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Wednesday, February 15, 2017

"Round and Round" by Ratt

Song#:  1942
Date:  06/16/1984
Debut:  88
Peak:  12
Weeks:  18
Genre:  Hard Rock



Pop Bits:  As another band on the burgeoning L.A. glam metal scene, Ratt quickly gained a solid following and in 1983 they recorded an EP for the indie Time Coast Music label. Its success along with the band's reputation as a solid live act drew the attention of Atlantic Records. They were quickly signed to the label and by summer of '84 their debut album, Out of the Cellar, was ready for release. This first single got things kicked off and it was an immediate Rock hit getting to #4. Thanks in part to a popular MTV video, the song got some good crossover action and it peaked just outside the Pop Top 10. The album would get to #7 and quickly go platinum. Over time it would eventually hit the 3x platinum mark.

ReduxReview:  I wasn't much into hard rock at the time, but this song definitely caught my ear. Not only was it hooky as hell, but it just sounded so damn good! This was one of the singles that helped get hair metal established on the Pop charts and it was easy to hear why. Had it been released maybe a year later, I think the song would have easily come close to topping the Pop chart. Still, it was a major hit and deservedly so. The band was never able to capture the magic of this single again, but it got them a very loyal following that kept them covered in gold and platinum for several years.

ReduxRating:  9/10

Trivia:  What made the video for this song particularly memorable was the appearance of legendary entertainer Milton Berle. In it, a fancy dinner is taking place at a mansion with Berle playing both the host and his wife. So how did this hair metal band get the famous comedian to appear in the video? It was easy. Berle was the uncle of the band's manager Marshall Berle. That connection led to Uncle Miltie making the dual-role cameo.

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2 comments:

  1. Ratt was easily may favorite band during the 80's, and I still like them a lot. I saw them on the Dancing Undercover tour, and while the charts weren't being so kind by this time, they put on a phenomenal show to a large (nearly 8,000) and enthusiastic crowd. Poison opened.

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    1. They had a great reputation as a live band. I never got to see them, but friends did and they said the band was awesome. It's always great to know when an artist can be just as great live as they are on record. Or in some cases, even better.

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