Song#: 0372
Date: 10/18/1980
Debut: 82
Peak: 65
Weeks: 6
Genre: Rock, Pop
Pop Bits: The first two singles from Money's third album "Playing for Keeps," were not racing up the chart and this third one didn't do anything to reverse the trend. This time he had some help with vocalist Valerie Carter (James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Christopher Cross), but it wasn't really enough to lift this song into the upper reaches of the chart.
ReduxReview: I love Valerie Carter and I think she sounds great and melds well with Money. But the mid-tempo ballad just doesn't grab you with anything significant. It is just alright and nothing that would make me want to run out and buy it. Kind of unremarkable and unmemorable.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: I posted about Valerie Carter earlier as she seemed to be the subject of the Jackson Browne song "That Girl Could Sing." So if you missed it, look that song up on here as I posted a solo song from Carter on that entry. She was an in-demand session singer and did other duets as well such as the song "Spinning" on Christopher Cross' debut album.
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Tuesday, May 14, 2013
"Running Back" by Eddie Money
Song#: 0371
Date: 09/13/1980
Debut: 89
Peak: 78
Weeks: 4
Genre: Rock, Reggae
Note: Oops Alert! I don't know how I can do this, but I missed an entry along the way. Somehow I thought I had covered this, but I didn't. So this is a catch-up song that should have been posted with the 9/13/80 chart entries.
Pop Bits: Brooklyn-born rocker Money started his recording career off pretty well with two significant rock radio songs from his self-titled debut from 1978. "Baby Hold On" (#11) and "Two Tickets to Paradise" (#22) helped his album reach #37 and go platinum. His follow-up album also reach platinum status, but only "Maybe I'm a Fool" reached the Top 40 (#22). His third album "Playing for Keeps" started off sluggish with the #46 single "Get a Move On," and from there is was kind of downhill. This second single could barely get a foothold on the chart and the lack of singles support pretty much sunk the album and it didn't even reach gold status. However, his best successes were still yet to come.
ReduxReview: This reggae shuffle seems like an odd fit for Money. I've really only just heard straight-ahead rockers from him, so this is a little unusual. I can't say that it is bad and I appreciate him experimenting with other genre sounds, but I don't think it makes for a very good single.
ReduxRating: 4/10
Trivia: Money's grandfather, father, and brother were all NYPD cops. Money also followed the family business and went into police training for a couple of years. But his love of music pushed him to quit the force and make a move to California to pursue music full-time.
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Date: 09/13/1980
Debut: 89
Peak: 78
Weeks: 4
Genre: Rock, Reggae
Note: Oops Alert! I don't know how I can do this, but I missed an entry along the way. Somehow I thought I had covered this, but I didn't. So this is a catch-up song that should have been posted with the 9/13/80 chart entries.
Pop Bits: Brooklyn-born rocker Money started his recording career off pretty well with two significant rock radio songs from his self-titled debut from 1978. "Baby Hold On" (#11) and "Two Tickets to Paradise" (#22) helped his album reach #37 and go platinum. His follow-up album also reach platinum status, but only "Maybe I'm a Fool" reached the Top 40 (#22). His third album "Playing for Keeps" started off sluggish with the #46 single "Get a Move On," and from there is was kind of downhill. This second single could barely get a foothold on the chart and the lack of singles support pretty much sunk the album and it didn't even reach gold status. However, his best successes were still yet to come.
ReduxReview: This reggae shuffle seems like an odd fit for Money. I've really only just heard straight-ahead rockers from him, so this is a little unusual. I can't say that it is bad and I appreciate him experimenting with other genre sounds, but I don't think it makes for a very good single.
ReduxRating: 4/10
Trivia: Money's grandfather, father, and brother were all NYPD cops. Money also followed the family business and went into police training for a couple of years. But his love of music pushed him to quit the force and make a move to California to pursue music full-time.
