"You Better Run" by Pat Benatar

Song#:  0276
Date:  07/26/1980
Debut:  72
Peak:  42
Weeks:  11
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  Benatar's debut album, "In the Heat of the Night," spun off a pair of Top 30 singles and hit #12 on the album chart. Expectations were high for her follow-up and this first single from "Crimes of Passion" also appeared on the soundtrack to the movie "Roadie." Although the rockin' song couldn't quite get to the Top 40, it did well on rock radio.

ReduxReview:  Benatar amps up this old blue-eyed soul stomper (see below) and it sounds great. It's tough and in-your-face and Benatar gets the point of the song across with a hot vocal. Sad that it only reached #42. It should have done a lot better.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  Double Shot!  1) This is a remake of a 1966 Young Rascals single. It was the follow-up to their #1 classic "Good Lovin'" and reached #20.  2) Benatar's video for "You Better Run" was the second video played when MTV launched on August 1, 1981.

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"You'll Accomp'ny Me" by Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band

Song#:  0275
Date:  07/26/1980
Debut:  82
Peak:  14
Weeks:  16
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  The third single from "Against the Wind" came close to following the previous two into the Top 10, but fell just a bit short. This one is slightly more upbeat, but still has that same soft-rock sound that made the other two singles so successful.

ReduxReview:  Not as good as "Against the Wind" and better than "Fire Lake," so ends up being a pretty good tune. Although I will say that sometimes his soft rock ballads kind of bleed into each other. Still, this is solid Seger territory.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  Kid Rock struck up a friendship with fellow Michigander Seger that led to them performing together at the pre-Super Bowl shows in 2006. In addition to being the person to induct Seger into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame, Kid Rock sampled the guitar part of "You'll Accomp'ny Me" for the basis of his 2007 song "Amen." Rock has said that "Amen" is the best song he has ever written.

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"Against the Wind" by Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band

Top 10 Alert!

Song#:  0274
Date:  05/03/1980
Debut:  54
Peak:  5
Weeks:  17
Genre:  Rock

Note: I knew it would happen sooner or later! I missed a song along the way. Due to the next chart song, I realized in my research that I didn't remember covering the previous chart entry - and I did not! I think maybe because of the high debut position, I may have missed it on the original chart. Anyway, gotta play ketchup and put it in!



Pop Bits:  This title track from Seger's only #1 album easily followed the first single from the album, "Fire Lake," into the Top 10. The easy-rock sound was becoming a trademark for Seger and would be the basis for most of his biggest hits.

ReduxReview:  This is a terrific Seger song. It is easy, breezy, and quite a pretty tune. And as it gets toward the end, it turns quite majestic in a way. You can visualize mountains, lakes, wild horses running, and an eagle flying...and a Ford F-150 speeding down a dirt road...love it!

ReduxRating:  8/10

Trivia:  The "Against the Wind" album was nominated for three Grammy Awards in 1981. The group won a Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Group and the artwork won for Best Album Package. They were also nominated for Best Pop Vocal Group as well.

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"He's So Shy" by The Pointer Sisters

Top 10 Alert!

Gold Record Alert!

Song#:  0273
Date:  07/26/1980
Debut:  83
Peak:  3
Weeks:  26
Genre:  Pop, R&B



Pop Bits:  Originally a quartet, the sisters had some good success in the early 70s with their campy jazz-driven 40's sound. They would try to update their sound a bit as the decade wore on, but by 1977 the group was splintering. Bonnie left the group for a solo career and June needed a break. Ruth and Anita were also spending time raising families, but the duo wanted to move ahead and decided to change the direction of the group. Out was the nostalgia and in was a fresh pop sound. By the time they got around to recording a new album, June had popped back in the picture and the modern era of the sisters was launched. They hit big out of the gate with a cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Fire," hitting #2 in 1978. Two years later, this smash was released and it pretty much duplicated the success of "Fire." The song also got them a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Group. Before the 80s were over, the trio would go on to have another five Top 10's on the chart.

ReduxReview:  This is just terrific pop sung to perfection. Although it sounds a little dated now, I've always loved the keyboard solo in the middle. When the Pointers got the right material, they would hit it out of the park.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  In the earlier years, the group was known for their ability to do all types of music. They recorded the song "Fairytale," written by Anita and Bonnie, which was a country-oriented tune. It ended up being a crossover hit in 1974 reaching #13 on the pop chart and #37 on the country chart. Although it wasn't a major country hit, it was enough to earn them a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Group and also get Anita and Bonnie nominations for Best Country Song.

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"First Time Love" by Livingston Taylor

Song#:  0272
Date:  07/26/1980
Debut:  84
Peak:  38
Weeks:  10
Genre:  Soft Rock



Pop Bits:  Taylor, the younger brother of James Taylor, released his first solo LP in 1970. Although a successful musician, his chart career was far less prolific than his sibling's output with his best charting song being 1978's "I Will Be in Love with You," peaking at #30. He has continued to release albums over the years and perform as well as working a faculty member at Berklee College of Music (alma mater alert!) in Boston teaching stage performance. This song from his "Man's Best Friend" album would be his last chart entry.

ReduxReview:  Taylor's voice is similar to his brother's, but different enough to know that it is not James. This is kind of a sweet song. Just like the voices, Livingston's songs are in a similar vein as James', but seem a little more on the sunny side of pop. His music may not have been as popular as his brother's, but that shouldn't discount the quality at all. I've never really explored his music, but after hearing this "I Will Be in Love with You" I'll probably be looking up more of his tunes.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  There is another track on the album called "Pajamas" that was written by Taylor and his wife Maggie. They later adapted the song into a children's book with the same title.

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