Song#: 0122
Date: 04/05/1980
Debut: 81
Peak: 42
Weeks: 8
Genre: Pop, Country Crossover, Adult Contemporary
Pop Bits: Anne Murray became an unexpected trailblazer when her first single "Snowbird" became the first single by a female Canadian artist to achieve gold status in the US. In 1978 she also became the first to hit #1 with her song "You Needed Me." With her unmistakable alto, Murray had great success on the US pop and country charts with her sound that straddled both genres. She has won four Grammy awards and a record-setting twenty-four Juno awards (the Canadian version of the Grammys). She was just coming off of a remake of the Monkees "Daydream Believer" (#12 - her last pop Top 20) when this single was release. Although its lack of pop reception ended up being the start of her declining popularity on the pop chart, she would continue to have success on the country charts with six more #1's still ahead of her.
ReduxReview: I've never been a big fan of Anne Murray. I love her voice - you can detect it anywhere you hear it - but I was never in love with a lot of her material. She had some terrific singles in the 70s, but when the 80s arrived it seemed she was trying to pick songs that kept her on the pop chart and move along with the times. It didn't work. This is a very lackluster AC song and one that I wouldn't even think of as single-worthy.
ReduxRating: 4/10
Trivia: Anne Murray got some hip publicity in 1999 when she was referenced in the song "Blame Canada" from the animated film "South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut." The line states "Blame Canada! With all their hockey hullabaloo, and that bitch Anne Murray too!" The song was nominated for an Academy Award and was sung on the telecast by Robin Williams. Murray stated that she was not offended by the reference. She was invited to participate in the Oscar performance, but a scheduling conflict prevented her from appearing.
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Tuesday, November 6, 2012
"When the Feeling Comes Around" by Jennifer Warnes
Song#: 0121
Date: 04/05/1980
Debut: 83
Peak: 45
Weeks: 6
Genre: Pop, Adult Contemporary
Pop Bits: Warnes had a breakthrough hit in 1977 with the #6 "Right Time of the Night" from her self-titled album. Although her follow-up album "Shot Through the Heart" couldn't produce another pop Top 10 hit, the first single "I Know a Heartache When I See One" did peak at #10 on the country chart (and #19 pop). This song was the third single released from the album. After this album, Warnes didn't record another solo disc for eight years. But in between and around that time she became the queen of soundtrack songs contributing to at least seven soundtracks in the 80s, some with great chart success.
ReduxReview: This is a pleasant enough song that would fit nicely alongside a Jimmy Buffett tune in a Key West bar. Warnes is a terrific singer and a wonderful interpreter of song, but sometimes she didn't pick the strongest of songs. With the right material, she soars. But when she sings slight material like this, it's forgettable.
ReduxRating: 4/10
Trivia: Warnes became close friends with Leonard Cohen in 1971. She has contributed vocals to six of his albums and has been on tour with him. In 1987 after her long hiatus, she recorded a disc of Cohen compositions that she interpreted. "Famous Blue Raincoat" won rave reviews and has since become a favorite of audiophiles.
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Date: 04/05/1980
Debut: 83
Peak: 45
Weeks: 6
Genre: Pop, Adult Contemporary
Pop Bits: Warnes had a breakthrough hit in 1977 with the #6 "Right Time of the Night" from her self-titled album. Although her follow-up album "Shot Through the Heart" couldn't produce another pop Top 10 hit, the first single "I Know a Heartache When I See One" did peak at #10 on the country chart (and #19 pop). This song was the third single released from the album. After this album, Warnes didn't record another solo disc for eight years. But in between and around that time she became the queen of soundtrack songs contributing to at least seven soundtracks in the 80s, some with great chart success.
ReduxReview: This is a pleasant enough song that would fit nicely alongside a Jimmy Buffett tune in a Key West bar. Warnes is a terrific singer and a wonderful interpreter of song, but sometimes she didn't pick the strongest of songs. With the right material, she soars. But when she sings slight material like this, it's forgettable.
