Song#: 0030
Date: 02/02/1980
Debut: 92
Peak: 60
Weeks: 9
Genre: Pop, International, Electronic, Synthpop
Pop Bits: How in the world did I miss these guys? They are a Japanese group who were hugely influential in the development of electronic pop music. Taking a cue from Kraftwerk, they took their electronic sound and moved it out of the German techno toward a more melodic pop sound. Their work would go on to inspire groups like Ultravox, Human League, and a lot of other synthpop artists. At one time, they were the most popular music artist in Japan. One band member, Ryuichi Sakamoto, became a noted film score composer and won an Oscar for "The Last Emperor" in 1987. This song, which was a combo of the first two tracks on their debut album, was their only US chart entry.
ReduxReview: It's weird that with my love of synthpop I never ran across YMO. Not that I'd be blown away, but knowing their influence and impact on electronic music is something I should have known. The song itself is quirky fun at best and it probably sounded really cool back in the day. But I can hear and appreciate what they were doing and how it played a part in the development of electronic pop music.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) Their song "Behind the Mask" from their second album was covered by several artists including Michael Jackson (with addition lyrics of course). Recorded during the "Thriller" sessions, it was eventually released on the posthumous "Michael" album. 2) YMO's "Firecracker," which is the main part of the "Computer Game" single, was a source of controversy between Mariah Carey and Jennifer Lopez. Carey had commissioned the rights to use a sample in her song "Loverboy," but allegedly her ex Tommy Mottola, who had just signed Lopez, knew of its use and quickly got his own rights and used it on Lopez's "I'm Real" and got the song released before "Loverboy." Carey then had to discontinue use of the sample and it was replaced with one from Cameo's "Candy." Nasty!
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Tuesday, September 18, 2012
"Desire" by Andy Gibb
Top 10 Alert!
Song#: 0029 Date: 01/26/1980
Debut: 44
Peak: 4
Weeks: 15
Genre: Pop
Pop Bits: Andy Gibb had a short, but impressive run on the pop chart. At the time, he was the first male solo artist to have three consecutive #1 singles. He had his brothers, the Bee Gees, to thank for this as they (or Barry) had a hand in writing all of his Top 10 singles, including this one. Unfortunately, the youngest brother had issues with cocaine that sidelined his career. The years of abuse caught up with him when he passed away in 1988 from myocarditis.
ReduxReview: Most likely anything Gibb would release after four gold and one platinum singles would fly up the chart. But does it hold up to those hits? Not really. It's a good song with a mysterious groove, but it doesn't match the quality of the preceding smashes. This was Gibb's final Top 10 entry. Although it hit #4, it is the least memorable of his top hits - in fact, I don't remember hearing it back in the day (or even now, as I have this song on the Bee Gees' "Mythology" box set and still didn't realize I'd heard it there).
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: This song was originally recorded during the Bee Gees sessions for their album "Spirits Have Flown," but it was not selected for the album. Instead, they used the completed track and replaced Barry's lead vocal with Andy's and it became the first single off of Andy's final studio album, "After Dark."
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Monday, September 17, 2012
"Refugee" by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
Song#: 0028
Date: 01/26/1980
Debut: 63
Peak: 15
Weeks: 14
Genre: Rock, Arena Rock
Pop Bits: Following a legal dispute with their label, the band got back to business and released the classic album "Damn the Torpedoes," which featured the Top 10 hit "Don't Do Me Like That." This follow-up single also did well and helped to push Petty and crew into the big leagues.
ReduxReview: For some reason I was kind of oblivious to Tom Petty back in the day. I was kind of familiar with the songs, but that was about it. Years later I was thinking - why did I not latch on this to begin with! Idiot. Somewhere, somebody must have finally kicked me around some and knocked some sense into me. Such a great album with kick-ass sound.
ReduxRating: 9/10
Trivia: The album peaked at #2 and was unfortunately kept there for seven weeks thanks to another classic album hogging the top spot - Pink Floyd's "The Wall."
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Date: 01/26/1980
Debut: 63
Peak: 15
Weeks: 14
Genre: Rock, Arena Rock
Pop Bits: Following a legal dispute with their label, the band got back to business and released the classic album "Damn the Torpedoes," which featured the Top 10 hit "Don't Do Me Like That." This follow-up single also did well and helped to push Petty and crew into the big leagues.
ReduxReview: For some reason I was kind of oblivious to Tom Petty back in the day. I was kind of familiar with the songs, but that was about it. Years later I was thinking - why did I not latch on this to begin with! Idiot. Somewhere, somebody must have finally kicked me around some and knocked some sense into me. Such a great album with kick-ass sound.
