Song#: 1852
Date: 04/07/1984
Debut: 92
Peak: 29
Weeks: 14
Genre: Blue-Eyed Soul, Pop
Pop Bits: After the British mod-revival rock band The Jam broke up in 1982, lead singer/songwriter Paul Weller recruited keyboardist Mick Talbot for his new band The Style Council. Initially, it was just the duo that formed the band, but they would later hire on other members. Their first single in 1983, "Speak Like a Child," was a #4 hit in the UK and they grabbed a #3 with "Long Hot Summer." While the singles did nothing in the US, an EP of their first recordings was issued in the States and found its way onto the Album chart (#172). With a foundation to build upon, the Council then recorded their first full album, Café Bleu. This song served as the first single from the album and it reached #5 in the UK. It would help send the album to #2. However, what was unusual is that the single version of the song was done with a full band while the version that appeared on Café Bleu was an acoustic vocal/piano version. The full-band single made it across the pond to the US and started to catch on. Eventually it would reach the Pop Top 30 while going to #34 AC, #52 Rock, and #88 R&B. Due to the success of the single, an altered version of Café Bleu was issued in the US under the title My Ever Changing Moods. It had an altered line-up of songs that included replacing the acoustic version of this song with the full-band single version. It would be their best effort in the US reaching #56.
ReduxReview: Easy, breezy, beautiful...Cover Girl! This would be a good song for a photo shoot, but it's much better than just background music. For me, when this came out and I first heard it on the radio, it was something fresh and interesting. I fell for it right away and got the single. Oddly, I never dove into their albums. I've since listened to some of their music and Café Bleu is quite good. It's a bit eclectic, but it works. The acoustic version of this song is lovely and dreamy, but I prefer this full-band single version.
ReduxRating: 8/10
Trivia: Although The Jam and Paul Weller were huge in the UK, neither really broke through in the US. The Jam got nine Top 10 singles in the UK, including four #1's, and a solo Weller grabbed five Top 10's. All of Weller's twelve solo studio LPs reached the Top 10 with four of them hitting #1. By contract, neither The Jam nor Weller were able to get on the US Pop singles chart. Their albums didn't fare that well either. The Jam landed three on the chart with the best getting to #72, while only one of Weller's albums charted. That makes this Style Council single and the Café Bleu album the best Weller was able to do in the US.
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Thursday, November 17, 2016
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
"Hands Across the Sea" by Modern English
Song#: 1851
Date: 04/07/1984
Debut: 93
Peak: 91
Weeks: 3
Genre: Rock, New Wave
Pop Bits: This UK band gained a small US following thanks to their #7 Rock hit "I Melt with You" (#78 Pop), which was also featured in the 1983 movie Valley Girl. It set them up for an even bigger breakthrough with their third LP Ricochet Days, but unfortunately this first single couldn't build on their previous hit's success and it stalled at #24 at Rock while barely making a blip on the Pop chart. In their UK homeland, the track was a non-starter and it failed to even make an appearance on the chart. The band would issue one more album before splitting up. A reformed version of the band would surface in 1990 for the album Pillow Lips, which featured a newly recorded version of "I Melt with You" that got to #76 on the Pop chart and #25 Dance.
ReduxReview: This is a pleasant little ditty with a college-radio, Brit new wave slant, but it's nowhere near as memorable as the instantly hooky "I Melt with You." However, the more I hear it, the more I like it. I just don't think it's single-worthy. Once they established themselves as potential hitmakers, the band really needed something better to reel in listeners. This one wasn't going to do it.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: The band's album Ricochet Days featured appearances by Kate St. John and Nicky Holland. Those two musicians along with Virginia Astley became The Ravishing Beauties. Although they would never record an album, the trio would perform on albums by bands like Echo & the Bunnymen and Siouxie & the Banshees. The trio came to an end with each member going on to other projects. St. John would become a member of The Dream Academy, who scored the Top 10 hit "Life in a Northern Town" in 1985. Holland would continue to do studio work in addition to songwriting. She has penned songs for Cyndi Lauper, Oleta Adams, and Tears for Fears. Astley embarked on a solo career and has recorded several albums. Her brother Jon would grab a #7 Rock hit in 1987 with "Jane's Getting Serious."
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Date: 04/07/1984
Debut: 93
Peak: 91
Weeks: 3
Genre: Rock, New Wave
Pop Bits: This UK band gained a small US following thanks to their #7 Rock hit "I Melt with You" (#78 Pop), which was also featured in the 1983 movie Valley Girl. It set them up for an even bigger breakthrough with their third LP Ricochet Days, but unfortunately this first single couldn't build on their previous hit's success and it stalled at #24 at Rock while barely making a blip on the Pop chart. In their UK homeland, the track was a non-starter and it failed to even make an appearance on the chart. The band would issue one more album before splitting up. A reformed version of the band would surface in 1990 for the album Pillow Lips, which featured a newly recorded version of "I Melt with You" that got to #76 on the Pop chart and #25 Dance.
