Song#: 0555
Date: 04/04/1981
Debut: 84
Peak: 56
Weeks: 7
Genre: Pop, Adult Contemporary
Pop Bits: Holmes' 1980 album "Adventure" started slow with the #68 "Morning Man." The albums second single, "Blackjack," failed to get anywhere but this third single drummed up a little more business (and reached #21 AC). It was enough for him to get one more album out, but it basically sank on release. It would be the last album from his prime era and this single would be his last to hit the chart.
ReduxReview: With Holmes, it is always interesting. This is kind of an odd single. It's like a throwback to early 70s songwriter stuff like Randy Newman or Nilsson or even McCartney, but a little updated. It is certainly interesting and I like it, but seems like a strange choice for a single.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: In addition to his Tony Award winning musical, "The Mystery of Edwin Drood," Holmes also wrote a cable television show called "Remember WENN." Airing on the AMC channel for four season beginning in 1996, the fictional show centered around a Pittsburgh radio station in the early 40s. In addition to writing all the episodes, Holmes also composed the music for the show.
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Monday, September 30, 2013
"Super Trouper" by ABBA
Song#: 0554
Date: 04/04/1981
Debut: 88
Peak: 45
Weeks: 11
Genre: Pop
Pop Bits: After getting their last US Top 10 hit with "The Winner Takes It All" (#8), this second title-track single from their album almost reached the Top 40. The song would be their ninth and last to reach #1 in the UK.
ReduxReview: In some ways, I think maybe the simplistic, nursery rhyme-style melody just didn't connect to folks in the US. It's too bad because this is another solid ABBA song. The vocal arrangement is strong (as usual) and it just makes me wanna bop all around. I find it a bit hard to resist. I probably wouldn't put it among their greatest songs, but it is certainly a quality tune.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) A super trouper is a type of followspot used to highlight stage performers. The song conveys the feeling that the group preferred to be at home in the recording studio rather that touring. 2) The video for this song was directed by Lasse Hallström. He directed the vast majority of ABBA's videos throughout their career. Later, he directed several famous films such as "My Life As a Dog," "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?," and "The Cider House Rules." He was nominated for two Academy Awards as director for "My Life" and "Cider House." Both "Cider House" and another film he directed, "Chocolat," were nominated for Best Picture in their respective years.
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Date: 04/04/1981
Debut: 88
Peak: 45
Weeks: 11
Genre: Pop
Pop Bits: After getting their last US Top 10 hit with "The Winner Takes It All" (#8), this second title-track single from their album almost reached the Top 40. The song would be their ninth and last to reach #1 in the UK.
ReduxReview: In some ways, I think maybe the simplistic, nursery rhyme-style melody just didn't connect to folks in the US. It's too bad because this is another solid ABBA song. The vocal arrangement is strong (as usual) and it just makes me wanna bop all around. I find it a bit hard to resist. I probably wouldn't put it among their greatest songs, but it is certainly a quality tune.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) A super trouper is a type of followspot used to highlight stage performers. The song conveys the feeling that the group preferred to be at home in the recording studio rather that touring. 2) The video for this song was directed by Lasse Hallström. He directed the vast majority of ABBA's videos throughout their career. Later, he directed several famous films such as "My Life As a Dog," "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?," and "The Cider House Rules." He was nominated for two Academy Awards as director for "My Life" and "Cider House." Both "Cider House" and another film he directed, "Chocolat," were nominated for Best Picture in their respective years.
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Sunday, September 29, 2013
"Playing with Lightning" by Shot in the Dark
Song#: 0553
Date: 04/04/1981
Debut: 90
Peak: 71
Weeks: 5
Genre: Soft Rock
Pop Bits: Guitarist Peter White began playing with Al Stewart on his hit album "Year of the Cat" in 1976. By the next album, White was co-writing with Stewart (specifically on the hit title track "Time Passages," #7) followed by White's band fully backing Stewart on his "24 Carrots" album. The backing band was called Shot in the Dark and they got their own chance to record and issued a self-titled album in 1981. This first single eked onto the chart for a few weeks, but that would be it for the band. They would not record again and White, in addition to other gigs, remained with Stewart through out the next couple of decades.
ReduxReview: This is a slick, soft rock tune that shuffles along with that polished SoCal sound that was around at the time. Almost Fleetwood Mac-y in a way. It's a good tune but there is not much to grab on to in order to keep it playing in my head.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: White later went on to play with other artists like Basia ("Time and Tide," #26, 1988). He also turned to jazz and recorded several solo albums that were Top 10 hits on the jazz chart.
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Date: 04/04/1981
Debut: 90
Peak: 71
Weeks: 5
Genre: Soft Rock
Pop Bits: Guitarist Peter White began playing with Al Stewart on his hit album "Year of the Cat" in 1976. By the next album, White was co-writing with Stewart (specifically on the hit title track "Time Passages," #7) followed by White's band fully backing Stewart on his "24 Carrots" album. The backing band was called Shot in the Dark and they got their own chance to record and issued a self-titled album in 1981. This first single eked onto the chart for a few weeks, but that would be it for the band. They would not record again and White, in addition to other gigs, remained with Stewart through out the next couple of decades.
ReduxReview: This is a slick, soft rock tune that shuffles along with that polished SoCal sound that was around at the time. Almost Fleetwood Mac-y in a way. It's a good tune but there is not much to grab on to in order to keep it playing in my head.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: White later went on to play with other artists like Basia ("Time and Tide," #26, 1988). He also turned to jazz and recorded several solo albums that were Top 10 hits on the jazz chart.
