Song#: 0594
Date: 05/09/1981
Debut: 82
Peak: 48
Weeks: 9
Genre: Pop, Rock
Pop Bits: Winwood just had his first solo hit with the #7 "While You See a Chance," which was from his second LP "Arc of a Diver." This title-track follow-up couldn't quite reach the Top 40, but the album was already a success reaching #3 and going platinum.
ReduxReview: If you've heard this album, it's pretty solid. But there is nothing on it as catchy as "While You See a Chance." The balance of the LP has good songs, but there's just not another real single among them. So releasing the title track was probably the best shot at a follow-up. It's a good tune that I like, but as a single it kind of sinks. It's a little too laid-back and there is nothing catchy to latch onto. So for me, good song, not a good single.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: The "Arc of a Diver" album was a true solo outing. Winwood wrote/co-wrote all the songs, played all the instruments, and produced/engineered the recording. He had build a studio on his farm in England and, for the most part, created this entire album on his own.
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Saturday, October 26, 2013
Friday, October 25, 2013
"Theme from 'Greatest American Hero' (Believe It or Not)" by Joey Scarbury
Top 10 Alert!
Gold Record Alert!
One-Hit Wonder Alert!
Song#: 0593 Date: 05/09/1981
Debut: 85
Peak: 2
Weeks: 26
Genre: Pop, Adult Contemporary, Soundtrack
Pop Bits: Scarbury seemed to have a tough time getting a career launched. He began recording in 1969 and from then through the 70s he jumped label-to-label releasing singles that went nowhere. His only slight break came in 1971 when "Mixed Up Guy" reached #73 on the chart. Later in the 70s, he was mainly doing background vocals and was working as a session singer for producer/songwriter Mike Post. In 1980, Post was enlisted to write a theme song to a new TV show called "The Greatest American Hero." He did so with co-writer Stephen Geyer and then got Scarbury to sing a full-length version that would later be edited for the show's opening. The series was an unexpected hit and its theme proved to be quite popular, enough so that this single was issued. With the song a hit, the label wanted an album and one was rushed together for release. It would be Scarbury's only full-length album. Although he had his 1971 chart entry and a Top 50 follow-up to this song, Scarbury is considered a one-hit wonder thanks to this theme.
ReduxReview: I loved this song back then and still do. It's just a terrific pop song. I would venture a guess that even if this wasn't a TV theme song, it would still have been a hit. The 70s and 80s had some really good TV theme songs, but just looking at them as pop compositions, I'd have to say this one was tops.
ReduxRating: 9/10
Trivia: Scarbury continued on in music and in addition to being a successful session vocalist, he also wrote songs for other artists. His best effort was co-writing the #1 country hit "No Matter How High" (1989) by the Oak Ridge Boys. The song was actually the Boys' seventeenth and final #1 country hit.
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Thursday, October 24, 2013
"You're So Easy to Love" by Tommy James
Song#: 0592
Date: 05/09/1981
Debut: 86
Peak: 58
Weeks: 7
Genre: Pop
Pop Bits: The previous year James had his second biggest solo hit with the #19 "Three Times in Love" from the album of the same name. James then had this single come out and it couldn't really do much on the chart. It's assumed that this single would have previewed his next album, but James' label, Millennium, was having financial issues around this time and most likely could not afford the promotion or recording of a new LP, especially since this single wasn't a significant hit. The label ended up closing a couple of years later. It also brought an end to James solo career at the time and this song would serve as his final chart song.
ReduxReview: This is a fairly weak song and the arrangement/recording doesn't have much umph to it. I think because of that it just kind of moseys along with very little to capture your attention. It's not bad - just bland like a lot of inoffensive MOR tunes.
ReduxRating: 4/10
Trivia: James and his group The Shondells were signed to the infamous Roulette Records. The company was well-known for letting their artists have creative freedom, but the trade off was not paying them. James chronicled a lot of what went on in his autobiography saying that the label was a front for organized crime that included money laundering. If artists needed money, they basically had to go and get their own gigs to earn some. The label kept most of their royalties for other purposes. Many years later when the Roulette catalog was acquired by Rhino/Warner, James finally started to receive back royalty payments for his work - as much as six-figures.
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Date: 05/09/1981
Debut: 86
Peak: 58
Weeks: 7
Genre: Pop
Pop Bits: The previous year James had his second biggest solo hit with the #19 "Three Times in Love" from the album of the same name. James then had this single come out and it couldn't really do much on the chart. It's assumed that this single would have previewed his next album, but James' label, Millennium, was having financial issues around this time and most likely could not afford the promotion or recording of a new LP, especially since this single wasn't a significant hit. The label ended up closing a couple of years later. It also brought an end to James solo career at the time and this song would serve as his final chart song.
ReduxReview: This is a fairly weak song and the arrangement/recording doesn't have much umph to it. I think because of that it just kind of moseys along with very little to capture your attention. It's not bad - just bland like a lot of inoffensive MOR tunes.
ReduxRating: 4/10
Trivia: James and his group The Shondells were signed to the infamous Roulette Records. The company was well-known for letting their artists have creative freedom, but the trade off was not paying them. James chronicled a lot of what went on in his autobiography saying that the label was a front for organized crime that included money laundering. If artists needed money, they basically had to go and get their own gigs to earn some. The label kept most of their royalties for other purposes. Many years later when the Roulette catalog was acquired by Rhino/Warner, James finally started to receive back royalty payments for his work - as much as six-figures.