ReduxRating: 9/10
Trivia: The album peaked at #2 and was unfortunately kept there for seven weeks thanks to another classic album hogging the top spot - Pink Floyd's "The Wall."
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"Three Times In Love" by Tommy James
Song#: 0027
Date: 01/26/1980
Debut: 82
Peak: 19
Weeks: 16
Genre: Pop
Pop Bits: Tommy James & the Shondells were a hot group in the 60s with major hits like "Hanky Panky" and "Crimson and Clover," but by 1970 the hits stopped and they called it a day. James soldiered on as a solo act and secured at #4 hit with "Draggin' the Line" in 1971. His second biggest solo hit was this one that just made it into the Top 20.
ReduxReview: This was one of those breezy, So-Cal easy rock-country songs that were still hitting the chart. It's a nice enough song, but really quite ordinary. When compared to the Shondell hits or even "Draggin' the Line," this song gets lost.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: The original Shondells broke up soon after their initial recording of "Hanky Panky" only got local attention and nothing more. Later on in 1965 the record was unearthed by a Pittsburgh promoter who had it played at dance parties and on the radio. Black market copies sold all over and the Shondells were in demand. Unfortunately, Tommy James was the sole member left and when he failed to get the rest of the original band together, he quickly hired a local Pittsburgh band, The Raconteurs, to be the new Shondells. They signed to Roulette Records and their hit streak began.
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Date: 01/26/1980
Debut: 82
Peak: 19
Weeks: 16
Genre: Pop
Pop Bits: Tommy James & the Shondells were a hot group in the 60s with major hits like "Hanky Panky" and "Crimson and Clover," but by 1970 the hits stopped and they called it a day. James soldiered on as a solo act and secured at #4 hit with "Draggin' the Line" in 1971. His second biggest solo hit was this one that just made it into the Top 20.
ReduxReview: This was one of those breezy, So-Cal easy rock-country songs that were still hitting the chart. It's a nice enough song, but really quite ordinary. When compared to the Shondell hits or even "Draggin' the Line," this song gets lost.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: The original Shondells broke up soon after their initial recording of "Hanky Panky" only got local attention and nothing more. Later on in 1965 the record was unearthed by a Pittsburgh promoter who had it played at dance parties and on the radio. Black market copies sold all over and the Shondells were in demand. Unfortunately, Tommy James was the sole member left and when he failed to get the rest of the original band together, he quickly hired a local Pittsburgh band, The Raconteurs, to be the new Shondells. They signed to Roulette Records and their hit streak began.
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"Haven't You Heard" by Patrice Rushen
Song#: 0026
Date: 01/26/1980
Debut: 86
Peak: 42
Weeks: 9
Genre: R&B, Soul, Funk
Pop Bits: Before signing with Elektra in 1977, Rushen was an in-demend session player and had already released three successful jazz albums. Her first release for the label, "Patrice," took her in an R&B/pop direction and the reaction from jazz folks was pretty harsh. Despite the criticism, the album hit #5 on the jazz chart and she gained a new audience via a couple R&B hits. The next album, "Pizzazz," did even better as this song cracked the R&B Top 10 and dented the pop chart.
ReduxReview: A slick groove featuring some great string lines opens this shimmering tune. It gets a bit monotonous after awhile (I'm sure the single version gets the point across in shorter time), but it is pleasant enough and would make good background music at a hipster bar.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) Rushen was the pianist in the jazz trio featured in Sandra Bernhard's film "Without You I'm Nothing." 2) Kirk Franklin sampled "Haven't You Heard" in his 2005 Gospel and R&B hit "Looking for You."
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Date: 01/26/1980
Debut: 86
Peak: 42
Weeks: 9
Genre: R&B, Soul, Funk
Pop Bits: Before signing with Elektra in 1977, Rushen was an in-demend session player and had already released three successful jazz albums. Her first release for the label, "Patrice," took her in an R&B/pop direction and the reaction from jazz folks was pretty harsh. Despite the criticism, the album hit #5 on the jazz chart and she gained a new audience via a couple R&B hits. The next album, "Pizzazz," did even better as this song cracked the R&B Top 10 and dented the pop chart.
ReduxReview: A slick groove featuring some great string lines opens this shimmering tune. It gets a bit monotonous after awhile (I'm sure the single version gets the point across in shorter time), but it is pleasant enough and would make good background music at a hipster bar.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) Rushen was the pianist in the jazz trio featured in Sandra Bernhard's film "Without You I'm Nothing." 2) Kirk Franklin sampled "Haven't You Heard" in his 2005 Gospel and R&B hit "Looking for You."
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