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Saturday, September 28, 2013
"Love You Like I Never Loved Before" by John O'Banion
Song#: 0552
Date: 03/28/1981
Debut: 72
Peak: 24
Weeks: 13
Genre: Pop
Pop Bits: Even before his debut solo album, O'Banion had some interesting career moments already. The Kokomo, Indiana, native had his own radio show and then local TV show. He later auditioned and won the lead singer roll in Doc Severinsen's band Today's Children. That connection got him appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. After departing from the group, O'Banion continued with music and also his other work as an actor. He finally got his own record deal with Elektra and released his self-titled debut album in 1981. When this first single was released, it was actually the top debut of the week coming in over classic 80s songs like "Bette Davis Eyes" and "Jessie's Girl." However, it stalled short of the Top 20 and was O'Banion's only chart entry. He issued another album that went nowhere, but he gained a sizable following in Japan. Unfortunately, he suffered traumatic injuries when he was hit by a car and spent years dealing with the fallout. He died in 2007.
ReduxReview: It reminds me of something Huey Lewis & the News would do. O'Banion sounds really great on the track and it is a fun shuffle. I'm not sure why it didn't do a little better on the chart. Seems like a solid Top 20 entry at least. I'm not ga-ga about it, but it is a nice listen.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) O'Banion sang the winning entry in the Tokyo Music Festival in 1982. The song "I Don't Want to Lose Your Love" was then recorded by Crystal Gayle and became a #2 country hit in 1984. 2) I can't quite confirm this, but I've seen where O'Banion was on the premier of "Star Search" in 1983 and won the first male vocalist match-up on that episode. However, I'm seeing more evidence that he competed on an episode in the second season in 1984 in the acting category, but it appears he lost in that match-up. It seems to make sense that he was on the show as the musical director of the series, Joey Carbone, wrote or co-wrote many of the songs O'Banion recorded (including this single and the Tokyo prize winning song).
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Date: 03/28/1981
Debut: 72
Peak: 24
Weeks: 13
Genre: Pop
Pop Bits: Even before his debut solo album, O'Banion had some interesting career moments already. The Kokomo, Indiana, native had his own radio show and then local TV show. He later auditioned and won the lead singer roll in Doc Severinsen's band Today's Children. That connection got him appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. After departing from the group, O'Banion continued with music and also his other work as an actor. He finally got his own record deal with Elektra and released his self-titled debut album in 1981. When this first single was released, it was actually the top debut of the week coming in over classic 80s songs like "Bette Davis Eyes" and "Jessie's Girl." However, it stalled short of the Top 20 and was O'Banion's only chart entry. He issued another album that went nowhere, but he gained a sizable following in Japan. Unfortunately, he suffered traumatic injuries when he was hit by a car and spent years dealing with the fallout. He died in 2007.
ReduxReview: It reminds me of something Huey Lewis & the News would do. O'Banion sounds really great on the track and it is a fun shuffle. I'm not sure why it didn't do a little better on the chart. Seems like a solid Top 20 entry at least. I'm not ga-ga about it, but it is a nice listen.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) O'Banion sang the winning entry in the Tokyo Music Festival in 1982. The song "I Don't Want to Lose Your Love" was then recorded by Crystal Gayle and became a #2 country hit in 1984. 2) I can't quite confirm this, but I've seen where O'Banion was on the premier of "Star Search" in 1983 and won the first male vocalist match-up on that episode. However, I'm seeing more evidence that he competed on an episode in the second season in 1984 in the acting category, but it appears he lost in that match-up. It seems to make sense that he was on the show as the musical director of the series, Joey Carbone, wrote or co-wrote many of the songs O'Banion recorded (including this single and the Tokyo prize winning song).
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Friday, September 27, 2013
"Say You'll Be Mine" by Christopher Cross
Song#: 0551
Date: 03/28/1981
Debut: 74
Peak: 20
Weeks: 14
Genre: Pop, Adult Contemporary
Pop Bits: In addition to winning 5 Grammys for his self-titled debut album, Cross got this fourth and final Top 20 hit from the LP. Despite all this attention, the album only reached #6 on the chart. However, more than 5 million copies were sold in the US.
ReduxReview: Cross had three solid singles and then they chose this dorky song to release. I never liked the song and still only tolerate it. I though the song "I Really Don't Know Anymore" featuring Michael McDonald would have made a better single.
ReduxRating: 4/10
Trivia: Cross' self-titled debut album had the unusual cover painting of a flamingo. The painting was done years earlier by a band member and it hung in their rehearsal space. They had thought it should be the cover of the first album they do. When Cross signed to Warner Bros. and recorded his debut album, the flamingo did end up being the cover. Since then, it has turned into a logo of sorts for Cross and has been on each of his subsequent albums.
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Date: 03/28/1981
Debut: 74
Peak: 20
Weeks: 14
Genre: Pop, Adult Contemporary
Pop Bits: In addition to winning 5 Grammys for his self-titled debut album, Cross got this fourth and final Top 20 hit from the LP. Despite all this attention, the album only reached #6 on the chart. However, more than 5 million copies were sold in the US.
ReduxReview: Cross had three solid singles and then they chose this dorky song to release. I never liked the song and still only tolerate it. I though the song "I Really Don't Know Anymore" featuring Michael McDonald would have made a better single.
ReduxRating: 4/10
Trivia: Cross' self-titled debut album had the unusual cover painting of a flamingo. The painting was done years earlier by a band member and it hung in their rehearsal space. They had thought it should be the cover of the first album they do. When Cross signed to Warner Bros. and recorded his debut album, the flamingo did end up being the cover. Since then, it has turned into a logo of sorts for Cross and has been on each of his subsequent albums.
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