ReduxReview: This is a pleasant little ditty with a college-radio, Brit new wave slant, but it's nowhere near as memorable as the instantly hooky "I Melt with You." However, the more I hear it, the more I like it. I just don't think it's single-worthy. Once they established themselves as potential hitmakers, the band really needed something better to reel in listeners. This one wasn't going to do it.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: The band's album Ricochet Days featured appearances by Kate St. John and Nicky Holland. Those two musicians along with Virginia Astley became The Ravishing Beauties. Although they would never record an album, the trio would perform on albums by bands like Echo & the Bunnymen and Siouxie & the Banshees. The trio came to an end with each member going on to other projects. St. John would become a member of The Dream Academy, who scored the Top 10 hit "Life in a Northern Town" in 1985. Holland would continue to do studio work in addition to songwriting. She has penned songs for Cyndi Lauper, Oleta Adams, and Tears for Fears. Astley embarked on a solo career and has recorded several albums. Her brother Jon would grab a #7 Rock hit in 1987 with "Jane's Getting Serious."
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Tuesday, November 15, 2016
"Jimmy Loves Maryann" by Josie Cotton
Song#: 1850
Date: 04/07/1984
Debut: 95
Peak: 82
Weeks: 4
Genre: Pop, New Wave
Pop Bits: Cotton got some attention when "He Could Be the One," from her debut LP Convertible Music, made it to #74 on the Pop chart. A small part in the movie Valley Girl singing her controversial tune "Johnny Are You Queer?" also helped get her into the spotlight. It set her up well for her follow-up album From the Hip. This first single got things started, but the song didn't catch on and it disappeared quickly after a month on the Pop chart. The lack of a hit doomed the album and soon after Cotton was left off the Elektra roster. Although her Pop chart days were over, she would continue to perform and record over the years. Her song "Johnny Are You Queer?" creeps up every now and then in films and TV shows (it was used in a second season episode of Glee).
ReduxReview: I loved the original version of this song (see below) when I was a kid, so I really wanted to hear Cotton's take. I lucked out and the local used record store had a cut-out of the album for sale and I bought it. I thought the new wave-ish update of the groovy soft rock original was pretty great and I thought it had a good chance to be a hit. Sadly, for whatever reason it stalled early and vanished. It deserved a better fate, as did Cotton. I really liked her retro-girl look and sound. She was a good songwriter as well.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: This is a cover of a song originally done by the band Looking Glass. Their 1973 original version was the first single lifted from the group's second (and last) album Subway Serenade. The song, with a slightly different title of "Jimmy Loves Mary-Anne," peaked at #33 on the Pop chart and #16 AC. It was their second and final Pop chart entry. Looking Glass were more known for their big #1 hit, 1972's "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)." A year or so later, Barry Manilow was recording a cover version of Scott English's tune "Brandy." Not wanting to get his song confused with the recdent Looking Glass hit, Manilow then change the title of the song to "Mandy." That single would also get to #1 in 1974.
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Date: 04/07/1984
Debut: 95
Peak: 82
Weeks: 4
Genre: Pop, New Wave
Pop Bits: Cotton got some attention when "He Could Be the One," from her debut LP Convertible Music, made it to #74 on the Pop chart. A small part in the movie Valley Girl singing her controversial tune "Johnny Are You Queer?" also helped get her into the spotlight. It set her up well for her follow-up album From the Hip. This first single got things started, but the song didn't catch on and it disappeared quickly after a month on the Pop chart. The lack of a hit doomed the album and soon after Cotton was left off the Elektra roster. Although her Pop chart days were over, she would continue to perform and record over the years. Her song "Johnny Are You Queer?" creeps up every now and then in films and TV shows (it was used in a second season episode of Glee).
ReduxReview: I loved the original version of this song (see below) when I was a kid, so I really wanted to hear Cotton's take. I lucked out and the local used record store had a cut-out of the album for sale and I bought it. I thought the new wave-ish update of the groovy soft rock original was pretty great and I thought it had a good chance to be a hit. Sadly, for whatever reason it stalled early and vanished. It deserved a better fate, as did Cotton. I really liked her retro-girl look and sound. She was a good songwriter as well.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: This is a cover of a song originally done by the band Looking Glass. Their 1973 original version was the first single lifted from the group's second (and last) album Subway Serenade. The song, with a slightly different title of "Jimmy Loves Mary-Anne," peaked at #33 on the Pop chart and #16 AC. It was their second and final Pop chart entry. Looking Glass were more known for their big #1 hit, 1972's "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)." A year or so later, Barry Manilow was recording a cover version of Scott English's tune "Brandy." Not wanting to get his song confused with the recdent Looking Glass hit, Manilow then change the title of the song to "Mandy." That single would also get to #1 in 1974.
