Song#: 1297
Date: 01/08/1983
Debut: 90
Peak: 82
Weeks: 6
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: After Utopia broke through to the charts with their album "Adventures in Utopia" (#32), which featured the #27 single "Set Me Free," the band chose to record an odd project for their follow-up. The conceptual album "Deface the Music" was Utopia' homage to the Beatles and it featured a set of songs that basically imitated the Fab Four during various stages of their career. Although critics seemed fond of the experiment, record buyers did not bite. It took two years for them to come up with the politically charged LP "Swing to the Right," which fared even worse early in '82. Later in the year the band changed labels and pretty much returned to form with their second self-titled LP. It wasn't a major rebound, but it did garner more attention thanks to this low-charting single and its quirky video that was featured on MTV. It would be Utopia's final pop chart entry. They would go on to record two more album before calling it a day in 1986.
ReduxReview: This song seemed so familiar to me but I don't think I've ever heard it. Perhaps the XTC-like undertones makes me think I've heard it before. I could definitely hear that group do this song. And there you go - once again a Utopia single sounds like someone else! But at least they always make it enjoyable. Although not a song with massive hit potential, this could have done a little better.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: Upon initial release, the 1982 "Utopia" album included a bonus EP of five songs. The EP and songs were not listed on the album cover or inner sleeve. The same five songs appeared on both sides of the 12" EP. When the album was reissued as a CD, the five songs just became part of the regular track listing and were not considered bonus tracks.
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Saturday, June 20, 2015
Friday, June 19, 2015
Milestone! 1982: The Year in Review
With a third year of chart songs complete, I have to say that I still love doing this project. It has been a lot of fun listening to old favorites, discovering new ones, and digging up information on artists and their songs. Regardless of any rating I apply, I like to think that by listening and writing about some of the forgotten songs/artists of the decade, it will keep their contributions and legacies alive. After all, they have done something that very few people have been able to do - get a single on the pop chart. It doesn't matter if you like the song or not. The fact that they did it is pretty darn cool. So to all those long forgotten artists who are still out there selling real estate or running a business or working in an office or even still playing in the bars, I'm listening and thanks for your work! I couldn't have this much fun without you!
The chart music of 1982 was still in a transition phase. MTV was changing the way we discovered songs and artists. Synthpop was on the verge of a major breakthrough. The British were coming! R&B artists were gaining some traction at pop but were still ignored by a lot of pop radio and even MTV. Major artists from the 70s were having difficulty adapting and getting left behind. It was all leading up to one of the most iconic years of the decade (and probably my second favorite), 1983.
As I move along in the chart years, probably the most difficult aspect is finding interesting information on artists that had several chart entries, yet the artist or their songs are...well...bland. I try to track down what I can, but sometimes there are artists who are just plain boring. When I get to another low-level chart entry by an uninteresting artist, I usually groan. I'm sure anyone reading one of those blog entries can practically hear that groan through the post! But luckily there are not too many and eventually the artist runs their chart course.
Other than that, I'm having a blast and I hope anyone who encounters the blog will have fun as well. Keep reading, pass it along to friends, feel free to send comments, and don't forget to "Rate It!" at the bottom of each post. Here is a recap of 1982:
Number of charted songs in 1982: 431 (413 in 1981)
Time it took listen/post all songs: 1 year, 24 days (10 mo. for 1981)
Number of songs to hit #1: 15 (14 in 1981)
Number of songs to reach Top 10 (excluding #1's): 59 (61 in 1981)
Artist with the most chart entries: Tied with 4 each (3 artists had 4 each in 1981)
Number of platinum singles: 10 (3 in 1981)
Number of songs that won a Grammy: 12 (11 in 1981)
Number of One-Hit Wonders: 7 (5 in 1981)
Number of Rated 10 songs: 12 (9 for 1981)
Number of Rated 1 songs: 0 (1 for 1981)
Top 5 favorite chart songs of the year:
Best song I didn't know existed: (tie) "What Do All the People Know" by The Monroes and "All of My Love" by Bobby Caldwell
Favorite discovery: Larry Lee's "Marooned" album.
Some interesting things learned (click links for more details in previous posts):
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The chart music of 1982 was still in a transition phase. MTV was changing the way we discovered songs and artists. Synthpop was on the verge of a major breakthrough. The British were coming! R&B artists were gaining some traction at pop but were still ignored by a lot of pop radio and even MTV. Major artists from the 70s were having difficulty adapting and getting left behind. It was all leading up to one of the most iconic years of the decade (and probably my second favorite), 1983.
As I move along in the chart years, probably the most difficult aspect is finding interesting information on artists that had several chart entries, yet the artist or their songs are...well...bland. I try to track down what I can, but sometimes there are artists who are just plain boring. When I get to another low-level chart entry by an uninteresting artist, I usually groan. I'm sure anyone reading one of those blog entries can practically hear that groan through the post! But luckily there are not too many and eventually the artist runs their chart course.
