Song#: 1355
Date: 02/26/1983
Debut: 79
Peak: 26
Weeks: 16
Genre: Pop, Adult Contemporary
Pop Bits: Manilow's first single from his "Here Comes the Night" album was the #8 AC hit "Memory" (#39 pop), a song from the Broadway musical "Cats." For his follow-up single, Manilow issued this rock-leaning tune that again found a home at AC (#4), yet faltered at pop. The two minor Top 40 entries didn't do much for the album and it ended up being his lowest peaking studio album up to that point fizzling at #32. However, his loyal fans helped make the LP another platinum seller.
ReduxReview: I consider this album Manilow's desperation shot. He was one of Arista's biggest artists and I'm sure there was pressure on him to produce more hits. That could be felt on this album with its chaotic mish-mash of styles that made it seem like Manilow was just throwing songs at a wall and seeing what might stick. His core audience was getting older and remaining loyal, yet the kids were not coming on board and they were basically treating his music like a joke. In fact, I remember having to be a secret Fanilow around this time because it was definitely not cool to like his music. This song, co-written by Manilow, seemed like his stab to be current. It didn't really work. Rock does not fit Manilow well and he sounds uncomfortable and unconvincing. The song itself sounds like Manilow was trying to retro-fit one of his 70s songs into a modern rock track and it's all a bit odd. I also get the feeling that this album was not a favorite of Manilow's as I believe it is the only full album in his Arista catalog that has not been reissued on CD in the US. I wouldn't consider this song a favorite, but I don't mind if it spins up. It's kind of an interesting curiosity from his hits catalog.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) After years of being ignored on the charts in the UK, Manilow's career suddenly surged when his 1980 single "Bermuda Triangle" reached #15. He ended up scoring more hits over the next three years than he did the entire first seven years of his career. It continued when the track "I Wanna Do It with You" from the "Here Comes the Night" album was issued as a single in the UK. The song peaked at #8 and became Manilow's biggest hit on that chart. 2) "Here Comes the Night" also included the album track "Some Girls," written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman. The song was originally a #2 UK hit for the British band Racey. That band was also making some news in the US thanks another remake. Racey's album track "Kitty" got turned into the #1 smash hit "Mickey" by Toni Basil. That song was also a Chinn/Chapman composition.
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Friday, August 7, 2015
Thursday, August 6, 2015
"Shoppin' from A to Z" by Toni Basil
Song#: 1354
Date: 02/26/1983
Debut: 83
Peak: 77
Weeks: 4
Genre: Pop, Novelty
Pop Bits: Basil's single "Mickey" was a unexpected platinum #1 hit that ended up becoming an 80s classic. With its famous cheerleader refrain and choreographed video, the unconventional song was going to be tough to follow-up. The label could either go with a straight pop song or they could try to replicate the success of "Mickey" with another quirky single. They chose to do the latter and this track from the US version of Basil's album "Word of Mouth" was released. The oddball tune featured more chanting (of a grocery list) and moved Basil towards the novelty category. Despite a comedic dance video and push from the label, folks weren't buying it and the song quickly disappeared.
ReduxReview: I will admit that I liked this song back in the day. I thought it was fun and I'd bop around shouting out the list. However, I do think this was probably the worst song they could have chosen to follow-up "Mickey." I mean, I can kind of understand their reasoning - it's another offbeat song with chanting that could be the basis for another hit MTV video. But in reality, this song A...awful, B...bad, C...crappy, D...desperate. The song may be cute for a kids album, but as a legit single, I don't think it works at all. And when put next to a powerhouse single like "Mickey," it sounds even worse. This song was mainly for the US market and it did hit the chart for a few weeks. So you'd think that on a Toni Basil "best of" collection, the song would be included. Nope. The US version of her BO collection does not include the song. I doubt it had anything to do with rights or publishing since Basil co-wrote it. So it leads me to believe that someone would rather forget this song happened. I imaging others would too. Basil had several other solid single contenders on "Word of Mouth" (which is a great album by the way), so the release of this one still baffles me. I think it killed her recording career. Again, the tune is silly fun and I don't mind hearing it, but as a single, N...NO!
ReduxRating: 3/10
Trivia: In 1971, Basil would form a dance group with Don "Campbellock" Campbell call The Lockers. They were proponents of street dance and the sub-style called locking (developed by Campbell). Their performances got a lot of attention and soon they were making appearances on TV shows like "Saturday Night Live," the "Tonight" show with Johnny Carson, "The Carol Burnett Show," and "Soul Train." They are credited with changing dance and for helping to make street dance an art form. Basil stayed with the group until 1976 as did Fred Berry (aka Rerun from the TV show "What's Happening!!"). For this song's video, Basil got Berry to make an appearance. You can see him in the clip above.
