Song#: 1283
Date: 12/18/1982
Debut: 90
Peak: 79
Weeks: 5
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: Glenn Hughes joined Deep Purple in 1974 and stayed with them through the band's break-up a couple of years later. He would issue a debut solo album 1977 that went nowhere. He wouldn't do any further recording until 1982 when he met Pat Thrall. Thrall was a successful musician who was playing with the Pat Travers Band. The two hit it off and formed a duo that would issue the debut album "Hughes/Thrall" for Boulevard Records. This first single was issued and it would spend just over a month circling the bottom of the chart. Although critically well-received, the album failed to make any waves. The duo would continue to make some music afterwards, but they were never able to issue a follow-up album. Thrall would go on to join Asia for a couple of years and tour/record with artists like Elton John, Tina Turner, and Meat Loaf. Hughes would also record for different artists, but after he became clean and sober in 1991, he returned to a solo career and has recorded more than a dozen albums since.
ReduxReview: A catchy/annoying synth lick basically drives this interesting rocker. I'd never peg it for a hit, but I like what is going on here. From what I understand, fans of Hughes (and even Hughes himself) consider this album one of his best pieces of work. This song has certainly caught my ear, so I'll have to give the album a listen to see if it some kind of "lost" gem. Probably not, but you never know.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: Hughes provided vocals for the 1991 song "America: What Time Is Love?" by The KLF. The song reached the Top 10 in several countries including the UK where it hit #4. The song would get to #57 in the US and #13 on the US dance chart. The previous year The KLF had a #3 gold single in the US with "3 a.m. Eternal."
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Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Monday, June 8, 2015
"Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy" by Sammy Hagar
Song#: 1282
Date: 12/11/1982
Debut: 70
Peak: 13
Weeks: 19
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: Following the platinum success of his LP "Standing Hampton," Hagar issued "Three Lock Box." This first single became Hagar's first and only solo Top 20 hit. It was also successful at rock radio peaking at #3. Although the album would peak higher than his solo previous albums (#17) and feature his biggest pop hit, the LP would oddly stop short of platinum level and just go gold.
ReduxReview: Easily one of Hagar's best pop-oriented songs that stands right next to "I've Done Everything for You" (written by Hagar, hit by Rick Springfield). It's a perfect blend of Hagar's rock and commercial pop sides. He would have some other tasty songs ahead, but this was certainly his best shot a pop chart stardom.
ReduxRating: 8/10
Trivia: Before joining Montrose in 1973, Hagar was involved in other projects and even recorded a single. In 1967 with Pete Samson, Hagar recorded the promo single "Reach Out to Find Me" (with b-side "Read My Thoughts"). The duo were listed as Samson & Hagar. The single didn't go anywhere but Hagar eventually would. The single is also notable for having The Peppermint Trolly Co. as the backing band. Although that band would not have any major hits (their best was the #59 "Baby You Come Rollin' Across My Mind" in 1968), they are often listed as a good example of the 60's sunshine pop sound. They also arranged and performed the original theme song for "The Brady Bunch" TV show. However, it seems their version was used for the pilot episode only and then a studio vocalist version was used for the remainder. Beginning with season two through the rest of the show's run, the Brady kids sang the theme.
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Date: 12/11/1982
Debut: 70
Peak: 13
Weeks: 19
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: Following the platinum success of his LP "Standing Hampton," Hagar issued "Three Lock Box." This first single became Hagar's first and only solo Top 20 hit. It was also successful at rock radio peaking at #3. Although the album would peak higher than his solo previous albums (#17) and feature his biggest pop hit, the LP would oddly stop short of platinum level and just go gold.
ReduxReview: Easily one of Hagar's best pop-oriented songs that stands right next to "I've Done Everything for You" (written by Hagar, hit by Rick Springfield). It's a perfect blend of Hagar's rock and commercial pop sides. He would have some other tasty songs ahead, but this was certainly his best shot a pop chart stardom.