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Monday, May 13, 2013
"Private Idaho" by The B-52's
Song#: 0370
Date: 10/18/1980
Debut: 85
Peak: 74
Weeks: 5
Genre: Rock, New Wave
Pop Bits: The quirky, retro, new wave of the B-52's self-titled debut with it's #56 party song "Rock Lobster" was certainly a bit of a sensation when it came out. I'm sure many questioned whether or not the group could maintain such a sound and unique identity. Then this song hit the airwaves and their follow-up album, "Wild Planet," came out. Although it was not as critically well-received as their debut, the album showed that the B's could move forward and not be a one-trick pony band. With a punchier and tighter sound, the album proved to be a success and hit #18 on the album chart and went gold. This song, in combination with two others from the album, ended up being a hit on the dance chart where the mix peaked at #5.
ReduxReview: Whereas their first album had a new wave jam feel to it, this song came out of the gate like a full-fledged rock tune. Once the opening guitar licks and the girls' first "woo-woo's" hit, I was hooked. Although it can't quite make it into the classic category where "Rock Lobster" resides, it comes pretty darn close. I still don't think pop radio knew what to do with this song because it should have been a bigger hit.
ReduxRating: 8/10
Trivia: This song was the inspiration for the title of the 1991 Gus Van Sant movie "My Own Private Idaho" starring River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves. The song, however, is not used in the film.
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Date: 10/18/1980
Debut: 85
Peak: 74
Weeks: 5
Genre: Rock, New Wave
Pop Bits: The quirky, retro, new wave of the B-52's self-titled debut with it's #56 party song "Rock Lobster" was certainly a bit of a sensation when it came out. I'm sure many questioned whether or not the group could maintain such a sound and unique identity. Then this song hit the airwaves and their follow-up album, "Wild Planet," came out. Although it was not as critically well-received as their debut, the album showed that the B's could move forward and not be a one-trick pony band. With a punchier and tighter sound, the album proved to be a success and hit #18 on the album chart and went gold. This song, in combination with two others from the album, ended up being a hit on the dance chart where the mix peaked at #5.
ReduxReview: Whereas their first album had a new wave jam feel to it, this song came out of the gate like a full-fledged rock tune. Once the opening guitar licks and the girls' first "woo-woo's" hit, I was hooked. Although it can't quite make it into the classic category where "Rock Lobster" resides, it comes pretty darn close. I still don't think pop radio knew what to do with this song because it should have been a bigger hit.
ReduxRating: 8/10
Trivia: This song was the inspiration for the title of the 1991 Gus Van Sant movie "My Own Private Idaho" starring River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves. The song, however, is not used in the film.
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"Texas in My Rear View Mirror" by Mac Davis
Song#: 0369
Date: 10/18/1980
Debut: 87
Peak: 51
Weeks: 9
Genre: Country Crossover
Pop Bits: Davis followed up his novelty song "It's Hard to Be Humble" (#43 pop, #10 country) with a second album for Casablanca and this title track was the first single issued. Even though it was a middling song on the pop chart, it became his third consecutive country Top 10 reaching #9. His next single from the album, "Hooked on Music," became his biggest country hit going to #2, but unfortunately it would not reach the pop chart.
ReduxReview: Even though he can get a bit hokey, Davis is a darn good songwriter. This is a pretty solid tune and I really like the feel of it. The song is relaxed in a folk-ish way and tells a nice story. Small parts of the production are a little dated and stuck in the 70s (and I could do without the pedal steel), but this is certainly a pleasant listen.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: Davis also dabble in acting and after some appearances on TV, he made his film debut in the 1979 film "North Dallas Forty" with Nick Nolte. In 1991, he was cast as the lead in the Broadway production of "The Will Rogers Follies" where he took over the role originated by Keith Carradine.
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Date: 10/18/1980
Debut: 87
Peak: 51
Weeks: 9
Genre: Country Crossover
Pop Bits: Davis followed up his novelty song "It's Hard to Be Humble" (#43 pop, #10 country) with a second album for Casablanca and this title track was the first single issued. Even though it was a middling song on the pop chart, it became his third consecutive country Top 10 reaching #9. His next single from the album, "Hooked on Music," became his biggest country hit going to #2, but unfortunately it would not reach the pop chart.
ReduxReview: Even though he can get a bit hokey, Davis is a darn good songwriter. This is a pretty solid tune and I really like the feel of it. The song is relaxed in a folk-ish way and tells a nice story. Small parts of the production are a little dated and stuck in the 70s (and I could do without the pedal steel), but this is certainly a pleasant listen.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: Davis also dabble in acting and after some appearances on TV, he made his film debut in the 1979 film "North Dallas Forty" with Nick Nolte. In 1991, he was cast as the lead in the Broadway production of "The Will Rogers Follies" where he took over the role originated by Keith Carradine.