ReduxRating: 4/10
Trivia: Warnes became close friends with Leonard Cohen in 1971. She has contributed vocals to six of his albums and has been on tour with him. In 1987 after her long hiatus, she recorded a disc of Cohen compositions that she interpreted. "Famous Blue Raincoat" won rave reviews and has since become a favorite of audiophiles.
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Monday, November 5, 2012
"White Hot" by Red Rider
Song#: 00120
Date: 04/05/1980
Debut: 83
Peak: 48
Weeks: 7
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: Red Rider were very popular in their homeland of Canada and it seemed like their fortunes would crossover to the US, but besides this debut single and another chart song a few years later, the US pretty much ignored the group. However, their second album produced the song "Lunatic Fringe" which ended up getting lots of AOR airplay and is probably their best known song here even though it never hit the pop chart.
ReduxReview: With a title like "White Hot" I was expecting a blazing rock tune. But from the mysterious opening to the shuffling beat, it was more like a mix of Alan Parsons Project and Little River Band. I like the opening a lot and thought it was going to lead to something more intense, but I was a bit let down by the actual song. It is a pleasant listen, but not outstanding.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: The group would remain together for almost a decade before finally calling it a day in 1989. At that time the band's leader Tom Cochrane set out on a solo career and had even more success in Canada than Red Rider did. He also landed his sole US Top 10 hit in 1991 with "Life Is a Highway."
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Date: 04/05/1980
Debut: 83
Peak: 48
Weeks: 7
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: Red Rider were very popular in their homeland of Canada and it seemed like their fortunes would crossover to the US, but besides this debut single and another chart song a few years later, the US pretty much ignored the group. However, their second album produced the song "Lunatic Fringe" which ended up getting lots of AOR airplay and is probably their best known song here even though it never hit the pop chart.
ReduxReview: With a title like "White Hot" I was expecting a blazing rock tune. But from the mysterious opening to the shuffling beat, it was more like a mix of Alan Parsons Project and Little River Band. I like the opening a lot and thought it was going to lead to something more intense, but I was a bit let down by the actual song. It is a pleasant listen, but not outstanding.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: The group would remain together for almost a decade before finally calling it a day in 1989. At that time the band's leader Tom Cochrane set out on a solo career and had even more success in Canada than Red Rider did. He also landed his sole US Top 10 hit in 1991 with "Life Is a Highway."
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"The Good Lord Loves You" by Neil Diamond
Song#: 0119
Date: 04/05/1980
Debut: 85
Peak: 67
Weeks: 6
Genre: Pop, Adult Contemporary
Pop Bits: From 1966 through the 70s, Diamond had 56 chart songs but only 13 would get to the Top 10. Some of his songs are so familiar that you'd expect them to be Top 10 hits, but many were not. Songs like "Solitary Man," "If You Know What I Mean," "Desiree," and the title track to his 1979 album "September Morn'" all peaked out of the Top 10. His track record is not a shabby at all, but the legacy of some of his songs might make one believe he had many more. The big AC ballad "September Morn'" was just coming off the chart when this second single was released.
ReduxReview: First, let me say that Diamond is awesome and when he connected, he hit that mutha out o' da park. However, when he cut a nasty one you could smell it from here to the sweet Carolinas. The whole "September Morn'" album is just bizarre. It features oddball remakes like "Stagger Lee," a weird "Golden Years" take on "Dancing in the Street," and a calypso-like version of his own "I'm a Believer." Then a pseudo-jazz tune with "Jazz Time," and this truly odd contemporary Christian song - something that doesn't seem to fit Diamond at all. It is one of the few chart songs Diamond did not write, which seems logical in this case. The music and arrangement are actually quite good and fit Diamond like a glove. But the lyrics are so out of place here and I just don't get it. At least the album had one certified Diamond classic with the title track. Other than that, this was a train wreck of an album.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: Yes, if you don't know by now, Diamond wrote "I'm a Believer," made famous by the Monkees. He also contributed "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You" and "Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)" to them as well. Diamond actually wrote and recorded these himself before the Monkees did with intent on releasing them, but the Monkees' versions hit the streets first.