Other than that, I'm having a blast and I hope anyone who encounters the blog will have fun as well. Keep reading, pass it along to friends, feel free to send comments, and don't forget to "Rate It!" at the bottom of each post. Here is a recap of 1982:
Number of charted songs in 1982: 431 (413 in 1981)
Time it took listen/post all songs: 1 year, 24 days (10 mo. for 1981)
Number of songs to hit #1: 15 (14 in 1981)
Number of songs to reach Top 10 (excluding #1's): 59 (61 in 1981)
Artist with the most chart entries: Tied with 4 each (3 artists had 4 each in 1981)
- Kool & the Gang
- Steve Miller Band
- Stevie Wonder (3 solo, 1 duet)
- Paul McCartney (2 solo, 2 duets)
Number of platinum singles: 10 (3 in 1981)
Number of songs that won a Grammy: 12 (11 in 1981)
Number of One-Hit Wonders: 7 (5 in 1981)
Number of Rated 10 songs: 12 (9 for 1981)
Number of Rated 1 songs: 0 (1 for 1981)
Top 5 favorite chart songs of the year:
- "Jack & Diane" by John Cougar
- "Don't You Want Me" by Human League
- "We Got the Beat" by The Go-Go's
- "Edge of Seventeen" by Stevie Nicks
- "Eye in the Sky" by The Alan Parsons Project
Best song I didn't know existed: (tie) "What Do All the People Know" by The Monroes and "All of My Love" by Bobby Caldwell
Favorite discovery: Larry Lee's "Marooned" album.
Some interesting things learned (click links for more details in previous posts):
- John Cougar was the first artist of the 80s to place two songs in the Top 10 of a year-end chart (see chart below).
- Much derided actress Pia Zadora was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female.
- Saga did a song cycle about insect aliens who find Albert Einstein's brain.
- British group Alan Parsons Project never had a major hit in their home country.
- Kim Carnes wrote a novelty song called "She Dances with Meat" and recorded it under the name Connie con Carne.
- Writers of the 80s classic "Down Under" were taken to court for copyright infringement and lost - 28 years after the song was released.
- Hawaiian crooner Don Ho did a cover version of Peter Gabriel's "Shock the Monkey."
- Tug of War is a sanctioned international sport.
- Toni Basil's "Mickey" was actually a remake of the song "Kitty" by UK band Racey.
- The cover art for Billy Squier's "Emotions in Motion" album was done by Andy Warhol.
- In John Cougar's original version of "Jack & Diane," the pair were an interracial couple.
- Devo provided background vocals for Jermaine Jackson's "Let Me Tickle Your Fancy."
- Greg Kihn writes horror novels, one of which won an award.
- Rocker Aldo Nova wrote songs that were hits for Celine Dion and Clay Aiken.
- Neil Diamond got a scholarship to New York University - in fencing.
- Charlene's "I've Never Been to Me" also comes in a male version which was covered by The Temptations.
- Tom Petty's wife inspired Stevie Nicks' "Edge of Seventeen."
- Survivor's Dave Bickler is the singing voice on the famous Bud Lite "Real Men of Genius" ads.
- Olivia Newton-John's first recording contract was with the Don Kirshner-assembled group Toomorrow.
- Joan Jett's "I Love Rock n' Roll" is a remake of a 1975 song by The Arrows.
- "Physical" by Olivia Newton-John
- "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor
- "I Love Rock n' Roll" by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
- "Ebony and Ivory" by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder
- "Centerfold" by J. Geils Band
- "Don't You Want Me" by Human League
- "Jack & Diane" by John Cougar
- "Hurts So Good" by John Cougar
- "Abracadabra" by Steve Miller Band
- "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" by Chicago
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Thursday, June 18, 2015
"Stray Cat Strut" by Stray Cats
Top 10 Alert!
Song#: 1296 Date: 12/25/1982
Debut: 43
Peak: 3
Weeks: 19
Genre: Rockabilly
Pop Bits: The trio's US debut album, "Built for Speed," was a best-seller thanks in part to the LP's lead single "Rock This Town" (#9). This second single would give the album an additional boost and help it get to #2. It would end up being a platinum success. Both this single and the album would prove to be the peaks of their chart career. This song appeared on the band's self-titled debut album that was released in the UK. It served as the LP's third single and reached #11 on the chart.
ReduxReview: I didn't get into their retro rockabilly at the time and this second single just made it worse for me. I thought it was supremely silly and totally hated it. These days I have a better understanding of what they were doing and can appreciate them bringing rockabilly back to the masses. As for this song, it is still not one of my favorites, but it is more than tolerable and I don't mind if it comes up in a playlist mix.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: The video for this song was an MTV favorite at the time. Included in the video are snippets from the 1949 MGM animated short "Bad Luck Blackie." Considered one of the best cartoons ever made, the Tex Avery film centered on a white cat who is being tormented by a bulldog. A black cat offers to help keep the white one safe by bringing bad luck in various forms to the bulldog. It's long been played on TV, but like a few other earlier cartoons, it contains a scene that could be consider offensive or racist. In a scene, the bulldog is shoved in a stove and when his head pops out the chimney, he appears Chinese. These days when the cartoon is shown, that little portion is edited out.
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"Hungry Like the Wolf" by Duran Duran
Top 10 Alert!
Gold Record Alert!
