Song#: 0636
Date: 06/20/1981
Debut: 95
Peak: 89
Weeks: 5
Genre: Country Crossover
Pop Bits: Gibbs' debut single "Somebody's Knockin'," was a surprise success hitting #13 pop and #7 country. It would be her biggest hit on both charts. This follow-up single couldn't quite get out of the pop chart basement and at country it peaked just inside the Top 20 at #19. It would be her last song to reach the pop chart. She would go on to have three more country Top 20 entries with her last charting song coming in 1987.
ReduxReview: This kind of borders on blue-eyed soul ala Dusty Springfield or maybe along the lines of Bobby Gentry. It's actually not a bad song, but I just find Gibbs' delivery kind of flat. I have a feeling she may sound better live than on record. She obviously has talent, but I'm just not sure it comes across on vinyl.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: After her hit debut album, Gibbs' major label follow-ups couldn't repeat the success. After four more studio albums, she switch gears and turned to Contemporary Christian music. Her first effort in that market, 1987's "Turn Around," was well-received and got her a Grammy nomination. She would record two more albums and then retired from the music business. Although she is still an active musician, she spends most of her time working with various ministry-based organizations.
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Tuesday, November 26, 2013
"I Don't Need You" by Kenny Rogers
Top 10 Alert!
Song#: 0635 Date: 06/13/1981
Debut: 33
Peak: 3
Weeks: 18
Genre: Country Crossover, Adult Contemporary
Pop Bits: Rogers was on a hot streak and it peaked with his biggest pop hit "Lady" (#1). That song was a collaboration between Rogers and Lionel Richie. The success of that single prompted the two to work on a full album and "Share Your Love" was issued and this first single was another pop chart success and his ninth solo country #1.
ReduxReview: This definitely leans toward pop/AC than country and it worked well with Richie providing solid production. I've always liked the song and Rogers sounds good. A friend in high school and I used to sing this together. We would sing the first verse really quiet and then scream the next section (the "but we both want it bad enough"). We thought it was hilarious. I don't think others did...
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: This song was written by Rick Christian and he originally recorded it and released it as a single in 1978, but it did not chart. The song was also recorded by Harry Nilsson in 1980 before Rogers found the song and made it a hit.
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Monday, November 25, 2013
"Don't Let Him Go" by REO Speedwagon
Song#: 0634
Date: 06/13/1981
Debut: 72
Peak: 24
Weeks: 14
Genre: Rock, Arena Rock
Pop Bits: With two smash singles, REO's album "Hi-Infidelity" would spent 15 weeks at #1. This third single was the album's opener and although it couldn't quite make it into the Top 20, it kept album sales going. It would become the year's best selling album and would eventually sell over 10 million copies.
ReduxReview: This was the third gem in a row from this album. With the Bo Diddley beat and kick-ass arena sound, this one was hard to resist. It rocked out a bit more that the previous two ballad-ish hit singles, so that could have been a deterrent in going higher on the chart.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: Some of the background vocals on the album would be provided by Richard Page. Page would front his own band, Mr. Mister, who later got their own #1 album "Welcome to the Real World" in 1985.
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Date: 06/13/1981
Debut: 72
Peak: 24
Weeks: 14
Genre: Rock, Arena Rock
Pop Bits: With two smash singles, REO's album "Hi-Infidelity" would spent 15 weeks at #1. This third single was the album's opener and although it couldn't quite make it into the Top 20, it kept album sales going. It would become the year's best selling album and would eventually sell over 10 million copies.
ReduxReview: This was the third gem in a row from this album. With the Bo Diddley beat and kick-ass arena sound, this one was hard to resist. It rocked out a bit more that the previous two ballad-ish hit singles, so that could have been a deterrent in going higher on the chart.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: Some of the background vocals on the album would be provided by Richard Page. Page would front his own band, Mr. Mister, who later got their own #1 album "Welcome to the Real World" in 1985.
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"Hard Times" by James Taylor
Song#: 0633
Date: 06/13/1981
Debut: 81
Peak: 72
Weeks: 5
Genre: Pop, Adult Contemporary
Pop Bits: Taylor's break-up album, "Dad Loves His Work," yielded his last Top 40 hit with "Her Town Too," a collaboration with J.D. Souther. This second single from the album didn't catch on and spent a minor few weeks at pop and only hit #23 at AC. The album reached #10 and went platinum, but it would be Taylor's last Top 10 album for sixteen years. He finally returned to the Top 10 with 1997's "Hourglass," which peaked at #9.