ReduxRating: 8/10
Trivia: Before joining Montrose in 1973, Hagar was involved in other projects and even recorded a single. In 1967 with Pete Samson, Hagar recorded the promo single "Reach Out to Find Me" (with b-side "Read My Thoughts"). The duo were listed as Samson & Hagar. The single didn't go anywhere but Hagar eventually would. The single is also notable for having The Peppermint Trolly Co. as the backing band. Although that band would not have any major hits (their best was the #59 "Baby You Come Rollin' Across My Mind" in 1968), they are often listed as a good example of the 60's sunshine pop sound. They also arranged and performed the original theme song for "The Brady Bunch" TV show. However, it seems their version was used for the pilot episode only and then a studio vocalist version was used for the remainder. Beginning with season two through the rest of the show's run, the Brady kids sang the theme.
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Sunday, June 7, 2015
"All Those Lies" by Glenn Frey
Song#: 1281
Date: 12/11/1982
Debut: 73
Peak: 41
Weeks: 12
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: Having already gotten two Top 40 entries from his debut album "No Fun Allowed" including the #15 "The One You Love" (#2 AC), Frey tried for a third with this single. It came so close, but ended up peaking at the dreaded #41 spot.
ReduxReview: This quiet jam slinks along just fine but I hear it more as an album track than a single. I'm actually surprised it almost popped into the Top 40. Frey never really won me over as much as Don Henley did, but he had a few good songs along the way. This wasn't one of them though.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: In addition to the three pop chart entries, Frey's album include two more songs that did well on the Mainstream Rock chart. "Partytown" hit the Top 10 at #5 and "Don't Give Up" reached #25. These songs along with the pop hits helped the album to gold status.
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Date: 12/11/1982
Debut: 73
Peak: 41
Weeks: 12
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: Having already gotten two Top 40 entries from his debut album "No Fun Allowed" including the #15 "The One You Love" (#2 AC), Frey tried for a third with this single. It came so close, but ended up peaking at the dreaded #41 spot.
ReduxReview: This quiet jam slinks along just fine but I hear it more as an album track than a single. I'm actually surprised it almost popped into the Top 40. Frey never really won me over as much as Don Henley did, but he had a few good songs along the way. This wasn't one of them though.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: In addition to the three pop chart entries, Frey's album include two more songs that did well on the Mainstream Rock chart. "Partytown" hit the Top 10 at #5 and "Don't Give Up" reached #25. These songs along with the pop hits helped the album to gold status.
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Saturday, June 6, 2015
"I Knew You When" by Linda Ronstadt
Song#: 1280
Date: 12/11/1982
Debut: 77
Peak: 37
Weeks: 12
Genre: Pop
Pop Bits: Ronstadt's LP "Get Closer" didn't get off to a good start with the title-track first single fading out at a low #29. This second single fared even worse but did make it into the Top 40. At least this time the song became a multi-format entry with it reaching #29 at AC and #84 at country. It was enough to get the album to gold status, but that is as far as it got.
ReduxReview: I knew this song when...it was done by Donny Osmond (see below). The song didn't hit me then and I didn't hook into Rondstadt's version either. That's kind of too bad because she rocks this out. I'm not sure why I ignored Ronstand's work during this time. Really, I should have bought both "Mad Love" and "Get Closer" as they contain some of her most interesting work of the period. I'll have to rectify that quite soon.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: This is a remake of a song written by singer/songwriter Joe South. It first got recorded in 1965 by Billy Joe Royal. He took the song to #14. In 1971, Donny Osmond recorded the tune and it was chosen as the b-side to "Hey Girl." As a double-sided single, the songs reached #9 on the pop chart. Joe South would record his own version in 1969 for his album "Games People Play," but it was not issued as a single. In addition to this hit, South wrote "Rose Garden" for Lynn Anderson (1970, #3 pop, #1 country), "Down in the Boondocks" by Billy Joe Royal (1965, #9 pop), "Hush" by Deep Purple (1968, #4 pop), and "Yo-Yo" by The Osmonds (1971, #3 pop). South would get his own pop hit in 1969 when "Games People Play" reached #12. The song would win him a Grammy for Song of the Year. Two years later he would get another Song of the Year nod for "Rose Garden."
