"Woman In Love" by Barbra Streisand

#1 Alert!

Gold Record Alert!

Rated 10 Alert!

Song#:  0326
Date:  09/06/1980
Debut:  49
Peak:  1 (3 weeks)
Weeks:  24
Genre:  Pop, Adult Contemporary



Pop Bits:  People tend to recognize Streisand by her specific songs and don't necessarily think of her as an album artist. From her debut chart single in 1964 through the next ten years, she only had two Top 10 hits - "People" (#5) and "The Way We Were" (#1). But currently she holds the record for most #1 albums by a female artist (9), most Top 10 albums (32), and most chart albums (57). Her best streak of singles began in 1976 with the #1 "Evergreen" and lasted through the singles from her biggest selling album, 1980's "Guilty." She amassed eight Top 10 hits in that time including four #1's. This first single from that album became her fifth and last #1 and received Grammy nominations for Record of the Year and Pop Female Vocalist.

ReduxReview:  Oh, La Streisand! Welcome to the 80s! Yes, I know it is stereotypical for a person of my "persuasion" to love Babs, but I can't help it. I mean, c'mon? You've heard her sing, right? You can keep your Judy and Liza - I'm on the Barbra bandwagon! I remember when this song came out. I heard it on the radio and was wow'd. Went right to the record store and got the single. Although I'm sure my parents were not thrilled I was in my room singing "I am a woman in love," this magical pairing of Streisand and Barry Gibb was just too hard to resist. She has had some terrific singles, but for me this has to be the top one. Just brilliant. Sorry - gotta score it like I hears it...

ReduxRating:  10/10

Trivia:  Unless you live under a non-musical rock you should know this. After their mega-success, the BeeGees took a little time to do other projects. Streisand asked Barry Gibb to write songs for her album. He not only did that, but co-produced the album and sang two duets with her. The album ended up more of a collaboration of the two artists and that was kind of summed up with "Guilty's" album cover that featured the two of them. The pair revisited their collaborative time together in 2005 and came out with a sequel called "Guilty Pleasures," which peaked at #5 on the album chart.

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"On the Road Again" by Willie Nelson

Grammy Alert!

Song#:  0325
Date:  09/06/1980
Debut:  78
Peak:  20
Weeks:  20
Genre:  Country



Pop Bits:  Nelson began his acting career with a part in 1979's "The Electric Horseman." That soundtrack featured his previous pop chart entry "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" (#44). Riding directly on the back of that film came his first as a lead character. "Honeysuckle Rose" told the tale of a singer struggling to find fame and dealing with all the issues that come with his family, band, and touring. The main song from the film and soundtrack was this single which ended up being his best charting pop song at the time (and another #1 country hit). The film, while not a huge hit, fared okay at the box office despite middling reviews.

ReduxReview:  This song is just so recognizable, comfortable, and dang catchy. Really, how many times have you gone on a road trip (or any trip) and you or someone had started singing "on the road again...just can't wait to get on the road again...?" If you ever do, you have Mr. Nelson to thank for that!

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  Double Shot!  1) This song won a 1981 Grammy for Best Country & Western Song. Nelson was also nominated for Best Country & Western Vocal Performance, Male. The song vied for the Best Original Song at the Oscars as well.  2) Although the movie was not too bad, apparently actress Amy Irving was. She received the Razzie award for Worst Supporting Actress for the film.

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"Touch and Go" by The Cars

Song#:  0324
Date:  09/06/1980
Debut:  80
Peak:  37
Weeks:  11
Genre:  New Wave, Rock



Pop Bits:  Boston's The Cars enjoyed immediate success with their first two albums. Their blend of new wave, pop and rock sounded great on the airwaves and their first five chart songs (with "Let's Go" the highest peaking at #14) lead to the albums going platinum. For their third album "Panorama," the group moved away from their instantly catchy songs to ones a bit more dark and experimental. Their built-in fan base put the album in the Top 10 and this single on the chart, but it was nowhere near as successful as their first two discs. They would return to form the following year and begin moving towards the peak of their popularity.

ReduxReview:  The Cars is one of those groups I should totally love - but I don't. Their 80s new wave pop/rock seems to fit in with everything else I like. However, they just run hot and cold for me. For every terrific song like "Just What I Needed" there is...well...something like this song. It just does not work and is not a good single. Eventually I did come to appreciate their major songs and I like to toss on their hits disc once in a while, but that's about as far as I can go with them.

ReduxRating:  4/10

Trivia:  Band members Ric Ocasek and Benjamin Orr formed the trio Milkwood in the early 70s with Jas Goodkind. The group got a deal with Paramount Records and released one album in 1973 called "How's the Weather?" The music was a far cry from the new wave of The Cars. They were more like disciples of Crosby, Stills and Nash with an acoustic folk-rock sound that featured lots of harmonies. The album tanked, but Ocasek and Orr moved on to rock 'n' roll and hit big with The Cars. (Tracks from the Milkwood album are on YouTube - check it out. It's hard to hear how "Shake It Up" came out of these beginnings...)

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"Could I Have This Dance" by Anne Murray

Grammy Alert!

Song#:  0323
Date:  09/06/1980
Debut:  81
Peak:  33
Weeks:  14
Genre:  Country



Pop Bits:  This song was the sixth and final single lifted from the double-LP soundtrack to Urban Cowboy. Although it only made the pop Top 40, it was Murray's fifth country #1 and reached #3 on the AC chart. The song also won a Grammy for Murray for Best Country and Western Vocal Performance, Female.

ReduxReview:  I may have mentioned previously that country waltzes and me don't really get along. That 1-2-3 clomping is usually accompanied by some sad, screamy pedal steel guitar and it just grates my nerves. However, I will say that it is hard to not like something Murray is singing. Her voice is so pretty and comforting. And this song is not as bad as a lot of others. Overall, it is still nothing I'd put in my rotation, but I'll give props to Murray for making me want to listen.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  Murray's debut album was 1968's "What About Me," originally only released in Canada. The title track, written by Scott McKenzie of "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers In Your Hair)" fame (#4, 1967), got some action on Canadian radio upon release but failed to chart. After becoming a star there and in the US, Murray released the 1973 album "Danny's Song," which featured the #7 title track. The album's first side had studio recordings while the second side featured live performances. The album's second single was the live version of "What About Me," which hit #64 pop, #20 country (and #2 Canadian country).

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"Turn It On Again" by Genesis

Song#:  0322
Date:  09/06/1980
Debut:  84
Peak:  58
Weeks:  8
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  Genesis just had their first real success in the US when "Misunderstanding" hit #14. This follow-up single from their album "Duke" made it close to halfway up the chart, but it quickly became a concert staple for them, in addition to becoming their second UK Top 10 hit.

ReduxReview:  This song about a guy obsessed with watching TV and the people on the screen is one of my favorite Genesis tracks. It is terrific songwriting and a very exciting song. I've never seen Genesis in concert, but I can understand how this would be a terrific live tune.

ReduxRating:  8/10

Trivia:  Genesis has had much greater chart success with their albums in their UK homeland. Their previous five albums all went Top 10. "Duke" became their first to hit #1 in the UK. In the US it became their best charting effort at the time when it peaked at #11.

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