Song#: 2094
Date: 10/20/1984
Debut: 69
Peak: 41
Weeks: 13
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: Scandal grabbed their first (and only) Top 10 hit with the title track from their full-length debut album Warrior. The track was a hit a Rock as well reaching #1 on that chart. For a follow-up, this song was chosen. Co-written by the album's producer, Mike Chapman, and Holly Knight (who co-wrote "The Warrior"), the single started off well, but then abruptly stopped at the dreaded #41 position on the Pop chart. It also just barely got locked out of the Rock Top 20 at #21. Despite the lackluster results, the album kept selling and it would eventually go platinum.
ReduxReview: "The Warrior" was such a fun and distinct song that it was going to be a bit difficult for the band to follow it up. They needed another catchy tune if they were going to get a second Top 10. Unfortunately, this one wasn't it. The song is not bad, but it certainly doesn't rank among the best efforts of its writers (Knight and Chapman). It just didn't have a chorus solid enough to really make an impact on radio. It's a nice album track, but not a very good single candidate.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: When the superstar rock band Journey was prepping their album Frontiers, they recorded a song called "Only the Young." The tune was a contender for the album, but in the end it was set aside in favor of other tracks. Somehow, the extra track was proposed to Scandal for their use and apparently the band bought the song. They recorded the tune and included it on the Warrior album. It was possible that the song could have been issued as a single, but then Journey ended up releasing their version as a single early in '85 when it appeared on the soundtrack album to the movie Vision Quest. Journey's version would reach #9 on the Pop chart. Now, I've seen in a couple of places that Scandal was not happy with Journey releasing the song. Feeling that an agreement was breached, Scandal called out Journey and threatened legal action. It seems the dispute was quickly settled with Scandal reaping some of the rewards from the Journey hit. Whether or not this actually happened is unclear, but it does seem odd that Journey would give another artist one of their songs and then turn around and use it themselves before the other artist had a chance to do something with the song.
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Saturday, July 8, 2017
Friday, July 7, 2017
"Two Tribes" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Song#: 2093
Date: 10/20/1984
Debut: 79
Peak: 43
Weeks: 15
Genre: Pop, Rock
Pop Bits: Earlier in '84, this UK band released their single "Relax" in the US. Despite being a huge #1 hit in their homeland, the song didn't catch on Stateside and it initially peaked at an unremarkable #67. In the meantime, this second single was issued in the UK and it did even better than "Relax." The single debuted at the #1 spot and stayed there for nine consecutive weeks, which would end up being the longest run at #1 for a single on the UK chart in the 80s. Those results prompted a US release for the song. The tune caught on at Dance where it peaked at #3. At Pop, the news was a little better than "Relax," but it still failed to get inside the Top 40 (#27 Rock). However, with this song getting the band attention in the US, interest would be drawn back to their first single and soon they would have a major 80s hit on their hands.
ReduxReview: This is a pretty epic tune. The production by Trevor Horn was outstanding. It's urgent, ominous, and bold. What's weird is that I thought this came out after "Relax" had become a hit on its second run. I also thought it was a bigger hit. I would have said it went Top 10, but it didn't even come close. Or maybe I just wished it had gone Top 10. It really should have. It was a big hit all over the world except for the US. But some things that catch on in places like Europe, don't necessarily transfer to a US audience. Frankie would end up being kind of one-hit wonderish here while in the UK they topped the singles chart three times in a row. The band didn't last long, but they certainly put their stamp on the 80s.
ReduxRating: 8/10
Trivia: With the Cold War at its height around this time period, the song was timely and its theme was greatly highlighted in the accompanying video. Actors portraying two of the big Cold War players, US President Ronald Regan and Russian leader Konstantin Chernenko, were set up in a ring and prompted to do a wrestling match in front of an eager crowd. The fight ends up in chaos and eventually the world comes to an end. Apparently, there were a few graphic scenes in the original video and in order to get it on MTV, the video had to be edited. One scene in question had Regan trying to bite off a chunk of Chernenko's ear.
