reaching #7 and going double-platinum.

ReduxReview:  Was it too dark? Too much like "In the Air Tonight?" This meditative song seemed destined to be a bigger hit. I totally loved it. Although more of a Phil Collins joint than a Genesis tune, it was one that captured my attention quickly. I thought it deserved a better fate and now it gets kind of lost among Genesis' more pop-leaning hits. It's not quite as brilliant as "In the Air," but it still draws me in.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  Composed by Phil Collins, this would be his first major song where the subject of the homeless was broached. He would revisit the theme to greater success with his solo hit "Another Day in Paradise" in 1989. That song would hit #1 and win a Grammy for Record of the Year.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

"Make Up Your Mind" by Aurra

Song#:  0952
Date:  03/20/1982
Debut:  90
Peak:  71
Weeks:  7
Genre:  R&B, Funk



Pop Bits:  This disco/funk-leaning outfit was basically an offshoot from the group Slave. Developed by Slave founder Steve Washington, Aurra would get signed to the Salsoul label and issue a debut in 1980. They grabbed a couple of minor R&B chart entries before their third album yielded this #6 R&B hit. It reached the pop chart for a few weeks becoming their only single to do so. The group continued on but internal struggles got the best of them and by the mid-80s the group disintegrated with group members Starleana Young and Curt Jones going on to form Déjà. The duo would grab a #2 R&B hit in 1987 with "You and Me Tonight" (#54 pop).

ReduxReview:  This slightly dark jam is pretty good. It kind of sounds like a cross between Rick James and Kool & the Gang, which is not a bad thing. I wouldn't peg this for a major hit, but it's a song that had some more potential on the pop chart if radio had been more accepting of R&B/funk back then.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  After leaving Déjà, Starleana Young tried for a solo career and issued a self-titled debut in 1991. She got a little R&B attention with her remake of The Staple Singers' #1 hit from 1972 "I'll Take You There," which was produced by her husband J.T. Taylor (of Kool & the Gang fame). It would be her only solo outing.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Monday, August 18, 2014

"Over the Line" by Eddie Schwartz

Song#:  0951
Date:  03/20/1982
Debut:  92
Peak:  91
Weeks:  5
Genre:  Soft Rock



Pop Bits:  Schwartz scored with the single "All Our Tomorrows" (#28) from his second solo LP. This follow-up single made a chart appearance but just bounced around the bottom for a few weeks. It would be his final single to reach the chart. Schwartz would issue one more major label LP the following year and then move on to concentrate on writing and production work.

ReduxReview:  Sounding slightly more rock-ier than his previous single, I find this song a bit more engaging and more memorable. I think he could have amped this up even further and came up with something that might have fit an arena rock group. There is more potential here than what he recorded. But as-is, it still sounds pretty good and should have done better.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  Around this time, the Michael McDonald-era of the Doobie Brothers was coming to a close. Some of the band members would reform the group later in the 80s and Schwartz would play a major role in their 1989 comeback LP "Cycles." Schwartz would co-produce and co-write several songs for the album including the lead single "The Doctor," which put the Doobies back in the Top 10 (#9).

_________________________________________________________________________________

Sunday, August 17, 2014

"All Night with Me" by Laura Branigan

Song#:  0950
Date:  03/20/1982
Debut:  96
Peak:  69
Weeks:  7
Genre:  Pop



Pop Bits:  Branigan signed as a solo artist with Atlantic Records in 1979 and released a few singles that didn't garner much attention. Despite the initial fails, Atlantic believed in her and couple years later a debut album was recorded. The first single issued was not her mega-hit "Gloria," but this ballad. It didn't quite click and remained in the lower third of the chart. Luckily, her next single would push her right in the spotlight.

ReduxReview:  This mediocre ballad is easy to hear, but when you put it next to something like "Gloria," you wonder why it was chosen as the lead single. The reason may have been that the 80s Euro-pop sound had not really hit in the US yet and instead of taking a chance on that, this easy ballad seemed a better introduction. It wasn't. Thankfully, someone had the smarts to get "Gloria" out next. In the meantime, this was a simple and tasteful introduction.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  Branigan began her music career as part of the psych-pop group Meadow. They issued one album in 1973 that went nowhere. The group split up soon after. Branigan later supported Leonard Cohen on a European tour before signing on to Atlantic for her own solo career.

_________________________________________________________________________________