Song#: 1044
Date: 05/29/1982
Debut: 87
Peak: 77
Weeks: 5
Genre: Soft Rock
Pop Bits: The band's first LP for the RCA label, "Last Safe Place," yielded the #18 hit "Nobody Said It Was Easy." This follow-up single was issued, but it couldn't make much of an impact on the chart. The album would be the peak moment of their career. Following the success, the band's lead singer, Jeff Pollard, decided rock music was not the road for him and left to join a Baptist ministry.
ReduxReview: This is another one of those rock tunes that sounds like it was the theme from a grade-B comedy movie. It's an okay listen, but there is nothing special that would prompt a better chart showing.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: LeRoux's previous album, "Up," was their third for Capitol Records and was produced by Jai Winding. Winding's father, Kai, was a successful trombonist who played with Benny Goodman and Stan Kenton. Kai had a hit of his own in 1963 with the instrumental version of the song "More," the theme from the movie "Mondo Cane." The single reached #8 on the pop chart.
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Saturday, October 18, 2014
Friday, October 17, 2014
"Cutie Pie" by One Way
Song#: 1043
Date: 05/29/1982
Debut: 88
Peak: 61
Weeks: 10
Genre: R&B
Pop Bits: This Detroit group, led by Al Hudson, first recorded in 1976 as Al Hudson and The Soul Partners. Over the course of four albums, with the last being billed as by Al Hudson and The Partners, the band placed a few lower-peaking singles on the R&B chart. When they moved to the MCA label in 1980, they changed their name to One Way. As before, they consistently put singles on the R&B chart with a pair of #12's being their best showing. They finally broke through to the R&B Top 10 (#4) and onto the pop chart with this second single from their "Who's Foolin' Who" album. It would be the band's peak moment and their only pop chart entry. They would grab four more R&B Top 10's over the next few years before recording their final album in 1988.
ReduxReview: This mid-tempo jam is fairly pedestrian, but the bass sound/line is pretty fun along with the modified bell. Other than that, there is not much here that sticks in your mind for very long. Overall, I guess I'd say this song is kinda...well...cute.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: Original member and vocalist Alicia Myers departed the group for a solo career in 1981. Over the course of four albums for MCA, she had some singles success that included the #5 R&B hit "You Get the Best from Me (Say Say Say)." Her 1982 album "I Fooled You This Time" seemed to be an answer to One Way's LP "Who's Foolin' Who." The play on titles was most likely planned since members of One Way contributed to Myers' album.
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Date: 05/29/1982
Debut: 88
Peak: 61
Weeks: 10
Genre: R&B
Pop Bits: This Detroit group, led by Al Hudson, first recorded in 1976 as Al Hudson and The Soul Partners. Over the course of four albums, with the last being billed as by Al Hudson and The Partners, the band placed a few lower-peaking singles on the R&B chart. When they moved to the MCA label in 1980, they changed their name to One Way. As before, they consistently put singles on the R&B chart with a pair of #12's being their best showing. They finally broke through to the R&B Top 10 (#4) and onto the pop chart with this second single from their "Who's Foolin' Who" album. It would be the band's peak moment and their only pop chart entry. They would grab four more R&B Top 10's over the next few years before recording their final album in 1988.
ReduxReview: This mid-tempo jam is fairly pedestrian, but the bass sound/line is pretty fun along with the modified bell. Other than that, there is not much here that sticks in your mind for very long. Overall, I guess I'd say this song is kinda...well...cute.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: Original member and vocalist Alicia Myers departed the group for a solo career in 1981. Over the course of four albums for MCA, she had some singles success that included the #5 R&B hit "You Get the Best from Me (Say Say Say)." Her 1982 album "I Fooled You This Time" seemed to be an answer to One Way's LP "Who's Foolin' Who." The play on titles was most likely planned since members of One Way contributed to Myers' album.
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Thursday, October 16, 2014
"Take Me Down" by Alabama
Song#: 1042
Date: 05/22/1982
Debut: 69
Peak: 18
Weeks: 13
Genre: Country Crossover
Pop Bits: Alabama continued their streak of #1's with their LP "Mountain Music" and its title-track single. However, the wildly popular single couldn't muster a showing on the pop chart. This second single would do the trick and get them their second best pop chart entry. Of course, it was another #1 country hit and would reach #5 at AC. The album would eventually become their best selling studio album getting certified 5x platinum.
ReduxReview: Although they were always good at country stompers ("Mountain Music") and old-style waltzes, they really knew how to sell a crossover tune. They understood that the broad appeal of a song like this could open up their music to a wider audience and it certainly worked. Maintaining that audience would be more difficult as the decade moved on, but many of the fans won here stayed on and pushed them into their most popular period. This quality tune got missed the first time around (see below), but Alabama knew exactly what to do with it and did it well.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: This song was originally done by the group Exile. Written by two of its members, the song appeared on their 1980 LP "Don't Leave Me This Way." It was issued as a single, but failed to chart. This came at a time when Exile was beginning a switch from soft rock to country. Known for their #1 hit, 1978's "Kiss You All Over," the group had difficulty securing another hit. After several personnel changes, the band made a distinct switch to country with their self-titled 1983 album. It would be a successful transition with the band getting 10 #1 country hits throughout the decade.