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Date: 10/20/1984
Debut: 79
Peak: 43
Weeks: 15
Genre: Pop, Rock
Pop Bits: Earlier in '84, this UK band released their single "Relax" in the US. Despite being a huge #1 hit in their homeland, the song didn't catch on Stateside and it initially peaked at an unremarkable #67. In the meantime, this second single was issued in the UK and it did even better than "Relax." The single debuted at the #1 spot and stayed there for nine consecutive weeks, which would end up being the longest run at #1 for a single on the UK chart in the 80s. Those results prompted a US release for the song. The tune caught on at Dance where it peaked at #3. At Pop, the news was a little better than "Relax," but it still failed to get inside the Top 40 (#27 Rock). However, with this song getting the band attention in the US, interest would be drawn back to their first single and soon they would have a major 80s hit on their hands.
ReduxReview: This is a pretty epic tune. The production by Trevor Horn was outstanding. It's urgent, ominous, and bold. What's weird is that I thought this came out after "Relax" had become a hit on its second run. I also thought it was a bigger hit. I would have said it went Top 10, but it didn't even come close. Or maybe I just wished it had gone Top 10. It really should have. It was a big hit all over the world except for the US. But some things that catch on in places like Europe, don't necessarily transfer to a US audience. Frankie would end up being kind of one-hit wonderish here while in the UK they topped the singles chart three times in a row. The band didn't last long, but they certainly put their stamp on the 80s.
ReduxRating: 8/10
Trivia: With the Cold War at its height around this time period, the song was timely and its theme was greatly highlighted in the accompanying video. Actors portraying two of the big Cold War players, US President Ronald Regan and Russian leader Konstantin Chernenko, were set up in a ring and prompted to do a wrestling match in front of an eager crowd. The fight ends up in chaos and eventually the world comes to an end. Apparently, there were a few graphic scenes in the original video and in order to get it on MTV, the video had to be edited. One scene in question had Regan trying to bite off a chunk of Chernenko's ear.
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Thursday, July 6, 2017
"I Wanna Rock" by Twisted Sister
Song#: 2092
Date: 10/20/1984
Debut: 80
Peak: 68
Weeks: 7
Genre: Hard Rock
Pop Bits: This band scored a big MTV hit with the video for their song "We're Not Gonna Take It." Its success helped the song reach #21 Pop and #7 Rock. Up next was this follow-up single that was driven by another successful video. Unfortunately, it didn't quite catch on at radio as well as the first tune and it stopped early at Rock (#35) and at Pop. Still, the songs and videos helped sell records and eventually the associated album, Stay Hungry, would be a triple-platinum seller.
ReduxReview: While this song has an arena-ready chorus, it's just not nearly as catchy or memorable as their previous hit. In fact, it gets a little repetitive and tedious by the end. The video was fun, so MTV'ers ate it up, but when it came time to listen to the song without the video, many folks passed on it (as I did). The band performs it well, but it could have used some better production. I think it would have sounded much better if someone like Robert "Mutt" Lange (Def Leppard) had produced it. He would have added a lot more depth and muscle to the tune, which it needed because the song was a bit slight to begin with. As-is, it didn't really make me wanna rock.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: Founding member and guitarist of the band Jay Jay French (real name John French Segall) did a remake of this song years later in 2008 with his own band. As a supporter of presidential candidate Barack Obama, French decided to remake the song as "I Want Barack." For the lead vocal, French brought aboard Paulie Z. from the band Z02. A video for the song was shot and it was credited to Jay Jay French & Friends. So why didn't Twisted Sister just do the song? French mentioned in an article that his band mates were divided when it came to the election. Therefore, he decided to do the song out on his own and keep it separate from Twisted Sister.
