"Walk on Water" by Eddie Money

Top 10 Alert!

Song#:  3667

Date:  10/01/1988

Debut:  67

Peak:  9

Weeks:  21

Genre:  Rock

Pop Bits:  Money had a career-best single with 1986's "Take Me Home Tonight." The tune topped out at #4 Pop/#1 Rock. It was from his sixth album Can't Hold Back, which reached #20 and turned platinum. With two more Pop Top 30/Rock Top 10 hits as follow-ups, the LP would be Money's most successful of the 80s. For his next effort, Money didn't do much to change his successful formula. He went back into the studio with producer Richie Zito and came out with Nothing to Lose. This first single would be issued out and it would end up being Money's second at final Top 10 at Pop while also reaching #2 at Rock. Oddly, the hit didn't fully spark album sales. It would stall at #49 and miss out on going gold, which was unusual considering the platinum performance of Can't Hold Back along with this Top 10 hit.

ReduxReview:  Money continued his streak of good singles with this one. It was a well-written track that was perfect for both pop and rock radio. The various sections were all hooky and memorable. Filled out with "na na na"'s and hand claps, the tune was a nice slice of rock ear candy that was appropriate for the time it came out. It only took me one listen to predict the song would go Top 10. Written by Sammy Hagar band member Jesse Harms, it was exactly the right tune for Money.

ReduxRating:  8/10

Trivia:  There are sections of the song where the melody is carried by a bunch of  "na na na"'s. According to Money, that was not the original plan. Apparently, that melody line was supposed to be performed by a horn (presumably a sax) player. However, for whatever reason the musician didn't show up to the session. With limited time and a need to get the song finished, producer Richie Zito and Money opted to have the line done by voices just singing "na na na." The decision seemed like a good one as it added something memorable to the tune and perhaps helped to make the song a hit since folks could sing along with the voices. However, Money ended up disliking the "na na na" sections because he thought it sounded silly to do them in concert.

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"Downtown Life" by Daryl Hall & John Oates

Song#:  3666

Date:  10/01/1988

Debut:  76

Peak:  31

Weeks:  9

Genre:  Pop

Pop Bits:   After three Pop Top 10 album that went platinum or multi-platinum, the famed duo hit a slight bump in the road with their thirteenth studio album Ooh Yeah! It was their first release after moving from their longtime home of RCA to Arista and their first studio effort in four years. While its first single "Everything Your Heart Desires" would perform well reaching #3 Pop#2 AC, the album stalled at #24 becoming the lowest peaking effort of their 80s career. Still, it was able to turn platinum (most likely based on shipping numbers rather than actual sales). After a second single "Missed Opportunity" stopped at #29 Pop (#8 AC), the album fell off the chart. Hoping to turn things around, this third single was pushed out. It didn't do much to help the situation halting just outside of the Pop Top 30 while missing all other charts. That result brought a close to the 80s for the duo. The decade saw them score thirteen Pop Top 10 hits with five of those hitting #1. The success pushed them above the Everly Brothers as the most successful duo of the rock era.

ReduxReview:  Although they would have one more near Top 10 hit in '90 (see below), this ended Hall & Oates' amazing 80s run. It would have been nice if they could have closed out the decade with a Top 10 hit, but a Top 40 effort wasn't too bad. This was one of the better songs from an album that didn't rank among their best. I like that it has a bit more of a rock edge that some of their previous chart entries. The chorus is nice too, but overall as a single it wasn't all that memorable. However, there's no denying that the duo put out some of the best singles of the decade and those far outshine mediocre performing tunes like this one.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  The duo would make one more album for Arista. In 1990, they would release Change of Seasons. Its first single, "So Close" (co-written and produced by Jon Bon Jovi), would become their final Pop Top 40 single reaching #11 (#6 AC). The album would manage to go gold although it only peaked at #60. After an extended break, the duo would return in '97 with the indie release Marigold Sky (#95). It would spawn the #6 AC entry "Promise Ain't Enough." Their next LP, 2002's Do It for Love would do slightly better (#77) thanks to the title track reaching #1 at AC. Their final Pop chart entry came in 2004 when their remake of The Spinners' 1972 #1 R&B/#3 Pop hit "I'll Be Around" would eke out a #97 showing (#6 AC). It was from their soul covers album Our Kind of Soul (#69). As of this posting date, the duo's last studio effort has been the holiday-themed Home for Christmas. Both Daryl Hall and John Oates would release solo albums after their 80s heydays. Hall's 1993 Soul Alone would include his last solo Pop chart entry with the #82 "I'm in a Philly Mood." Two of his later solo efforts would generate a few AC Top 30 entries. Oates would release his first solo album Phunk Shui in 2002 and he would follow it up with a few more although none would chart. In 2014, the duo would be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