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Date: 02/26/1983
Debut: 83
Peak: 77
Weeks: 4
Genre: Pop, Novelty
Pop Bits: Basil's single "Mickey" was a unexpected platinum #1 hit that ended up becoming an 80s classic. With its famous cheerleader refrain and choreographed video, the unconventional song was going to be tough to follow-up. The label could either go with a straight pop song or they could try to replicate the success of "Mickey" with another quirky single. They chose to do the latter and this track from the US version of Basil's album "Word of Mouth" was released. The oddball tune featured more chanting (of a grocery list) and moved Basil towards the novelty category. Despite a comedic dance video and push from the label, folks weren't buying it and the song quickly disappeared.
ReduxReview: I will admit that I liked this song back in the day. I thought it was fun and I'd bop around shouting out the list. However, I do think this was probably the worst song they could have chosen to follow-up "Mickey." I mean, I can kind of understand their reasoning - it's another offbeat song with chanting that could be the basis for another hit MTV video. But in reality, this song A...awful, B...bad, C...crappy, D...desperate. The song may be cute for a kids album, but as a legit single, I don't think it works at all. And when put next to a powerhouse single like "Mickey," it sounds even worse. This song was mainly for the US market and it did hit the chart for a few weeks. So you'd think that on a Toni Basil "best of" collection, the song would be included. Nope. The US version of her BO collection does not include the song. I doubt it had anything to do with rights or publishing since Basil co-wrote it. So it leads me to believe that someone would rather forget this song happened. I imaging others would too. Basil had several other solid single contenders on "Word of Mouth" (which is a great album by the way), so the release of this one still baffles me. I think it killed her recording career. Again, the tune is silly fun and I don't mind hearing it, but as a single, N...NO!
ReduxRating: 3/10
Trivia: In 1971, Basil would form a dance group with Don "Campbellock" Campbell call The Lockers. They were proponents of street dance and the sub-style called locking (developed by Campbell). Their performances got a lot of attention and soon they were making appearances on TV shows like "Saturday Night Live," the "Tonight" show with Johnny Carson, "The Carol Burnett Show," and "Soul Train." They are credited with changing dance and for helping to make street dance an art form. Basil stayed with the group until 1976 as did Fred Berry (aka Rerun from the TV show "What's Happening!!"). For this song's video, Basil got Berry to make an appearance. You can see him in the clip above.
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"Please Mr. Postman" by Gentle Persuasion
Song#: 1353
Date: 02/26/1983
Debut: 89
Peak: 82
Weeks: 4
Genre: R&B, Pop
Pop Bits: Leza Holms, Sharon Williams, and Renee Johnson made up this Philly-based female R&B vocal trio. They initially had a single on Soul Dimension in 1973 called "Dynamite Explodes," but it didn't break nationally. They then got signed to Capitol Records and recorded a couple of singles, but nothing panned out. Next stop was Warner Bros. and the trio's first full album. Their disco-based, self-titled LP was released in 1978 and once again, it got ignored. In the new decade, Capitol Records gave the ladies another shot and this one-off single was recorded. The song failed at R&B, but did spend a month floating around the bottom of the pop chart. It wasn't enough for Capitol to further invest and the trio faded away.
ReduxReview: These ladies certainly gave it a shot. Three chances at two major labels and this ended up being their only chart entry. They had the vocal chops, but it just seemed that they couldn't get the right material. This one didn't really help. The retro sound was not very hip at the time and the slight arrangement (almost mimicking The Pointer Sisters' "Should I Do It") didn't do anything to boost the song. It's perfectly fine to hear, but it is just bland and faceless. The trio doesn't stand out. The ladies deserved better.
ReduxRating: 4/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) Although the ladies couldn't get Gentle Persuasion off the ground, they did hit #1 on the dance chart under another name. An early pioneer of the Eurodisco sound, Boris Midney created a "group" (really, a studio project) called USA-European Connection. The vocals for the recordings were all done by the Gentle Persuasion trio. A four song disco LP called "Come Into My Heart" was issued in 1978 and it went on to top the US dance chart that year. Midney would record a self-titled follow-up LP under the USA-European Connection moniker, but he ended up using different vocalists for that outing. 2) This is a remake of the 1961 original by The Marvelettes. Their version would be a #1 hit at both pop and R&B. The Beatles would famously cover the tune, but it was not issued as a single. In 1974, the song would be revived and reach #1 again, this time by The Carpenters. That success made the song one of only nine in the rock era to have hit #1 by two different artists.