ReduxReview: This is very, well, James Taylor-y. It's a mid-tempo shuffle with the theme of trying to keep positive to make it through all the bad stuff. It's a nice tune, but since Taylor's music doesn't really grab me, it's nothing I'd choose to hear again. The background voices and arrangement are quite nice and perk up the song, but I don't think it was a solid single choice.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: Taylor's first solo recording contract was with The Beatles' Apple Records. He was the first non-UK artist signed to the label. Taylor's self-titled debut came out in 1968 and featured his classic song "Caroline in My Mind." Neither were major hits at the time, which was partially due to Taylor's inability to do promotions stemming from hospitalization from his drug use. It would be his only album for Apple as the company went through an overhaul and Taylor left the label. He later signed with Warner where his hit streak started with the #3 LP "Sweet Baby James" (1970).
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Date: 06/13/1981
Debut: 81
Peak: 72
Weeks: 5
Genre: Pop, Adult Contemporary
Pop Bits: Taylor's break-up album, "Dad Loves His Work," yielded his last Top 40 hit with "Her Town Too," a collaboration with J.D. Souther. This second single from the album didn't catch on and spent a minor few weeks at pop and only hit #23 at AC. The album reached #10 and went platinum, but it would be Taylor's last Top 10 album for sixteen years. He finally returned to the Top 10 with 1997's "Hourglass," which peaked at #9.
ReduxReview: This is very, well, James Taylor-y. It's a mid-tempo shuffle with the theme of trying to keep positive to make it through all the bad stuff. It's a nice tune, but since Taylor's music doesn't really grab me, it's nothing I'd choose to hear again. The background voices and arrangement are quite nice and perk up the song, but I don't think it was a solid single choice.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: Taylor's first solo recording contract was with The Beatles' Apple Records. He was the first non-UK artist signed to the label. Taylor's self-titled debut came out in 1968 and featured his classic song "Caroline in My Mind." Neither were major hits at the time, which was partially due to Taylor's inability to do promotions stemming from hospitalization from his drug use. It would be his only album for Apple as the company went through an overhaul and Taylor left the label. He later signed with Warner where his hit streak started with the #3 LP "Sweet Baby James" (1970).
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Sunday, November 24, 2013
"What She Does to Me" by The Producers
Song#: 0632
Date: 06/13/1981
Debut: 85
Peak: 61
Weeks: 6
Genre: Power Pop, New Wave
Pop Bits: After becoming popular playing around their hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, this group signed to Portrait Records and issued their self-titled debut album. This first single became a regional hit and it helped to propel it on the national chart where it remained for a few weeks. They issued a follow-up LP in 1982, "You Make the Heat," but no singles charted and the group was dropped from the label. A couple of more albums would follow (with one being shelved and finally released in 2001), but the group called it a day in 1991.
ReduxReview: While not a great song, this one bops along pretty good and is an interesting listen. The mid section is a nice add and I've seen a tag of (The Diana Song) used in the title, most likely because it is different and the use of the name is prominent. I can imagine radio station callers not really knowing the name of the song and just asking to "play that Diana song."
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) Before becoming The Producers and doing their own music, the group was originally a Beatles cover band called Cartoon. 2) A song on their third album was a collaboration with the group Kansas. The song, "Can't Cry Anymore," appeared on The Producers' "Run for Your Life" album (1985) and Kansas' "Power" album (1986).
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Date: 06/13/1981
Debut: 85
Peak: 61
Weeks: 6
Genre: Power Pop, New Wave
Pop Bits: After becoming popular playing around their hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, this group signed to Portrait Records and issued their self-titled debut album. This first single became a regional hit and it helped to propel it on the national chart where it remained for a few weeks. They issued a follow-up LP in 1982, "You Make the Heat," but no singles charted and the group was dropped from the label. A couple of more albums would follow (with one being shelved and finally released in 2001), but the group called it a day in 1991.
ReduxReview: While not a great song, this one bops along pretty good and is an interesting listen. The mid section is a nice add and I've seen a tag of (The Diana Song) used in the title, most likely because it is different and the use of the name is prominent. I can imagine radio station callers not really knowing the name of the song and just asking to "play that Diana song."
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) Before becoming The Producers and doing their own music, the group was originally a Beatles cover band called Cartoon. 2) A song on their third album was a collaboration with the group Kansas. The song, "Can't Cry Anymore," appeared on The Producers' "Run for Your Life" album (1985) and Kansas' "Power" album (1986).
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