Wednesday, February 13, 2019

"Where Do the Children Go?" by The Hooters

Song#:  2678
Date:  04/05/1986
Debut:  78
Peak:  38
Weeks:  12
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  The first three singles from The Hooters' Nervous Night album progressively did better. They ended up getting their biggest hit with the third single "Day By Day" (#18). With those results, the band obviously had to release a fourth single to see if they could keep the upward trend going. This next track was issued out, but it just couldn't outperform "Day By Day." It still did fairly well by cracking the Pop Top 40 while making it to #34 at Rock. This would end the singles from Nervous Night, which would reach #12 and eventually go double platinum. Helping out on vocals for this song was Scandal's Patty Smyth.

ReduxReview:  This mandolin-driven tune was a good one to wrap up the singles run from the album. It has a solid, sing-a-long chorus and the addition of Smyth is quite nice. I wouldn't peg it for a Top 10'er, but it's a good lighter-swaying song that even features their famous "hooter" (the melodica). It probably should have done a bit better on the chart although a Top 40 showing wasn't too bad at all.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  Band member Eric Bazillian would later be responsible for writing one of the biggest one-hit-wonders of the 90s. Bazillian penned "One of Us," which was recorded by singer Joan Osborne in 1995. It was included on her debut studio album Relish and was also issued out as the LP's first single. It would reach #4 at Pop and would be a gold selling record. The hit would propel her album to #9 and over time it would be a triple-platinum seller. Osborne and her recordings would be nominated for seven Grammy awards including Best New Artist and Album of the Year. "One of Us" would grab nominations in both the Record and Song of the Year categories. Osborne would walk away empty handed, but it seemed that she had made a mark and was set for stardom. Yet it quickly all fell apart. Oddly, none of the other singles from the album made it to any US chart, which was not a great sign. Osborne then had a tough time navigating the fame that came along with the hit and Grammy nods and when it came time to get back to the studio, she wasn't content to just repeat the sound of Relish or pursue hit material. All of that led to label issues and delays. She wouldn't issue out a proper follow-up album (after a label change) until 2000. The five-year delay certainly didn't help Righteous Love, which failed to produce any chart singles. The LP would then peak at a minor #90. It also left her without a major label deal. With Osborne never securing a second Pop chart entry, her lone big hit made her a true one-hit wonder. However, don't feel too bad for her. She has had a solid fan base for years and has issued out several albums in various styles. Her 2012 R&B/blues cover LP Bring It on Home put her back in the Grammy spotlight again earning a nod for Best Blues Album.

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