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Date: 02/26/1983
Debut: 89
Peak: 82
Weeks: 4
Genre: R&B, Pop
Pop Bits: Leza Holms, Sharon Williams, and Renee Johnson made up this Philly-based female R&B vocal trio. They initially had a single on Soul Dimension in 1973 called "Dynamite Explodes," but it didn't break nationally. They then got signed to Capitol Records and recorded a couple of singles, but nothing panned out. Next stop was Warner Bros. and the trio's first full album. Their disco-based, self-titled LP was released in 1978 and once again, it got ignored. In the new decade, Capitol Records gave the ladies another shot and this one-off single was recorded. The song failed at R&B, but did spend a month floating around the bottom of the pop chart. It wasn't enough for Capitol to further invest and the trio faded away.
ReduxReview: These ladies certainly gave it a shot. Three chances at two major labels and this ended up being their only chart entry. They had the vocal chops, but it just seemed that they couldn't get the right material. This one didn't really help. The retro sound was not very hip at the time and the slight arrangement (almost mimicking The Pointer Sisters' "Should I Do It") didn't do anything to boost the song. It's perfectly fine to hear, but it is just bland and faceless. The trio doesn't stand out. The ladies deserved better.
ReduxRating: 4/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) Although the ladies couldn't get Gentle Persuasion off the ground, they did hit #1 on the dance chart under another name. An early pioneer of the Eurodisco sound, Boris Midney created a "group" (really, a studio project) called USA-European Connection. The vocals for the recordings were all done by the Gentle Persuasion trio. A four song disco LP called "Come Into My Heart" was issued in 1978 and it went on to top the US dance chart that year. Midney would record a self-titled follow-up LP under the USA-European Connection moniker, but he ended up using different vocalists for that outing. 2) This is a remake of the 1961 original by The Marvelettes. Their version would be a #1 hit at both pop and R&B. The Beatles would famously cover the tune, but it was not issued as a single. In 1974, the song would be revived and reach #1 again, this time by The Carpenters. That success made the song one of only nine in the rock era to have hit #1 by two different artists.
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Wednesday, August 5, 2015
"Only You" by Yaz
Song#: 1352
Date: 02/26/1983
Debut: 90
Peak: 67
Weeks: 8
Genre: Synthpop
Pop Bits: To follow-up their US debut single, "Situation" (#73), British duo Yaz released this second single that could only manage to do slightly better. The ballad also made a slight dent in the AC chart reaching #38. In the UK, this was the band's first single. Released in the spring of '82, the song was a major hit for them peaking at #2. It helped establish the successful careers of Alison Moyet and Vince Clarke (Erasure), aka Yazoo in the UK.
ReduxReview: This song I'd put in the "unfortunate" category in two ways. First, it's unfortunate this song did not do better. It really should have. I think the record company screwed up when they issued "Situation" instead of this song for Yaz's first US single. Then, it's a shame that this very pretty song got masked in a tinkly synthpop. At the time it probably seemed cool, but it really sounds dated now. This is a terrific song that deserves to have a lovely arrangement. It's a product of its time and as-is, the song is a nice nostalgia trip.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: Two remakes of this song went on to become #1 hits. First, the a cappella group The Flying Pickets hit the top of the UK chart in December of '83 with their version. It was the first a cappella song to reach #1 in the UK. The single failed to reach the US chart. Second, a Latin version titled "Sólo En Ti" was recorded by Enrique Iglesias in 1997. That single debuted at the top of the US Latin singles chart and would eventually spend 10-weeks at #1. This single also failed to hit the US pop chart. Iglesias would record an English version of the song a couple years later, but it was not issued as a single.
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Date: 02/26/1983
Debut: 90
Peak: 67
Weeks: 8
Genre: Synthpop
Pop Bits: To follow-up their US debut single, "Situation" (#73), British duo Yaz released this second single that could only manage to do slightly better. The ballad also made a slight dent in the AC chart reaching #38. In the UK, this was the band's first single. Released in the spring of '82, the song was a major hit for them peaking at #2. It helped establish the successful careers of Alison Moyet and Vince Clarke (Erasure), aka Yazoo in the UK.