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Date: 10/20/1984
Debut: 80
Peak: 68
Weeks: 7
Genre: Hard Rock
Pop Bits: This band scored a big MTV hit with the video for their song "We're Not Gonna Take It." Its success helped the song reach #21 Pop and #7 Rock. Up next was this follow-up single that was driven by another successful video. Unfortunately, it didn't quite catch on at radio as well as the first tune and it stopped early at Rock (#35) and at Pop. Still, the songs and videos helped sell records and eventually the associated album, Stay Hungry, would be a triple-platinum seller.
ReduxReview: While this song has an arena-ready chorus, it's just not nearly as catchy or memorable as their previous hit. In fact, it gets a little repetitive and tedious by the end. The video was fun, so MTV'ers ate it up, but when it came time to listen to the song without the video, many folks passed on it (as I did). The band performs it well, but it could have used some better production. I think it would have sounded much better if someone like Robert "Mutt" Lange (Def Leppard) had produced it. He would have added a lot more depth and muscle to the tune, which it needed because the song was a bit slight to begin with. As-is, it didn't really make me wanna rock.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: Founding member and guitarist of the band Jay Jay French (real name John French Segall) did a remake of this song years later in 2008 with his own band. As a supporter of presidential candidate Barack Obama, French decided to remake the song as "I Want Barack." For the lead vocal, French brought aboard Paulie Z. from the band Z02. A video for the song was shot and it was credited to Jay Jay French & Friends. So why didn't Twisted Sister just do the song? French mentioned in an article that his band mates were divided when it came to the election. Therefore, he decided to do the song out on his own and keep it separate from Twisted Sister.
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Wednesday, July 5, 2017
"Edge of a Dream" by Joe Cocker
Song#: 2091
Date: 10/20/1984
Debut: 83
Peak: 69
Weeks: 7
Genre: Pop, Soundtrack
Pop Bits: Nearly two years after Cocker scored his first (and only) #1 hit with the Grammy-winning soundtrack duet "Up Where We Belong" (with Jennifer Warnes), he got back to work and recorded his ninth studio album. Titled Civilized Man, it would be his first effort for his new label, Capitol. Unfortunately, none of the LP's singles caught on and the album came and went rather quickly. But his success with "Up Where We Belong" led to other soundtrack appearances and after the singles were exhausted from Civilized Man, this song that he did for the Teachers soundtrack got pushed out. Although it got him back on the Pop chart, it didn't do all that well stalling at #69. It did a little better at AC reaching #31.
ReduxReview: While this is not a bad song, it's not a great one either. Adams and Vallance (see below) were spittin' out songs left and right during this period and the ones done by other artists were not among their finest work (which is probably why they sold them off). I think the problem with this one is that it needed to be a rock anthem. Instead, it got arranged in an AC/"Up Where We Belong"/inspirational fashion and it didn't work. This needed a more epic arrangement with Cocker blowin' it out. Even then, the song itself was not stellar so it may not have made much of a difference anyway.
ReduxRating: 4/10
Trivia: Like the main theme song to the movie, "Teacher, Teacher" performed by 38 Special, this song was also written by the team of Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance. Adams' original demo version of "Teacher, Teacher" would see the light of day later on a reissue of his hit album Reckless, but to this date, a version of "Edge of a Dream" has yet to be released. However, Adams did appear as a background vocalist on a version done by UK singer Helen Hoffner. He also co-produced the recording. It was issued as a single in 1993 in a few European countries before getting added as an extra track to her self-titled debut LP, which had previously been released in 1992. That album went to #2 in Finland and a single from the album, "Summer of Love," made it to #1 in Norway. (I checked out "Summer of Love" and it is a very tasty single - highly recommended.)
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Date: 10/20/1984
Debut: 83
Peak: 69
Weeks: 7
Genre: Pop, Soundtrack
Pop Bits: Nearly two years after Cocker scored his first (and only) #1 hit with the Grammy-winning soundtrack duet "Up Where We Belong" (with Jennifer Warnes), he got back to work and recorded his ninth studio album. Titled Civilized Man, it would be his first effort for his new label, Capitol. Unfortunately, none of the LP's singles caught on and the album came and went rather quickly. But his success with "Up Where We Belong" led to other soundtrack appearances and after the singles were exhausted from Civilized Man, this song that he did for the Teachers soundtrack got pushed out. Although it got him back on the Pop chart, it didn't do all that well stalling at #69. It did a little better at AC reaching #31.