Rated 10 Alert!
Song#: 1295 Date: 12/25/1982
Debut: 77
Peak: 3
Weeks: 23
Genre: New Wave, Synthpop
Pop Bits: Formed in 1978, this band settled on a lineup in 1981, signed with EMI, and released their self-titled debut album. Considered part of the UK's New Romantic scene, they placed three singles on the UK chart including the #5 "Girls on Film." However, the success didn't translate to the US and the singles and album flopped. Their follow-up LP, "Rio," got released in May of '82 and started off well with the UK #14 "My Own Way," but it was this song that got them their second #5 hit. Again, US audiences remained numb to their music. However, an EP of remixes called "Carnival" gained traction in US dance clubs and it caused EMI to change their marketing strategy in the States. Most of the "Rio" album got remixed to be more dance-oriented and was reissued in the US. The remix of this single started to get airplay and with the help of an impressive (for the time) video that received heavy play on MTV, Duran Duran finally hit it big in the States.
ReduxReview: Like most of Duran Duran's lyrics, this one is totally lost on me. I mean, I kind of get the gist, but it still makes no sense. And yet, who cares? This is just a great song and an absolute classic from the era. The Indiana Jones-ish video was a big deal at the time too. It was exotic, sexy, and well-filmed, especially for the early era of MTV. The band would go on to have other excellent singles, but this one was king of them all.
ReduxRating: 10/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) Duran Duran began playing clubs around Birmingham, England, and the one particular area had several venues. One of the clubs was called Barbarella's. Named after the campy 1968 sci-fi film starring Jane Fonda, the rock club sparked inspiration for the band's name. The movie featured the character Dr. Durand Durand and with one slight spelling modification, Duran Duran was born. 2) The stylized video for this song was highly popular and it ended up winning the inaugural Grammy award for the Best Short Form Video.
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Wednesday, June 17, 2015
"Eminence Front" by The Who
Song#: 1294
Date: 12/25/1982
Debut: 80
Peak: 68
Weeks: 6
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: The Who's LP "It's Hard" started off with the #28 single "Athena." It would end up being their last Top 40 entry. This second single would then prove to be their final pop chart entry. The band would break up and a week before this single was released, they finished their "farewell" tour. The three remaining original members would reunite a couple of times for one-off appearances before committing to full tours in 1989 and 1996. Bassist John Entwistle would die in 2002 leaving Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend the last remaining original members. The pair would issue a Who album in 2006 called "Endless Wire." It reached #7 and thus far has become the last official Who studio album.
ReduxReview: "It's Hard" was pretty much a forced effort for the band and it seems they don't really look back on it fondly. Even at the time on their farewell tour, the only song they played from the album in concert was this tune. It seemed to be the only real "keeper" out of the bunch for them. And I get that. Although I did like "Athena," this song was probably the best from a pretty lackluster album. The swirling synth sets up a nice groove that keeps this jam going. It's a moody piece that is one of their best latter-day singles.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) In 1993, Townshend revisited The Who's classic rock opera album "Tommy" and adopted it into a Broadway musical. It was a successful venture that would end up winning five Tony awards including one for Townsend for Best Original Score. The show was nominated for Best Musial but lost out to "Kiss of the Spider Woman." 2) If the opening of this song sounds familiar, it may be due its use on TV, in radio spots, at sporting events and in film. It has recently been used in the TV shows "Entourage," "The Americans," and "Person of Interest," in addition to commercials for GMC trucks. It was even used as background music for The Weather Channel's "Local on the 8's" weather spots.
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Date: 12/25/1982
Debut: 80
Peak: 68
Weeks: 6
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: The Who's LP "It's Hard" started off with the #28 single "Athena." It would end up being their last Top 40 entry. This second single would then prove to be their final pop chart entry. The band would break up and a week before this single was released, they finished their "farewell" tour. The three remaining original members would reunite a couple of times for one-off appearances before committing to full tours in 1989 and 1996. Bassist John Entwistle would die in 2002 leaving Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend the last remaining original members. The pair would issue a Who album in 2006 called "Endless Wire." It reached #7 and thus far has become the last official Who studio album.
ReduxReview: "It's Hard" was pretty much a forced effort for the band and it seems they don't really look back on it fondly. Even at the time on their farewell tour, the only song they played from the album in concert was this tune. It seemed to be the only real "keeper" out of the bunch for them. And I get that. Although I did like "Athena," this song was probably the best from a pretty lackluster album. The swirling synth sets up a nice groove that keeps this jam going. It's a moody piece that is one of their best latter-day singles.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) In 1993, Townshend revisited The Who's classic rock opera album "Tommy" and adopted it into a Broadway musical. It was a successful venture that would end up winning five Tony awards including one for Townsend for Best Original Score. The show was nominated for Best Musial but lost out to "Kiss of the Spider Woman." 2) If the opening of this song sounds familiar, it may be due its use on TV, in radio spots, at sporting events and in film. It has recently been used in the TV shows "Entourage," "The Americans," and "Person of Interest," in addition to commercials for GMC trucks. It was even used as background music for The Weather Channel's "Local on the 8's" weather spots.
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