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Monday, November 14, 2016
"I'm Stepping Out" by John Lennon
Song#: 1849
Date: 03/31/1984
Debut: 82
Peak: 55
Weeks: 6
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: The John Lennon/Yoko Ono album Milk & Honey, put together by Ono after Lennon's death, featured "Nobody Told Me," a posthumous single release by Lennon that found it's way to #5 on the Pop chart. A follow-up single was inevitable and this lead-off track from the album was selected. Unfortunately, it just didn't connect as well with listeners and it peaked before it could get inside the top half of the Pop chart. Rock radio wasn't really all that interested either and it stopped at #34. However, it wouldn't be the last time Lennon would be on the Pop chart. In the mid-90s, three Beatles tracks would get on the chart, including the #6 "Free As a Bird," and in 1988, "Jealous Guy," a track that originally appeared on Lennon's 1971 album Imagine, was issued as a single to promote the documentary film Imagine: John Lennon. The song would get to #80 Pop and #22 AC.
ReduxReview: I was never a big fan of Lennon's post-Beatles work. He did have some terrific songs along the way, but in general I didn't connect with his music. I was always more McCartney than Lennon. Although "Nobody Told Me" was fine, this song just doesn't do it for me. I think the problem stems from it being an unpolished demo and despite the studio work done by Ono & Co., it still sounds unfinished. I do think there is a song existing in here somewhere and it would have been interesting to hear a fully completed version, but as-is the tune sounds unformed and incomplete. Even though it plays more like an idea than a song, Lennon may have been on to something good here. Sadly, we will never know.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: The Milk & Honey album includes the track "Grow Old with Me," which was originally intended for the Lennon/Ono LP Double Fantasy. The song was demoed, but due to time constraints it did not get fully recorded for the album and Lennon's intentions were to complete it for the next LP. Sadly, that did not happen due to his murder. Later in 1994, Ono sent Paul McCartney four songs that Lennon wrote and demoed, including this one. McCartney and the remaining Beatles, Ringo Starr and George Harrison, began to rework the recordings in order to create new songs to be included on an upcoming Beatles anthology series. Using Lennon's original vocals and piano work as the base, the other Beatles and producer Jeff Lynne worked up from there to finish off the songs. From the sessions, two tunes were completed - "Free As a Bird" and "Real Love." Both would be released as singles by the Beatles and peak at #6 and #11 respectively. They attempted to rework "Grow Old with Me," but it was more complicated than the others and it just didn't work out. However, it is rumored that the attempted recordings of the song exist, but who knows where. The song was redone in 1998 in a version that was orchestrated by the Beatles producer George Martin. It appeared on a Lennon anthology box set that year.
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Date: 03/31/1984
Debut: 82
Peak: 55
Weeks: 6
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: The John Lennon/Yoko Ono album Milk & Honey, put together by Ono after Lennon's death, featured "Nobody Told Me," a posthumous single release by Lennon that found it's way to #5 on the Pop chart. A follow-up single was inevitable and this lead-off track from the album was selected. Unfortunately, it just didn't connect as well with listeners and it peaked before it could get inside the top half of the Pop chart. Rock radio wasn't really all that interested either and it stopped at #34. However, it wouldn't be the last time Lennon would be on the Pop chart. In the mid-90s, three Beatles tracks would get on the chart, including the #6 "Free As a Bird," and in 1988, "Jealous Guy," a track that originally appeared on Lennon's 1971 album Imagine, was issued as a single to promote the documentary film Imagine: John Lennon. The song would get to #80 Pop and #22 AC.
ReduxReview: I was never a big fan of Lennon's post-Beatles work. He did have some terrific songs along the way, but in general I didn't connect with his music. I was always more McCartney than Lennon. Although "Nobody Told Me" was fine, this song just doesn't do it for me. I think the problem stems from it being an unpolished demo and despite the studio work done by Ono & Co., it still sounds unfinished. I do think there is a song existing in here somewhere and it would have been interesting to hear a fully completed version, but as-is the tune sounds unformed and incomplete. Even though it plays more like an idea than a song, Lennon may have been on to something good here. Sadly, we will never know.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: The Milk & Honey album includes the track "Grow Old with Me," which was originally intended for the Lennon/Ono LP Double Fantasy. The song was demoed, but due to time constraints it did not get fully recorded for the album and Lennon's intentions were to complete it for the next LP. Sadly, that did not happen due to his murder. Later in 1994, Ono sent Paul McCartney four songs that Lennon wrote and demoed, including this one. McCartney and the remaining Beatles, Ringo Starr and George Harrison, began to rework the recordings in order to create new songs to be included on an upcoming Beatles anthology series. Using Lennon's original vocals and piano work as the base, the other Beatles and producer Jeff Lynne worked up from there to finish off the songs. From the sessions, two tunes were completed - "Free As a Bird" and "Real Love." Both would be released as singles by the Beatles and peak at #6 and #11 respectively. They attempted to rework "Grow Old with Me," but it was more complicated than the others and it just didn't work out. However, it is rumored that the attempted recordings of the song exist, but who knows where. The song was redone in 1998 in a version that was orchestrated by the Beatles producer George Martin. It appeared on a Lennon anthology box set that year.
