Song#: 0077
Date: 03/08/1980
Debut: 97
Peak: 86
Weeks: 5
Genre: Pop, Adult Contemporary
Pop Bits: Although she only had two Top 10 hits, DeShannon was a popular and prolific songwriter and performer throughout the 60s and 70s. Her biggest solo hit was the #4 "Put a Little Love in Your Heart," which she co-wrote. It has been remade by many artists and the song hit the Top 10 again in 1989 as a duet by Annie Lennox and Al Green. Her first Top 10 hit was "What the World Needs Now Is Love" written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Bacharach and Paul Anka collaborated on the score to the 1979 film "Together?" starring Jacqueline Bisset and enlisted DeShannon to sing this song. The film flopped and the soundtrack and song unfortunately followed. This ended up being DeShannon's last chart single.
ReduxReview: As a Bacharach fan, I can say that this has all the earmarks of a typical Bacharach composition of the 70s era: playing with the time signature, end phrases that get stretched out and sequences of one-note-per-beat melody. If you have ever heard the Bacharach/Elvis Costello duet album "Painted from Memory," then this song's feel will probably sound familiar as it has that same Bacharach style. However, this song is just not as engaging and with nary a discernible hook, it is not surprising it only scratched the chart.
ReduxRating: 4/10
Trivia: If you don't know this by now, you should. DeShannon co-wrote a song with Donna Weiss that appeared on DeShannon's 1975 album "New Arrangement." The album was not a hit, but 6 years later their song collaboration (which was arranged like a saloon song) would go on to win two Grammys and become one of the biggest hits of the 80s..."Bette Davis Eyes" by Kim Carnes.
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Tuesday, October 9, 2012
"Hold On To My Love" by Jimmy Ruffin
Top 10 Alert!
Song#: 0076 Date: 03/01/1980
Debut: 63
Peak: 10
Weeks: 14
Genre: R&B, Pop
Pop Bits: Jimmy Ruffin was supposed to be in the Temptations when they lost a member, but the label heard his brother David and gave the job to him. Jimmy went on to pursue a solo career and had a major hit with "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" in 1966. But he had little solo success in the US beyond that. However, in the UK he had better luck and he recorded more specifically for that market having several Top 10 hits. His only other US Top 10 was this song, which ended up being his last chart entry.
ReduxReview: This is a good, upbeat comeback song - kind of like when Donna Summer updated her sound and came out with "This Time I Know It's for Real." It is danceable and well-sung, but nothing outstanding. It is one of the few 80s Top 10 hits that I had never heard before.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: Barry Gibb was not the only Gibb brother who could write and produce hits for other artists. Brother Robin co-produced Ruffin's "Sunrise" album and co-wrote this hit.
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Monday, October 8, 2012
"Any Way You Want It" by Journey
Song#: 0075
Date: 03/01/1980
Debut: 75
Peak: 23
Weeks: 15
Genre: Rock, Arena Rock
Pop Bits: Less than a year after their last album "Evolution," Journey pushed out their first Top 10 album with "Departure." This lead single would be their second highest peaking song at that time, but it is one of those songs that seemed like it was a bigger hit - like several of the early Journey songs. Rock radio was all over it, but pop radio was still not fully embracing heavier rock so many rock songs from the 70s and into the 80s had a hard time climbing the chart. That would soon change and Journey would finally reap the rewards.
ReduxReview: Any way I want it? Just like this will be fine, thank you.
ReduxRating: 8/10
Trivia: Journey certainly should have made a mint off of this song. It has been used in many commercials, TV shows, and movies (including "Caddyshack"). Most recently it was used in the Broadway musical (and film) "Rock of Ages."
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Date: 03/01/1980
Debut: 75
Peak: 23
Weeks: 15
Genre: Rock, Arena Rock
Pop Bits: Less than a year after their last album "Evolution," Journey pushed out their first Top 10 album with "Departure." This lead single would be their second highest peaking song at that time, but it is one of those songs that seemed like it was a bigger hit - like several of the early Journey songs. Rock radio was all over it, but pop radio was still not fully embracing heavier rock so many rock songs from the 70s and into the 80s had a hard time climbing the chart. That would soon change and Journey would finally reap the rewards.
ReduxReview: Any way I want it? Just like this will be fine, thank you.
ReduxRating: 8/10
Trivia: Journey certainly should have made a mint off of this song. It has been used in many commercials, TV shows, and movies (including "Caddyshack"). Most recently it was used in the Broadway musical (and film) "Rock of Ages."