ReduxReview: This song I'd put in the "unfortunate" category in two ways. First, it's unfortunate this song did not do better. It really should have. I think the record company screwed up when they issued "Situation" instead of this song for Yaz's first US single. Then, it's a shame that this very pretty song got masked in a tinkly synthpop. At the time it probably seemed cool, but it really sounds dated now. This is a terrific song that deserves to have a lovely arrangement. It's a product of its time and as-is, the song is a nice nostalgia trip.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: Two remakes of this song went on to become #1 hits. First, the a cappella group The Flying Pickets hit the top of the UK chart in December of '83 with their version. It was the first a cappella song to reach #1 in the UK. The single failed to reach the US chart. Second, a Latin version titled "Sólo En Ti" was recorded by Enrique Iglesias in 1997. That single debuted at the top of the US Latin singles chart and would eventually spend 10-weeks at #1. This single also failed to hit the US pop chart. Iglesias would record an English version of the song a couple years later, but it was not issued as a single.
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"Whirly Girl" by Oxo
Song#: 1351
Date: 02/19/1983
Debut: 73
Peak: 28
Weeks: 14
Genre: Pop, New Wave
Pop Bits: This Miami-based band was formed by Ish "Angel" Ledesma. After his previous band, Foxy (see below), broke up, Ledesma tried for a solo career with a 1979 LP titled "Ish." Nothing much happened with the album so he then formed Oxo. The band signed with Geffen Records and issued their self-titled debut. This first single did fairly well making it into the Top 30. Unfortunately, further singles failed to chart and their recording career ended as quickly as it began. This song would remain their only chart single. Ledesma would stay with Geffen and do another solo attempt with 1986's "On This Corner," but it failed to generate interest. However, he has remained a successful studio musician, songwriter, producer and performer over the years.
ReduxReview: This frantic single didn't catch my ear back then, but like a lot of other singles I missed the first time around, this one came back to life thanks to its appearance on a couple 80s compilations. It's frenetic pace is hard to ignore. I just find it difficult not to start boppin' around. I wouldn't consider the song a favorite in any way, but it's fun when this ditty shuffles up on a playlist.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) Ledesma's first band of note was Foxy. The Latin-tinged disco band hit it big with the title-track from their second LP "Get Off." The song would reach #9 on the pop chart while hitting #1 at R&B. Their next album would then yield the #4 R&B hit "Hot Number" (#21 pop). They would issue a fourth album, but unfortunately it wouldn't produce any significant hits. The band would fold soon after. 2) This song was originally titled "Worldly Girl," but it later got changed to "Whirly." Ledesma co-wrote the tune which was about his wife. Ledesma would later develop a female vocal trio called Company B that featured his wife. The dance trio would hit the pop chart in 1987 with the #21 single "Fascinated" (#1 dance).
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Date: 02/19/1983
Debut: 73
Peak: 28
Weeks: 14
Genre: Pop, New Wave
Pop Bits: This Miami-based band was formed by Ish "Angel" Ledesma. After his previous band, Foxy (see below), broke up, Ledesma tried for a solo career with a 1979 LP titled "Ish." Nothing much happened with the album so he then formed Oxo. The band signed with Geffen Records and issued their self-titled debut. This first single did fairly well making it into the Top 30. Unfortunately, further singles failed to chart and their recording career ended as quickly as it began. This song would remain their only chart single. Ledesma would stay with Geffen and do another solo attempt with 1986's "On This Corner," but it failed to generate interest. However, he has remained a successful studio musician, songwriter, producer and performer over the years.
ReduxReview: This frantic single didn't catch my ear back then, but like a lot of other singles I missed the first time around, this one came back to life thanks to its appearance on a couple 80s compilations. It's frenetic pace is hard to ignore. I just find it difficult not to start boppin' around. I wouldn't consider the song a favorite in any way, but it's fun when this ditty shuffles up on a playlist.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) Ledesma's first band of note was Foxy. The Latin-tinged disco band hit it big with the title-track from their second LP "Get Off." The song would reach #9 on the pop chart while hitting #1 at R&B. Their next album would then yield the #4 R&B hit "Hot Number" (#21 pop). They would issue a fourth album, but unfortunately it wouldn't produce any significant hits. The band would fold soon after. 2) This song was originally titled "Worldly Girl," but it later got changed to "Whirly." Ledesma co-wrote the tune which was about his wife. Ledesma would later develop a female vocal trio called Company B that featured his wife. The dance trio would hit the pop chart in 1987 with the #21 single "Fascinated" (#1 dance).
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