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"Finish What Ya Started" by Van Halen

Song#:  3665

Date:  10/01/1988

Debut:  82

Peak:  13

Weeks:  20

Genre:  Rock

Pop Bits:  Van Halen scored their third and final Pop Top 10 single with "When It's Love," the second single from their album OU812. It would get to #5 Pop while topping the Rock chart. Next up for release was this third single. The tune almost topped the Rock chart stalling just shy at #2. At Pop the song inched towards the Top 10, but also stopped short at #13. It was the band's eighth Pop Top 20 hit. The single would help the album sell more copies and by January '89 it would reach triple-platinum status.

ReduxReview:  This goofy little jam was a fun one from the album and it was a good one for pop radio as well. It was nearly acoustic sounding when compared to VH's big guitar-driven jams and it worked well for them. Does it rank among their very best tunes? No, but it is nonetheless enjoyable and should always be included in a VH playlist.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  At the time OU812 came out, Eddie Van Halen was married to actress Valerie Bertinelli, She had become a star thanks to her role on the hit CBS TV show One Day at a Time, which began in 1975 and lasted for nine seasons. After the last episode aired in '84, Bertinelli then just spent time guesting on various TV shows and taking roles in TV movies. In 1990, she got the chance to star in her own TV series titled Sydney. The sitcom had Bertinelli playing a private investigator who moves from NYC back to her hometown after her policeman father passes away. Her brother on the show was played by a pre-Friends Matthew Perry. For the show's theme song, Van Halen's "Finish What Ya Started" would be used. That came courtesy of Bertinelli's convenient connection to Eddie Van Halen, who eventually signed off on use of the song. Alas, the show was not a success and was cancelled after thirteen episodes. In '93, Bertinelli would make a second attempt at a TV show starring in Café Americain. This time around, Eddie Van Halen made a guest appearance on one episode. Yet once again, the show failed aftear 18 episodes. Third time was the charm though when Bertinelli became part of the ensemble cast for the comedy Hot in Cleveland. It began in 2010 and lasted for six seasons. It won several awards along the way including an Emmy.

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"Talkin' bout a Revolution" by Tracy Chapman

Song#:  3664

Date:  10/01/1988

Debut:  90

Peak:  75

Weeks:  4

Genre:  Contemporary Folk, Singer/Songwriter

Pop Bits:  Chapman exploded on the music scene with her first single "Fast Car." The narrative folk-pop tune made it to #6 Pop/#7 AC and helped propel her self-titled debut album to #1. It was a major coup for a folk-based artist and her label tried to keep up the momentum by releasing this second single. The more political leaning tune didn't catch on as well and it stalled near the bottom of the Pop chart while reaching #22 Rock, #24 Alt Rock, #45 AC, and #78 R&B. Despite the low results, the album kept selling and by March of '89 it would be certified triple platinum. Eventually, the LP would sell over six million copies.