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"Outside My Window" by Stevie Wonder
Song#: 0074
Date: 03/01/1980
Debut: 77
Peak: 52
Weeks: 7
Genre: R&B, Pop, Soundtrack
Pop Bits: After Wonder's magnum opus "Songs In the Key of Life," he didn't record for three years. During that time he collaborated on a film project where he would provide the music to the documentary "The Secret Life of Plants." The film was not a big success but soundtrack was pushed out as the official follow-up to "Songs." A large part of the album was instrumental and sections were timed with sequences in the film. Wonder used a lot of interesting sounds courtesy of a digital sampling item called the Computer Music Melodian. All of this along with lyrics that were to reflect the subject matter made for one of the most bizarre major releases in pop. The album did okay by making it to #4 on the chart and it did spawn a #4 song in "Send One Your Love," but it was not what fans were looking for after the massive "Songs." This song is the follow-up single.
ReduxReview: This is a strange album. I can appreciate it and the significance of how it was created, but overall it's nothing I'd listen to a second time. This minor shuffly tune is pretty slight and that "psweep" sound on the 2 and 4 is really annoying. For me, Wonder can run really hot or ice cold. I wouldn't really call this ice cold, but it is a little chilly and I'm just not a fan when he does these saccharine AC tunes.
ReduxRating: 4/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) When released, the original LP had some braille included and when opened it emitted a flowery scent. 2) Wonder originally wrote the song "Overjoyed" for this project but it was left off the album. He resurrected it in 1985 and it became a minor hit.
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Date: 03/01/1980
Debut: 77
Peak: 52
Weeks: 7
Genre: R&B, Pop, Soundtrack
Pop Bits: After Wonder's magnum opus "Songs In the Key of Life," he didn't record for three years. During that time he collaborated on a film project where he would provide the music to the documentary "The Secret Life of Plants." The film was not a big success but soundtrack was pushed out as the official follow-up to "Songs." A large part of the album was instrumental and sections were timed with sequences in the film. Wonder used a lot of interesting sounds courtesy of a digital sampling item called the Computer Music Melodian. All of this along with lyrics that were to reflect the subject matter made for one of the most bizarre major releases in pop. The album did okay by making it to #4 on the chart and it did spawn a #4 song in "Send One Your Love," but it was not what fans were looking for after the massive "Songs." This song is the follow-up single.
ReduxReview: This is a strange album. I can appreciate it and the significance of how it was created, but overall it's nothing I'd listen to a second time. This minor shuffly tune is pretty slight and that "psweep" sound on the 2 and 4 is really annoying. For me, Wonder can run really hot or ice cold. I wouldn't really call this ice cold, but it is a little chilly and I'm just not a fan when he does these saccharine AC tunes.
ReduxRating: 4/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) When released, the original LP had some braille included and when opened it emitted a flowery scent. 2) Wonder originally wrote the song "Overjoyed" for this project but it was left off the album. He resurrected it in 1985 and it became a minor hit.
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Sunday, October 7, 2012
"Baby Don't Go" by Karla Bonoff
Song#: 0073
Date: 03/01/1980
Debut: 80
Peak: 69
Weeks: 7
Genre: Pop
Pop Bits: Karla Bonoff is one of those artists that became more successful as songwriter than as a recording artist. She did have some minor success on the charts and a couple of her albums did well by cracking the Top 50, but primarily she is known for writing songs recorded by other artists. This song is from her second solo album "Restless Nights."
ReduxReview: Bonoff is a solid songwriter and this is a pretty good track. I can hear Linda Ronstadt knocking this one out over lunch. It's a nice song but doesn't have a lot of power behind it to really be a high charting song. But if you like this, I do suggest digging into her back catalog. She has stronger songs than this one on her albums.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: Early in her career she was a backing vocalist for Linda Ronstadt. Eventually, three of Bonoff's songs would end up on Ronstadt's "Hasten Down the Wind" album in 1976.
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Date: 03/01/1980
Debut: 80
Peak: 69
Weeks: 7
Genre: Pop
Pop Bits: Karla Bonoff is one of those artists that became more successful as songwriter than as a recording artist. She did have some minor success on the charts and a couple of her albums did well by cracking the Top 50, but primarily she is known for writing songs recorded by other artists. This song is from her second solo album "Restless Nights."
ReduxReview: Bonoff is a solid songwriter and this is a pretty good track. I can hear Linda Ronstadt knocking this one out over lunch. It's a nice song but doesn't have a lot of power behind it to really be a high charting song. But if you like this, I do suggest digging into her back catalog. She has stronger songs than this one on her albums.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: Early in her career she was a backing vocalist for Linda Ronstadt. Eventually, three of Bonoff's songs would end up on Ronstadt's "Hasten Down the Wind" album in 1976.
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