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Sunday, May 12, 2013
"Let's Do Something Cheap and Superficial" by Burt Reynolds
Song#: 0368
Date: 10/18/1980
Debut: 93
Peak: 88
Weeks: 5
Genre: Country, Soundtrack
Pop Bits: Yup - you read that right. Burt Reynolds. Betcha you didn't know he could sing? He probably didn't either. Back in the 50s and into the early 70s, it was practically required that a big star sing. Usually they had to do some song for a variety show or in some oddball musical. Even Bette Davis croaked out some singles and an album along the way. But as the 80s came along, the practice of turning stars into singers kind of went away so it was an oddity that for the film "Smokey & the Bandit II," Reynolds recorded this song. He doesn't sing it in the film, but there is a scene with Sally Field where he gives her a gift of this 45 that he had recorded. Since the Bandit films were so popular and the first one had a popular soundtrack, featuring Jerry Reed's #2 country hit "East Bound and Down," someone probably thought it was a good idea to get Reynolds on the soundtrack as another marketing angle. But like he says in the movie about his single, only about 75 were pressed and he still has 74 of them...and that about sums up this chart appearance (although it did manage to get to #51 on the country chart). Thankfully, it was his one any only chart song (although he did warble in the movie version of the musical "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.")
ReduxReview: I'm sure that this song was not done seriously and was just supposed to be a comedic addition to the film and soundtrack, so it makes it a little hard to critique. I mean, what can you say? The guy can't sing, the song is barely funny, and it's not even a good parody of a country tune. It's a giant mess - kind of like the film. So maybe in that way, it worked! This is really just publicity/marketing gone awry.
ReduxRating: 1/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) I had no idea he was born in Lansing, Michigan, which is my neck of the woods. 2) Being that he was the biggest box office draw in the 70s, Reynolds was offered some significant roles that he ended up turning down. When Sean Connery dropped out as James Bond, Reynolds was offered the role. He declined saying that an American just can't play Bond. Later, he was offered the part of Han Solo in "Star Wars." He turned that down too, and after Tom Selleck also declined, the part when to Harrison Ford.
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Date: 10/18/1980
Debut: 93
Peak: 88
Weeks: 5
Genre: Country, Soundtrack
Pop Bits: Yup - you read that right. Burt Reynolds. Betcha you didn't know he could sing? He probably didn't either. Back in the 50s and into the early 70s, it was practically required that a big star sing. Usually they had to do some song for a variety show or in some oddball musical. Even Bette Davis croaked out some singles and an album along the way. But as the 80s came along, the practice of turning stars into singers kind of went away so it was an oddity that for the film "Smokey & the Bandit II," Reynolds recorded this song. He doesn't sing it in the film, but there is a scene with Sally Field where he gives her a gift of this 45 that he had recorded. Since the Bandit films were so popular and the first one had a popular soundtrack, featuring Jerry Reed's #2 country hit "East Bound and Down," someone probably thought it was a good idea to get Reynolds on the soundtrack as another marketing angle. But like he says in the movie about his single, only about 75 were pressed and he still has 74 of them...and that about sums up this chart appearance (although it did manage to get to #51 on the country chart). Thankfully, it was his one any only chart song (although he did warble in the movie version of the musical "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.")
ReduxReview: I'm sure that this song was not done seriously and was just supposed to be a comedic addition to the film and soundtrack, so it makes it a little hard to critique. I mean, what can you say? The guy can't sing, the song is barely funny, and it's not even a good parody of a country tune. It's a giant mess - kind of like the film. So maybe in that way, it worked! This is really just publicity/marketing gone awry.
ReduxRating: 1/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) I had no idea he was born in Lansing, Michigan, which is my neck of the woods. 2) Being that he was the biggest box office draw in the 70s, Reynolds was offered some significant roles that he ended up turning down. When Sean Connery dropped out as James Bond, Reynolds was offered the role. He declined saying that an American just can't play Bond. Later, he was offered the part of Han Solo in "Star Wars." He turned that down too, and after Tom Selleck also declined, the part when to Harrison Ford.
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