"Morning Train (Nine to Five)" by Sheena Easton

#1 Alert!

Gold Record Alert!

Song#:  0498
Date:  02/14/1981
Debut:  74
Peak:  1 (2 weeks)
Weeks:  21
Genre:  Pop



Pop Bits:  Easton's background story of trying to break into the music business was all captured on film for the British TV series, "The Big Time," which took amateurs from different trades and put them in professional situations to see how they fared. For Easton, the show was a catalyst and she ended up getting a record deal with EMI. Her first UK single, "Modern Girl," was released before the show aired and didn't do well peaking at #56, but after the airing, this second single shot to #3 on the UK chart. The success of the song prompted a US release and it became Easton's first and only #1 Stateside hit. She quickly went from the show "The Big Time" to the actual big time eventually racking up eight Top 10 hits.

ReduxReview:  Honestly, this is a dorky pop song, but it is just so fun and well-done. For me it is one of those songs that starts and you go "oy, not this again." And then by the chorus you are singing and bopping along. It's just a happy tune and its hard not to smile when it is on. (And so innocent when compared to her later Princely "Sugar Walls" naughty era.)

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  The original title of this song is "9 to 5" and that is what it was released as all around the world - except for the US. At the time, Dolly Parton was about to hit #1 with her same-titled song. So to avoid any confusion, the US release was re-titled as "Morning Train."

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"Keep This Train A-Rollin'" by The Doobie Brothers

Song#:  0497
Date:  02/14/1981
Debut: 82
Peak:  62
Weeks:  5
Genre:  Soft Rock



Pop Bits:  This third single from their lackluster "One Step Closer" album couldn't do much to prompt further interest in the LP or group. By the end of the year, the last remaining original Doobie, Patrick Simmons, was headed out the door and they were expecting leader Michael McDonald to follow suit. With that, the group decided to call it quits and embarked on a farewell tour. Late in the 80s, the group would reform, but the tour officially ended the McDonald era of the group.

ReduxReview:  With the title, you might think that this song would be a throwback to the earlier Doobie sound. But alas, it is written by Michael McDonald and has that same soft rock, blue-eyed soul sound that he was famous for. Like the previous singles, it lacks any real punch and is basically forgettable.

ReduxRating:  4/10

Trivia:  Two of the Doobies in this current iteration, John McFee and Keith Knudsen, went on to form the successful country-rock group Southern Pacific after the Doobies split. The group ended up having four country Top 10 hits before disbanding in 1993.

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"Just the Two of Us" by Grover Washington, Jr. with Bill Withers

Top 10 Alert!

Grammy Alert!

Song#:  0496
Date:  02/14/1981
Debut:  83
Peak:  2
Weeks:  24
Genre:  R&B, Smooth Jazz



Pop Bits:  Saxophonist Washington was already a successful jazz/soul musician and one of the forerunners of what would become smooth jazz. From 1972 to 1978, he had seven straight #1 jazz albums with two of them hitting #1 R&B and two reaching #10 on the pop album chart. He would end up having six more #1 jazz albums, but his peak moment was his 1980 album "Winelight," which contained this single that featured the vocals of Bill Withers ("Lean on Me," #1, 1972). The song stayed at #2 for three weeks and it lifted the album to #5. Co-written by Withers, the song went on to with the Grammy for Best R&B Song.

ReduxReview:  The single version is really just a Bill Withers jam with Washington only playing in the mid-section and at the end. The full 7+ minute album version has a much longer Washington solo that fills it out. Regardless, it's a silky smooth song that is hard to resist.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  In addition to the Grammy for Best R&B Song, the song was nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year, and Withers was nominated for Best Pop Vocal, Male. The "Winelight" album also won for Best Jazzy Fusion Performance.

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"How 'Bout Us" by Champaign

Song#:  0495
Date:  02/14/1981
Debut:  84
Peak:  12
Weeks:  23
Genre:  R&B, Adult Contemporary



Pop Bits:  The group's signature tune was this first title-track single to their debut album. The ballad hit #5 on the R&B chart while just missing out on the pop Top 10. The tune would also be a major hit at AC where it reached #1. It would be their biggest hit and after a couple more albums, the group basically disbanded until a reunion in 1990 brought back members for a fourth album.

ReduxReview:  I've always liked this ballad. I think it is smooth and pretty and the vocals are quite nice. It is just kind of romantic and soothing. The only thing that drives me nuts on the song is when the lead vocal near the end goes "some...PEE...pohl." It's a big annoying but doesn't fully distract from this good tune.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  With the spelling of their name, the group was obviously not named after the French wine region (Champagne). They took their name from their hometown, Champaign, Illinois.

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"Yesterday Once More/Nothing Remains the Same" by The Spinners

Song#:  0494
Date:  02/14/1981
Debut:  85
Peak:  52
Weeks:  8
Genre:  R&B



Pop Bits:  The Spinners' previous two hits were medleys that combined a remake with a new tune. They hit the Top 10 with "Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me, Girl" (#2, gold) and "Cupid/I've Loved You For a Long Time" (#4). So why not try it again? This first single from their "Labor of Love" album followed the same formula by revisiting "Yesterday Once More" (originally a hit for The Carpenters, #2, 1973) and combining it with the new original "Nothing Remains the Same." Unfortunately, the magic didn't strike a third time and the song failed to even reach the top half of the chart (and only #32 R&B). 

ReduxReview:  Although it jams along quite well, I just don't think The Carpenters' chestnut really works here. It is not as enticing as the previous two remakes - especially "Working My Way Back to You." And the secondary song really derails the song as it is pretty unmemorable. The formula just didn't work this time.

ReduxRating:  4/10

Trivia:  The second song of each medley was written by Michael Zager, who also produced the songs. Zager himself had a couple of minor chart singles including the #36 "Let's All Chant" in 1978. (Which, if you have not heard, or don't think you have, you should - I completely forgot all about this song! It's a great disco tune.)

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