"Forever Young" by Rod Stewart

Song#:  3606

Date:  08/06/1988

Debut:  92

Peak:  12

Weeks:  24

Genre:  Pop, Rock

Pop Bits:  After the lackluster performance of his 1986 album Every Beat of My Heart, Stewart got some help from Power Station members Andy Taylor and Bernard Edwards for his next effort Out of Order. The change began to pay off with the LP's first single, "Lost in You," reaching #12 Pop/#3 Rock. Next up for release was this track. It would take a little bit of time to catch on, but it would eventually peak just outside of the Pop Top 10 while getting to #3 AC and #13 Rock. The hit would help the album reach #21 in October of '88, but that would not be its highest position on the chart. A third hit single would make the album rebound to a higher peak in '89. By the end of '88, the album would already be platinum certified; a sales level Stewart hadn't seen since 1981's Body Wishes.

ReduxReview:  This rolling track pushed the sentimentality button for a lot of folks. Although it wasn't a loud, in your face type of arena song, it did come off as an anthem of sorts. The composition sounded like a folks song, but it was pushed into the late 80s with a nice rock production by Stewart and Andy Taylor. It was certainly memorable with Stewart singing "forever young" scads of times throughout the track. There was no doubt as to what the song title was! It was a lovely tune from Stewart that I thought would crack the Top 10, but it stalled just short. He would get over that threshold with his next single.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  The initial inspiration for this song was Stewart's kids. He realized that time was passing by quickly and his work was taking him away from watching his kids grow up (his two younger ones with first wife Alana Hamilton - he would have a newborn in June of '87 with new then girlfriend Kelly Emberg). He altered his lifestyle to spend more time with his kids including taking them on tour. Stewart would write "Forever Young" with his band member Jim Cregan and Kevin Savigar. However, once the song was finished and recorded, someone mentioned that Bob Dylan had a song called "Forever Young." Stewart and his team dug up the track and realized that there were similarities between the two songs. To avoid any potential issues, Stewart's manager sent the song to Dylan to see if he had any problems with Stewart releasing the song. Dylan didn't, however he wanted a cut of the royalties. Stewart agreed. Although Dylan would get royalties from the song, he wouldn't receive a composer credit so further pressings of the album or the songs appearance on any collection usually show just Stewart, Cregan, and Savigar as writers. Stewart would donate his royalties from the single to healthcare organizations for the homeless in the US. Dylan's original "Forever Young" appeared on his 1974 album Planet Waves. It would actually be included twice on the album; once as a slow version and then as a faster one. Neither were released as singles, but the song quickly became a favorite in Dylan's catalog. The album would be Dylan's first to hit #1. Its only charting single was "On a Night Like This," which he recorded with The Band. It got to #44.

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"Off on Your Own (Girl)" by Al B. Sure!

Song#:  3605

Date:  08/06/1988

Debut:  93

Peak:  45

Weeks:  12

Genre:  R&B, New Jack Swing

Pop Bits:  This singer/songwriter nabbed his first R&B #1 hit with "Nite and Day," the first single from his debut album In Effect Mode. The song would also be his first to make the Pop Top 10 getting to #7. For a follow-up, this next track was selected. Over at R&B, the tune would replicate the success of his first single and hit #1. Unfortunately it didn't do as well at Pop where it stalled short of the Top 40. The album had already reached #1 R&B and #20 Pop and a week after this song debuted on the Pop chart, the LP would be certified platinum.

ReduxReview:  "Nite and Day" was a sleek and sexy track that was prime for crossover action. This follow-up didn't quite have the same mainstream appeal. The hook wasn't quite as memorable or catchy and then it kind of veered off in various directions including a pseudo rap section. The whole back end of the tune was kind of scattered and odd. "Nite and Day" was crisp and clean whereas this song was a bit messy and unfocused. There were good elements in it, but as a whole the track didn't fully come together.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  The success that Albert Joseph Brown III, aka Al B. Sure!, had with his first album allowed him to branch out and work with other artists. Among his first ventures was writing and producing for the R&B vocal quartet Jodeci. Brown co-produced six tracks for their 1991 debut album Forever My Lady co-writing two of those tracks; the title track and "Come and Talk to Me." Both songs would be singles and would reach #1 at R&B (#25 and #11 Pop, respectively). The album would hit #1 R&B/#18 Pop and sell over three million copies. He also worked on the debut albums of Prince protégé Tevin Campbell and Usher.