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Date: 05/22/1982
Debut: 69
Peak: 18
Weeks: 13
Genre: Country Crossover
Pop Bits: Alabama continued their streak of #1's with their LP "Mountain Music" and its title-track single. However, the wildly popular single couldn't muster a showing on the pop chart. This second single would do the trick and get them their second best pop chart entry. Of course, it was another #1 country hit and would reach #5 at AC. The album would eventually become their best selling studio album getting certified 5x platinum.
ReduxReview: Although they were always good at country stompers ("Mountain Music") and old-style waltzes, they really knew how to sell a crossover tune. They understood that the broad appeal of a song like this could open up their music to a wider audience and it certainly worked. Maintaining that audience would be more difficult as the decade moved on, but many of the fans won here stayed on and pushed them into their most popular period. This quality tune got missed the first time around (see below), but Alabama knew exactly what to do with it and did it well.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: This song was originally done by the group Exile. Written by two of its members, the song appeared on their 1980 LP "Don't Leave Me This Way." It was issued as a single, but failed to chart. This came at a time when Exile was beginning a switch from soft rock to country. Known for their #1 hit, 1978's "Kiss You All Over," the group had difficulty securing another hit. After several personnel changes, the band made a distinct switch to country with their self-titled 1983 album. It would be a successful transition with the band getting 10 #1 country hits throughout the decade.
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"Still They Ride" by Journey
Song#: 1041
Date: 05/22/1982
Debut: 70
Peak: 19
Weeks: 14
Genre: Arena Rock
Pop Bits: Journey's #1 album "Escape" banged out three Top 10 gold records in a row including their biggest hit, "Open Arms" (#2 for six weeks). The band tried for a fourth hit from the LP with this single, but it could only muster a Top 20 showing.
ReduxReview: Instead of following up "Open Arms" with a solid rock track like "Stone in Love," which was already being played on rock radio, they opted for this ballad. It is definitely not a bad choice and I love this song, but they may have had a better chance at another Top 10 with "Stone." Regardless, it's a fourth fab single in a row for them.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: The wing and beetle designs used on the covers of several Journey albums, including "Escape," were courtesy of artist Stanley Mouse. Mouse, along with Alton Kelley, were responsible for a good chunk of the artwork featured on concert posters and other commercial items for The Grateful Dead, including the iconic skull and roses image. Mouse's work graced the covers of Journey albums from 1978's "Infinity" (the band's first platinum album) through to "Escape."
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Date: 05/22/1982
Debut: 70
Peak: 19
Weeks: 14
Genre: Arena Rock
Pop Bits: Journey's #1 album "Escape" banged out three Top 10 gold records in a row including their biggest hit, "Open Arms" (#2 for six weeks). The band tried for a fourth hit from the LP with this single, but it could only muster a Top 20 showing.
ReduxReview: Instead of following up "Open Arms" with a solid rock track like "Stone in Love," which was already being played on rock radio, they opted for this ballad. It is definitely not a bad choice and I love this song, but they may have had a better chance at another Top 10 with "Stone." Regardless, it's a fourth fab single in a row for them.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: The wing and beetle designs used on the covers of several Journey albums, including "Escape," were courtesy of artist Stanley Mouse. Mouse, along with Alton Kelley, were responsible for a good chunk of the artwork featured on concert posters and other commercial items for The Grateful Dead, including the iconic skull and roses image. Mouse's work graced the covers of Journey albums from 1978's "Infinity" (the band's first platinum album) through to "Escape."
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Wednesday, October 15, 2014
"Be Mine Tonight" by Neil Diamond
Song#: 1040
Date: 05/22/1982
Debut: 73
Peak: 35
Weeks: 11
Genre: Pop, Adult Contemporary
Pop Bits: Diamond would chalk up another Top 40 entry with this third single from his "On the Way to the Sky" album. Although it wouldn't be a significant pop hit, the song would reach #2 on the AC chart.
ReduxReview: I didn't care for any of the singles from this album. I just remember how out-dated the songs seemed for the time. Years later, I can listen to them differently, but I'm still not a fan of the tunes. This one was the best of the bunch and about the only song on the album worthy of a repeat listen. It's still not quality Diamond, but its sound harkens back to his classic period.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: Diamond attended New York University via a fencing scholarship. Sabre was his area of focus for the sport and he was a member of the 1960 NYU team that went on to win that year's NCAA Championship.
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Date: 05/22/1982
Debut: 73
Peak: 35
Weeks: 11
Genre: Pop, Adult Contemporary
Pop Bits: Diamond would chalk up another Top 40 entry with this third single from his "On the Way to the Sky" album. Although it wouldn't be a significant pop hit, the song would reach #2 on the AC chart.
ReduxReview: I didn't care for any of the singles from this album. I just remember how out-dated the songs seemed for the time. Years later, I can listen to them differently, but I'm still not a fan of the tunes. This one was the best of the bunch and about the only song on the album worthy of a repeat listen. It's still not quality Diamond, but its sound harkens back to his classic period.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: Diamond attended New York University via a fencing scholarship. Sabre was his area of focus for the sport and he was a member of the 1960 NYU team that went on to win that year's NCAA Championship.
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