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Date: 12/11/1982
Debut: 77
Peak: 37
Weeks: 12
Genre: Pop
Pop Bits: Ronstadt's LP "Get Closer" didn't get off to a good start with the title-track first single fading out at a low #29. This second single fared even worse but did make it into the Top 40. At least this time the song became a multi-format entry with it reaching #29 at AC and #84 at country. It was enough to get the album to gold status, but that is as far as it got.
ReduxReview: I knew this song when...it was done by Donny Osmond (see below). The song didn't hit me then and I didn't hook into Rondstadt's version either. That's kind of too bad because she rocks this out. I'm not sure why I ignored Ronstand's work during this time. Really, I should have bought both "Mad Love" and "Get Closer" as they contain some of her most interesting work of the period. I'll have to rectify that quite soon.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: This is a remake of a song written by singer/songwriter Joe South. It first got recorded in 1965 by Billy Joe Royal. He took the song to #14. In 1971, Donny Osmond recorded the tune and it was chosen as the b-side to "Hey Girl." As a double-sided single, the songs reached #9 on the pop chart. Joe South would record his own version in 1969 for his album "Games People Play," but it was not issued as a single. In addition to this hit, South wrote "Rose Garden" for Lynn Anderson (1970, #3 pop, #1 country), "Down in the Boondocks" by Billy Joe Royal (1965, #9 pop), "Hush" by Deep Purple (1968, #4 pop), and "Yo-Yo" by The Osmonds (1971, #3 pop). South would get his own pop hit in 1969 when "Games People Play" reached #12. The song would win him a Grammy for Song of the Year. Two years later he would get another Song of the Year nod for "Rose Garden."
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Friday, June 5, 2015
"Pass the Dutchie" by Musical Youth
Top 10 Alert!
One-Hit Wonder!
Song#: 1279 One-Hit Wonder!
Date: 12/11/1982
Debut: 80
Peak: 10
Weeks: 18
Genre: Reggae
Pop Bits: This English teenage quintet consisted of two pairs of brothers (the Grants and the Waites) plus lead singer Dennis Seaton. They were already playing pubs and issuing local singles before a spot on John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show helped them secure a contract with MCA. The boys then recorded their debut album, "The Youth of Today," and this first single got released in the fall of '82. It quickly took off and reached #1 in the UK and in several other European countries. It was eventually released Stateside a few months later where it just barely made the Top 10 - an unusual showing at the time for a reggae-based song. It was enough to get them a Grammy nod for Best New Artist. In the UK, the group would have six more chart songs including the #6 "Never Gonna Give You Up" before breaking apart after the release of their second album. Their follow-up singles were not as successful in the US and despite having one more low-level chart entry late in '83, this lone Top 10'er got them tagged as a one-hit wonder.
ReduxReview: Frankly, I didn't really know what reggae music was back then. I may have heard of Bob Marley, but I doubt I ever heard his music or knew what a reggae beat was (except for maybe in a song by The Police or Culture Club). Plus, it was definitely not a popular tune where I grew up. So this song was lost on me. Didn't get it - didn't care for it. I don't mind it so much now. It's a nice add to a summer playlist.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: This song is combo cover of two other songs. It combines portions of "Gimme the Music" by U Brown and "Pass the Kouchie" by the Mighty Diamonds. In the Diamonds' original song, the "kouchie" referred to is a cannabis pipe and they lyrics pertain to the recreational use of the drug. For Musical Youth, this was obviously changed. "Kouchie" became "dutchie," which is slang for a Jamaican cooking pot, or Dutch oven, and the lyrics reflected on poverty with the line "how does it feel when ya got no food" repeated (instead of the original drug reference lyric that had "herb" instead of "food"). Despite the changes, some listeners still though the song was about drugs and later on "dutchie" did become a drug term meaning a blunt that was rolled in a wrapper from a Dutch Masters cigar.
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