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Sunday, November 13, 2016
"Communication" by Spandau Ballet
Song#: 1848
Date: 03/31/1984
Debut: 85
Peak: 59
Weeks: 7
Genre: Soft Rock, Blue-Eyed Soul
Pop Bits: After scoring a Top 10 with "True" (#4) and a Top 30 with "Gold" (#29), this British band tried to secure another hit with this third single from their album True. It got off to a good start, but then faltered and peaked short of the top half of the Pop chart. It would also be their only song to reach the US Dance chart (#58) in tandem with another album track, "Lifeline." The song would get to #12 in the UK. Although the album would fall short of gold certification, it still did well reaching #19.
ReduxReview: This is a good song with a catchy chorus, but overall it just wasn't as strong at their previous two singles. The balance of the album was also filled out with some nice material, but "True" and "Gold" eclipsed them by far. Although they had the one big hit, it didn't necessarily translate to a loyal following in the US. I remember the band was scheduled to perform at my college, which had a large concert hall. I got a ticket, which was surprisingly quite up close, and I was excited to see them. However, they ended up cancelling due to very low ticket sales. I was bummed, but looking back, it kind of made sense. They were not nearly popular enough to play a venue that size. A club would have been more appropriate. In the UK, they could have easily filled most any theater. Still, they made a distinct and long-lasting impression around the world with "True."
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: Two members of the band were brothers - Gary and Martin Kemp. Both brothers found themselves enrolled in a children's acting school and began to get roles in films and in TV programs. At one point, Gary decided to quit acting and focus on music. Eventually he would be a co-founder of Spandau Ballet. Early on when the band needed a bassist, Martin joined up. They both put acting aside until 1990 when they were offered the lead roles in The Krays. The Kemps portrayed real life twin brothers Ronnie and Reggie Kray, who were famous English gangsters in the 50s and 60s. The film was generally well-received and the Kemp brothers got good notices for their performances. In 2015, another biopic was made about the Kray brothers. Titled Legend, it starred Tom Hardy, who performed a dual role as both of the twins.
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Date: 03/31/1984
Debut: 85
Peak: 59
Weeks: 7
Genre: Soft Rock, Blue-Eyed Soul
Pop Bits: After scoring a Top 10 with "True" (#4) and a Top 30 with "Gold" (#29), this British band tried to secure another hit with this third single from their album True. It got off to a good start, but then faltered and peaked short of the top half of the Pop chart. It would also be their only song to reach the US Dance chart (#58) in tandem with another album track, "Lifeline." The song would get to #12 in the UK. Although the album would fall short of gold certification, it still did well reaching #19.
ReduxReview: This is a good song with a catchy chorus, but overall it just wasn't as strong at their previous two singles. The balance of the album was also filled out with some nice material, but "True" and "Gold" eclipsed them by far. Although they had the one big hit, it didn't necessarily translate to a loyal following in the US. I remember the band was scheduled to perform at my college, which had a large concert hall. I got a ticket, which was surprisingly quite up close, and I was excited to see them. However, they ended up cancelling due to very low ticket sales. I was bummed, but looking back, it kind of made sense. They were not nearly popular enough to play a venue that size. A club would have been more appropriate. In the UK, they could have easily filled most any theater. Still, they made a distinct and long-lasting impression around the world with "True."
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: Two members of the band were brothers - Gary and Martin Kemp. Both brothers found themselves enrolled in a children's acting school and began to get roles in films and in TV programs. At one point, Gary decided to quit acting and focus on music. Eventually he would be a co-founder of Spandau Ballet. Early on when the band needed a bassist, Martin joined up. They both put acting aside until 1990 when they were offered the lead roles in The Krays. The Kemps portrayed real life twin brothers Ronnie and Reggie Kray, who were famous English gangsters in the 50s and 60s. The film was generally well-received and the Kemp brothers got good notices for their performances. In 2015, another biopic was made about the Kray brothers. Titled Legend, it starred Tom Hardy, who performed a dual role as both of the twins.
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