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Thursday, April 6, 2017

"Hard Habit to Break" by Chicago

Top 10 Alert!
Song#:  2003
Date:  08/04/1984
Debut:  61
Peak:  3
Weeks:  25
Genre:  Pop, Adult Contemporary



Pop Bits:  For the first single from their Chicago 17 album, the band went in a more rock direction with "Stay the Night." It didn't really pay off with the song only able to reach #16 at Pop. With the success of the LP in jeopardy, they decided to push out this tune, which was more in-line with their previous big ballad #1 hit "Hard to Say I'm Sorry." The move seemed to please listeners and the single made it's way to #3 at both Pop and AC. The hit helped sales of the album and it cracked the Top 10. This would be the peak moment of their 80s revival.

ReduxReview:  Although "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" was a bigger hit, I think this was the song that really solidified their comeback and mapped out their sound for the balance of the decade. This song was all over the place. From Pop and AC radio to MTV, it was inescapable. It was also making front man Peter Cetera's star rise. He and David Foster were mainly in control here and it was paying off in spades for the band. I loved this song and still think it is one of the top big ballads of the decade.

ReduxRating:  9/10

Trivia:  The hit song grabbed the attention of the Grammy folks. It nabbed two nominations. One for Record of the Year and one for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocals. It lost Record of the Year to Tina Turner's "What's Love Got to Do with It," but it did win in the other category. That award was given to producer David Foster and Jeremy Lubbock for their work on the song.

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