ReduxReview: While this is not a bad song, it's not a great one either. Adams and Vallance (see below) were spittin' out songs left and right during this period and the ones done by other artists were not among their finest work (which is probably why they sold them off). I think the problem with this one is that it needed to be a rock anthem. Instead, it got arranged in an AC/"Up Where We Belong"/inspirational fashion and it didn't work. This needed a more epic arrangement with Cocker blowin' it out. Even then, the song itself was not stellar so it may not have made much of a difference anyway.
ReduxRating: 4/10
Trivia: Like the main theme song to the movie, "Teacher, Teacher" performed by 38 Special, this song was also written by the team of Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance. Adams' original demo version of "Teacher, Teacher" would see the light of day later on a reissue of his hit album Reckless, but to this date, a version of "Edge of a Dream" has yet to be released. However, Adams did appear as a background vocalist on a version done by UK singer Helen Hoffner. He also co-produced the recording. It was issued as a single in 1993 in a few European countries before getting added as an extra track to her self-titled debut LP, which had previously been released in 1992. That album went to #2 in Finland and a single from the album, "Summer of Love," made it to #1 in Norway. (I checked out "Summer of Love" and it is a very tasty single - highly recommended.)
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Tuesday, July 4, 2017
"All I Need" by Jack Wagner
Top 10 Alert!
One-Hit Wonder Alert!
Song#: 2090 Date: 10/20/1984
Debut: 88
Peak: 2
Weeks: 22
Genre: Pop, Adult Contemporary
Pop Bits: In 1983 after Rick Springfield's music career took off, he ended up leaving his role on the daytime soap General Hospital. In the meantime, a young character named Blackie Parris (played by John Stamos) decided to start a band. He needed a lead singer and a new character named Frisco Jones filled that role. Jones was played by actor Jack Wagner. Although a music career wasn't Wagner's focus, he was a musician and had been playing guitar since he was a teen. It helped him land the role of Frisco Jones and a side story about the band was born. Impressed by Wagner's singing and smelling some more crossover potential ala Rick Springfield, an exec at ABC got Wagner a record deal with Quincy Jones' label. A few songs were recorded and this first single got released. Although there was no video for the song, the single began to slowly catch on and climb the Pop chart and finally landed at #2 for a couple of weeks. It also reached #1 on the AC chart. Unfortunately, Wagner wasn't able to capitalize on the song in the same way that Springfield did and it would be his only major hit. Despite having two other low-peaking singles to reach the Pop chart, this one hit got Wagner tagged as a one-hit wonder (#70 on VH1's list of the Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the 80s).
ReduxReview: Yeah, I have to admit two things. I watched GH back in the day and I also fell for this song. I think it's a well-written song and I particularly like the chord progression and melody in the chorus. Wagner turns in a good performance and makes it sound easy, which it's not. That chorus is difficult to sing. It soars pretty high within just three notes. If you don't have the range, you ain't gonna make it. Weirdly, I've heard this massacred via Karaoke a few times. Although Wagner was a good singer/musician, I think it was more like a side hobby rather than a profession. Usually when that is the case, the results tend to be one-hit wonder-ish, which it was for him. Regardless, he left behind one of the better ballads of the 80s.
ReduxRating: 8/10
Trivia: This song was co-written by David Pack, Glen Ballard, and Clif Magness. Pack was already a successful artist/songwriter with his band Ambrosia. Ballard and Magness were up-n-coming songwriters and producers who were beginning to have success. Each would later help two young artists with their breakthrough albums. Magness would co-write and produce several songs for Avril Lavigne's 2002 debut album Let Go. Ballard would co-write and produce Alanis Morissette's Grammy-winning 1995 album Jagged Little Pill.
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