ReduxReview:  When it comes down to it, "Fast Car" was a bit of a fluke. Yeah, it was a great song and it ended up playing well on radio, but message-y folk pop was not common among the other sounds of the day. So following it up was going to be difficult. Same thing kind of happened with Suzanne Vega and "Luka." Neither Chapman's nor Vega's albums were geared for multiple singles and that also made follow-ups a real toss up. This second single from Chapman wasn't too bad of a choice, but it was going to be a hard sell with its political lyric content. The song had a sort of 10,000 Maniacs feel, which served it well, but in the end few folks wanted to hear it on the radio.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  In an interview with The Guardian, Chapman revealed that her debut album nearly didn't happen. After she signed on with Elektra, she was set to work with producer Alex Sadkin (Duran Duran, Simply Red, Robbie Nevil), but sadly he ended up dying in a car crash before sessions could begin. The label then assigned Chapman a low-level producer with little experience. According to Chapman the recording sessions were a mess. Unhappy with what was happening, she went to the label asking for them to do something, but they told her to just stick it out. After a second complaint that fell on deaf ears, Chapman finally told the label she was going to walk away. Eventually, the label stepped in and hooked Chapman up with producer David Kershenbaum (Joe Jackson, Duran Duran). He understood what Chapman was looking for and the pair ended up creating a Grammy-winning #1 album.

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"Spy in the House of Love" by Was(Not Was)

Song#:  3663

Date:  10/01/1988

Debut:  93

Peak:  16

Weeks:  17

Genre:  Dance-Pop, Funk

Pop Bits:  This group was formed in Detroit, Michigan, by childhood friends Don Fagenson and David Weiss. Needing a name for their collaboration, they came up with Was (Not Was) based the way Fagenson's young son would say certain things. The pair then adapted stage names based on the group name and became Don Was and David Was. Their first recording, the song "Wheel Me Out," got picked up be ZE Records and in 1980 it reached the Dance chart at #34. That result was good enough for the group to work up a self-titled debut album that came out in '81. One track, "Out Come the Freaks," got to #16 Dance while "Tell Me I'm Dreaming" would get to #3 Dance and #68 R&B. Their odd blend of genres along with beat poetry, political commentary, and rap brought attention to the group. Their second LP, '83's Born to Laugh at Tornadoes, gained them critical favor and became their first to chart at #134. Although it failed to spawn a charting single, the album became known for its unexpected guests including Ozzy Osbourne, Marshall Crenshaw, Mitch Ryder, Doug Fieger from The Knack, and crooner Mel Tormé. After a break that had them moving over to Chrysalis Records, they issued out the '87 single "Spy in the House of Love" in the UK and a few other countries. It was only able to reach #51 in the UK, but a second single did much better and that prompted the label to push for a new album and get the US involved. The group prepped their third effort What Up, Dog? and "Spy in the House of Love" was pushed out in the US later in '88. It caught on big time in clubs and made it to #1 on the Dance chart. That along with video support from MTV helped the song cross over to Pop where it made the Top 20. It also got to #77 at R&B. It was a solid start for the group, but their next single would take them even further.

ReduxReview:  I didn't really get into Was (Not Was) until later on, but I did latch on to this single. It was a mysteriously groovy tune with terrific production and a hooky chorus. It really should have made the Top 10. Years later, I happened upon the song "Zaz Turned Blue," which was on Born to Laugh at Tornadoes and was sung by Mel Tormé. It was an odd, somewhat morbid tune done in an old pop standards style and I though it was so cool. It was then that I went back and listed to the group. Born is their most interesting album and my fave, but What Up, Dog? is probably their most consistent and fun. Both are worth seeking out.

ReduxRating:  8/10

Trivia:  If the name Don Was sounds familiar, it should. While helping head up Was (Not Was), he also branched out to working for other artists, mainly as a producer. It was his work with two artists in 1989 that really took his career to the next level. He would produce a pair of comeback albums that helped each artist reach new career highs. First, he worked with Bonnie Raitt on Nick of Time. That LP would hit #1 and go on to win three Grammy awards including Album of the Year. It was the first of several LPs Was would produce for Raitt. Then he produced The B-52's Cosmic Thing, which featured the two biggest hits of their career, "Love Shack" and "Roam." Both singles would reach #3 and go gold. The album would get to #4 and sell over four million copies. After those two successes, Was became an in-demand producer. He would go on to work with artists like the Rolling Stones, Elton John, Willie Nelson, John Mayer, Neil Diamond, Ringo Starr, Bob Seger, and many others. Along the way he would win five Grammys including one for Producer of the Year in 1994.

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