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Date: 04/05/1980
Debut: 85
Peak: 67
Weeks: 6
Genre: Pop, Adult Contemporary
Pop Bits: From 1966 through the 70s, Diamond had 56 chart songs but only 13 would get to the Top 10. Some of his songs are so familiar that you'd expect them to be Top 10 hits, but many were not. Songs like "Solitary Man," "If You Know What I Mean," "Desiree," and the title track to his 1979 album "September Morn'" all peaked out of the Top 10. His track record is not a shabby at all, but the legacy of some of his songs might make one believe he had many more. The big AC ballad "September Morn'" was just coming off the chart when this second single was released.
ReduxReview: First, let me say that Diamond is awesome and when he connected, he hit that mutha out o' da park. However, when he cut a nasty one you could smell it from here to the sweet Carolinas. The whole "September Morn'" album is just bizarre. It features oddball remakes like "Stagger Lee," a weird "Golden Years" take on "Dancing in the Street," and a calypso-like version of his own "I'm a Believer." Then a pseudo-jazz tune with "Jazz Time," and this truly odd contemporary Christian song - something that doesn't seem to fit Diamond at all. It is one of the few chart songs Diamond did not write, which seems logical in this case. The music and arrangement are actually quite good and fit Diamond like a glove. But the lyrics are so out of place here and I just don't get it. At least the album had one certified Diamond classic with the title track. Other than that, this was a train wreck of an album.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: Yes, if you don't know by now, Diamond wrote "I'm a Believer," made famous by the Monkees. He also contributed "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You" and "Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)" to them as well. Diamond actually wrote and recorded these himself before the Monkees did with intent on releasing them, but the Monkees' versions hit the streets first.
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Sunday, November 4, 2012
"We Live for Love" by Pat Benatar
Song#: 0118
Date: 04/05/1980
Debut: 88
Peak: 27
Weeks: 14
Genre: Rock, New Wave
Pop Bits: Benatar's debut album "In the Heat of the Night" was released in 1979 and got off to a slow start. The first two singles from the album went nowhere, but the third single finally clicked as the hard-rockin' "Heartbreaker" became her first pop hit peaking at #23. This second single did similarly well and it boosted her album to a #12 peak, eventually going platinum.
ReduxReview: Anthematic and driving, Benatar proved she could easily step into Debbie Harry's high heels and stomp around in the new wave arena. If you heard this on the radio back in the day like I did, that high chorus just grabbed your attention. It didn't take me long to become a fan.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) This song was written by Neil Giraldo, the lead guitarist in Benatar's band. The pair continued to write/produce/work together and eventually got married in 1982. 2) Benatar had some interesting covers on her debut album. In addition to her take on John Mellencamp's "I Need a Lover," the album also had a cover of Nick Gilder's "Rated 'X'" and the Alan Parson's Project's "Don't Let It Show." The album's producer Mike Chapman also grabbed two songs he and his writing partner Nicky Chinn did for the group Smokie and one they wrote for Sweet.
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Date: 04/05/1980
Debut: 88
Peak: 27
Weeks: 14
Genre: Rock, New Wave
Pop Bits: Benatar's debut album "In the Heat of the Night" was released in 1979 and got off to a slow start. The first two singles from the album went nowhere, but the third single finally clicked as the hard-rockin' "Heartbreaker" became her first pop hit peaking at #23. This second single did similarly well and it boosted her album to a #12 peak, eventually going platinum.
ReduxReview: Anthematic and driving, Benatar proved she could easily step into Debbie Harry's high heels and stomp around in the new wave arena. If you heard this on the radio back in the day like I did, that high chorus just grabbed your attention. It didn't take me long to become a fan.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) This song was written by Neil Giraldo, the lead guitarist in Benatar's band. The pair continued to write/produce/work together and eventually got married in 1982. 2) Benatar had some interesting covers on her debut album. In addition to her take on John Mellencamp's "I Need a Lover," the album also had a cover of Nick Gilder's "Rated 'X'" and the Alan Parson's Project's "Don't Let It Show." The album's producer Mike Chapman also grabbed two songs he and his writing partner Nicky Chinn did for the group Smokie and one they wrote for Sweet.
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