Tuesday, June 16, 2015

"Take the Time" by Michael Stanley Band

Song#:  1291
Date:  12/25/1982
Debut:  89
Peak:  81
Weeks:  5
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  The Cleveland band was finally beginning to break on a national level when their eighth album, "MSB," was issued. Although the album would feature two charting singles, "When I'm Holding You Tight" (#78) and this song, it wasn't enough to keep up the momentum gained from their past two albums. The more polished music, courtesy of producer Don Gehman (John Cougar), didn't really click with listeners outside of their Midwest home and the album faded quickly. However, the band's loyal fan base helped to get the album to #136, which was a decline from their previous two Top 100 entries.

ReduxReview:  This song is a strange combination of Springsteen, Seger, and John Cougar (that last one thanks to Gehman). It's a good heartland rocker with a quality sax solo, but it just doesn't have that extra oomph that makes a song a hit. It's something that I think hampered MSB during this time. They were always on the verge of a breakthrough, but no matter how good their songs were, they couldn't come up with that one killer pop radio track. I'm sure Stanley and Co. would have loved to been major stars on a national level, but in the long run they maintained a huge, loyal Ohio/Midwest following that proved to be the key to their long and successful career.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia: "MSB" opens with the track "In Between the Line." Michael Stanley wrote it as a goodbye song to John Lennon. The track served as the b-side to "When I'm Holding You Tight" and has since become an in-concert fan favorite. A live version of the song was included as a bonus track on the CD reissue of the "MSB" album.

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