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"Almost Saturday Night" by Dave Edmunds
Song#: 0591
Date: 05/09/1981
Debut: 87
Peak: 54
Weeks: 8
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: As a solo act, Edmunds got off to a great start back in 1970 with his #4 hit "I Hear You Knocking." But label issues caused any momentum from the single to wane and subsequent releases didn't fare well on the chart. Fast forward to later in the 70s and Edmunds association with Nick Lowe. Together, their band Rockpile would back both artists' solo albums and then finally issue a formal group disc in 1980. That LP's lead single "Teacher Teacher" reach #51 and following that success Edmunds issued the solo album "Twangin..." Most of the tracks had already been recorded in previous sessions with Rockpile and it would be the last Edmunds album to feature the group. This first single got near the Top 50 and was his best showing solo single since his 1970 hit.
ReduxReview: A good chunk of Edmunds work revolves around rockabilly, which is not one of my favorite genres. However, this song doesn't fall in that category and it rocks out pretty good. It took me a little bit by surprise as I expected to not like it. But I got hooked right away and I really enjoyed it, even though it is a shorty (just over 2 min.). It has a little bit more urgency than the original (see below) and I like that as well.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) Most of the songs on the LP were remakes including this single. The song, written by John Fogerty, was originally released on Fogerty's 1975 self-titled solo album. It was released as a single and it hit #78. 2) One track on the LP, "The Race Is On," featured The Stray Cats. The association between the two artists comes from Edmunds producing their hit debut album.
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Date: 05/09/1981
Debut: 87
Peak: 54
Weeks: 8
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: As a solo act, Edmunds got off to a great start back in 1970 with his #4 hit "I Hear You Knocking." But label issues caused any momentum from the single to wane and subsequent releases didn't fare well on the chart. Fast forward to later in the 70s and Edmunds association with Nick Lowe. Together, their band Rockpile would back both artists' solo albums and then finally issue a formal group disc in 1980. That LP's lead single "Teacher Teacher" reach #51 and following that success Edmunds issued the solo album "Twangin..." Most of the tracks had already been recorded in previous sessions with Rockpile and it would be the last Edmunds album to feature the group. This first single got near the Top 50 and was his best showing solo single since his 1970 hit.
ReduxReview: A good chunk of Edmunds work revolves around rockabilly, which is not one of my favorite genres. However, this song doesn't fall in that category and it rocks out pretty good. It took me a little bit by surprise as I expected to not like it. But I got hooked right away and I really enjoyed it, even though it is a shorty (just over 2 min.). It has a little bit more urgency than the original (see below) and I like that as well.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) Most of the songs on the LP were remakes including this single. The song, written by John Fogerty, was originally released on Fogerty's 1975 self-titled solo album. It was released as a single and it hit #78. 2) One track on the LP, "The Race Is On," featured The Stray Cats. The association between the two artists comes from Edmunds producing their hit debut album.
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Wednesday, October 23, 2013
"Lovin' the Night Away" by The Dillman Band
Song#: 0590
Date: 05/09/1981
Debut: 88
Peak: 45
Weeks: 9
Genre: Country Rock, Soft Rock
Pop Bits: This Minnesota band almost made the Top 40 with this title track from their second album. Originally signed to United Artists Records, the group issued a self-titled debut in 1978 that didn't go anywhere. Dropped from UA, the group moved over to RCA and recorded a follow-up. Having this single hit the chart prompted RCA to ask for another album, which the group did record. Unfortunately, shake-ups at the label brought changes and the album was shelved and it left the group without a contract. The group disbanded but did reunite in 2003 and they continue to do shows around Minnesota.
ReduxReview: There were songs similar to this hitting the chart around this time and most, like this, were pretty good. It has a slightly old-fashioned rock sound and it is certainly an easy listen. There is nothing really outstanding here, but it is well-done and likable.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: The group's name was originally The Daisy Dillman Band and that was the title of their debut album. They got the name from a popular local author, Daisy Dillman, who wrote a historical book called "100 Year in Excelsior." The 1953 book was about the first church organized on Lake Minnetonka. For the group's second album, "Daisy" was taken out of the name (which I'm guessing was at the urging of their new label). Their reunion brought back the full group name once again.
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Date: 05/09/1981
Debut: 88
Peak: 45
Weeks: 9
Genre: Country Rock, Soft Rock
Pop Bits: This Minnesota band almost made the Top 40 with this title track from their second album. Originally signed to United Artists Records, the group issued a self-titled debut in 1978 that didn't go anywhere. Dropped from UA, the group moved over to RCA and recorded a follow-up. Having this single hit the chart prompted RCA to ask for another album, which the group did record. Unfortunately, shake-ups at the label brought changes and the album was shelved and it left the group without a contract. The group disbanded but did reunite in 2003 and they continue to do shows around Minnesota.
ReduxReview: There were songs similar to this hitting the chart around this time and most, like this, were pretty good. It has a slightly old-fashioned rock sound and it is certainly an easy listen. There is nothing really outstanding here, but it is well-done and likable.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: The group's name was originally The Daisy Dillman Band and that was the title of their debut album. They got the name from a popular local author, Daisy Dillman, who wrote a historical book called "100 Year in Excelsior." The 1953 book was about the first church organized on Lake Minnetonka. For the group's second album, "Daisy" was taken out of the name (which I'm guessing was at the urging of their new label). Their reunion brought back the full group name once again.
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