"I'm Alright" by Kenny Loggins

Top 10 Alert!

Song#:  0248
Date:  07/12/1980
Debut:  88
Peak:  7
Weeks:  22
Genre:  Pop, Rock, Soundtrack



Pop Bits:  Loggins got his second Top 10 hit with this theme song to the hit movie "Caddyshack." This would be the first in a string of hits through the 80s that Loggins contributed to soundtracks. He did so many that at one point he garnered the nickname "King of the Movie Soundtrack." This song earned him a 1981 Grammy nomination for Best Rock Vocal.

ReduxReview:  How can you hear this and not think of Bill Murray, Ted Knight, gophers, and Baby Ruth? I find the song to be kind of chaotic with the stuttering (dup-dup-dup-dup) and different changes throughout, but it all works together. It's a pretty great jangly tune that fit the film perfectly.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  Kenny Loggins' cousin is singer/songwriter Dave Loggins who had a Top 10 hit of his own in 1974 with "Please Come to Boston" (#5). He didn't have any further major hits, but he did write them for others like "Pieces of April" by Three Dog Night (#19, 1972) and "Morning Desire" by Kenny Rogers (#1 Country, 1985).

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"Cheap Sunglasses" by ZZ Top

Song#:  0247
Date:  07/12/1980
Debut:  89
Peak:  89
Weeks:  2
Genre:  Southern Rock, Blues-Rock



Pop Bits:  Although ZZ Top did not have any major hits in their pocket yet (1975's "Tush" was their best thus far at #20), they were solid for album sales. "Degüello" was their first effort for their new label, Warner Bros., and although it peaked at #24 (a bit lower than previous albums), it was their first album to go platinum. This particular song may have helped in boosting sales. Although it was almost a one-week wonder, it quickly became one of their most popular songs despite very little chart action.

ReduxReview:  I'm not the hugest ZZ fan, but it's hard to argue with this groovy song. It's a great boogie that leads to that slightly bizzaro keyboard/"woo-woo" riff in the instrumental section. Pretty awesome - especially after a few MicLites.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  This song was based on the group's old days of touring when they would travel around in cars. Gas stations used to have cardboard racks of cheap sunglasses and the guys would always be buying bunch of them. They would often toss these in the audience at concerts.

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"Half Moon Silver" by Hotel

Song#:  0246
Date:  07/12/1980
Debut:  90
Peak:  72
Weeks:  7
Genre:  Pop, Soft Rock



Pop Bits:  The Birmingham, Alabama, power pop group Hotel were popular on the rock club scene in the late 70s. They got a shot at a major label deal when Mercury signed them in 1978. They released one single titled "You'll Love Again" that nicked the chart at #71. It wasn't enough for Mercury to pay attention to them so the group moved over to MCA and issued their self-titled debut album. They did a bit better when the single "You've Got Another Thing Coming" reach #54. It was enough to get a second album done and this title track was the second single and only chart song from the album. This time around it wasn't enough for the label and they were dropped from MCA. They stated on the club circuit for another couple years but eventually disbanded.

ReduxReview:  This is an odd song for a single. I think it is a nice, moody piece and is a definite descendent of Crosby, Stills and Nash via The Eagles. I guess I could see it getting radio attention maybe like Kansas' "Dust in the Wind," but this still seems even more subdued and darker than that hit. Unexpected and interesting.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  Two of the founding members of the group later went on to form the band Split in the Dark. The group's video for "Always a Chance" was a winner in the MTV Basements Tapes competition in 1986, but unfortunately it didn't translate to any further success or major label deal.

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"Emotional Rescue" by The Rolling Stones

Top 10 Alert!

Song#:  0245
Date:  07/05/1980
Debut:  33
Peak:  3
Weeks:  19
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  Two years earlier, the Stones released the album "Some Girls," which ended up being their most successful selling studio album. Before its release, their popularity was slipping and critics and others wondered if the Stones were even relevant any longer. They shot back with "Some Girls" and it put them right back on top - at #1, to be exact.  Their follow-up album, "Emotional Rescue," also went to #1 led by this hit title track. At this time the group was struggling a bit with direction as Richards was not too fond of Jagger's disco/dance leanings exemplified by this song. However, when you are looking at a #1 album and #3 single in your 18th year as a group, it can't all be bad.

ReduxReview:  Awwww yeah! First Stones of the decade. I've always liked this song even though it probably would not make it high on my list of favorite Stones tracks. But it has a nice, lazy, sexy dance groove and I like Jagger's falsetto delivery. Hard to resist once it starts.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  The Stones recorded several other songs during the sessions for this album that were not chosen for the final LP. Due to an impending tour and short time schedule, they ended up using a few of these songs and some older ones (either using the original basic tracks or re-recording them) for their next album "Tattoo You." Included in these refurbished songs was their soon-to-be hit "Start Me Up."

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"Boulevard" by Jackson Browne

Song#:  0244
Date:  07/05/1980
Debut:  72
Peak:  19
Weeks:  16
Genre:  Pop, Soft Rock



Pop Bits:  As part of that SoCal, folk-rock sound that included the Eagles, Joni Mitchell, and Linda Ronstadt, Browne established himself as a solo artist with 1972's self-titled debut album that featured the #6 hit "Doctor My Eyes." With each successive release his popularity gained momentum until he finally reached #1 on the album chart with 1980's "Hold Out." It would not be his best-selling album (that would be 1978's "Running on Empty") and would not feature any major hits, but it would prove to be the high point of his chart career. This song was the first single release from the album.

ReduxReview:  Just like the Eagles, I never really hooked into Jackson Browne. Maybe that is why I never heard this song before, even though it leaked into the Top 20. It's kind of like a weaker Bob Seger song with a tidge of Springsteen tossed in. For me it is just an okay song and nothing that makes me like Browne any more than I already did.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  Browne received a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Vocal for this song.

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