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"Lead Me On" by Amy Grant

Song#:  3604

Date:  08/06/1988

Debut:  96

Peak:  96

Weeks:  2

Genre:  Contemporary Christian

Pop Bits:  This popular Contemporary Christian singer/songwriter edged towards the mainstream with her sixth album Unguarded. The LP would yield a pair of Pop chart entries including the #29 "Find a Way" (#7 AC) and become a platinum seller that reached #35. While it significantly raised Grant's profile, some in the CC community were not necessarily thrilled with her more secular approach. It didn't help matters when she reached #1 Pop with "The Next Time I Fall," a love song duet with Peter Cetera. Whether the minor backlash was a factor or not, for her next effort, Lead Me On, Grant shied away from the mainstream pop she dabbled in and returned to her CC roots. The reversal was welcomed by her core crowd with both the album and its first single, "Saved By Love," hitting #1 on the CC charts. Over in the Pop world, that initial single didn't click and it failed to chart, although it did reach #32 at AC. This second single got to #5 CC while making it to #34 AC. It was able to gain some very slight support at Pop and became a blip on the chart for a couple of weeks. Two more tracks from the album would get to #1 at CC while another would reach #8. Even though mainstream support wasn't as prevalent this time around, the LP got to #71 Pop and became a gold seller. It would also earn her a Grammy for Best Gospel Performance, Female.  In 2001, CCM Magazine would place Lead Me On at #1 on their list of the greatest albums in Christian music.

ReduxReview:  Unguarded had pop-leaning tracks that were fun and catchy. It took Grant's music in a different direction and it paid off. Because of its success, I think most folks were looking for her to do something similar or move even further towards the mainstream music. So the fact that she retreated a bit to more overt CC music with Lead Me On was a bit of a surprise. It was a more serious and mature effort with tracks given a rock production sheen that was different from the synthpop feel of Unguarded. The rolling folk-ish opening track "1974" set the tone with this grand title track showcasing soaring guitars and echoing drums. The album sounded powerful and is arguably Grant's best work. The only problem was that it didn't have any catchy pop hooks so its commercial viability at mainstream radio was limited. This title track is a terrific song, but it just wasn't Pop Top 40 fare. In the long run, it didn't matter because the album was so strong. She would return to hook-laden pop with her next LP and it would become her biggest success featuring some fun pop hits, yet it paled in comparison to the majestic and affecting Lead Me On.

ReduxRating:  8/10

Trivia:  Although it seemed like Unguarded was just a diversion into the mainstream pop world, Grant would push the envelope even further with her 1991 album Hearts in Motion. It featured far less Christian themed tracks than even Unguarded with music and production that rivaled any songs on the Pop chart. The first single, "Baby Baby," caught fire and got to #1 at Pop. In doing so she became the first CC artist to have a solo single top the chart. The song also got to #1 at AC. The album would generate three more Pop Top 10s and another Top 20. The hits would send the album to #10 and over time it would sell over five million copies. "Baby Baby" would get Grammy nods for Song and Record of the Year while Hearts in Motion would get one for Album of the Year. Her next album, House of Love, would also be a pop/CC mix that would reach #13 and go double-platinum thanks mainly to the #18 Pop/#2 AC hit "Lucky One." Her 1997 album Behind the Eyes would get to #8 and go gold. After that, Grant would return to Christian music and on occasion dabble with more secular tunes. Her Christmas albums would be popular with 1992's Home For Christmas hitting #2 Pop and selling over three million copies. As of this posting date, Grant had won six Grammys over nineteen nominations. Her success has often gotten her dubbed as The Queen of Christian Pop.

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"Fallen Angel" by Poison

Song#:  3603

Date:  07/30/1988

Debut:  73

Peak:  12

Weeks:  16

Genre:  Glam Rock

Pop Bits:  Poison earned a second Pop Top 10 hit with "Nothin' But a Good Time," the lead single from their second album Open Up and Say...Ahh! The hit helped the album get to #2 and quickly turn platinum. For a follow up single, this next track was selected. It would nearly get Poison their third Pop Top 10, but it stopped just short at #12. The tune didn't fare as well at Rock where the song stalled at #32. Still, it was enough for the album to reach the double platinum mark a few weeks before this song reached its peak on the Pop chart.

ReduxReview:  This was a good follow-up to "Nothin' But a Good Time." It was well done glam rock with hooks that leaned towards commercial pop/rock. Combined with a video that reflected the story in the lyrics,  it was easy to predict that the tune would either make or get near the Pop Top 10. For some reason, rock radio wasn't on the Poison band wagon. This was only their second single to get on that chart and it peaked quite low.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  The video for this song featured Susie Hatton as a young woman leaving a small town in search of fame in Los Angeles. At the time, Hatton was the girlfriend of Poison's lead singer Brett Michaels. She was a model and an aspiring actress and singer. It seems like her connection to Michaels helped her get a chance at a singing career. Hatton would get signed to Giant Records and work on a debut album that would be titled Body & Soul. Released in 1991, all the LP's songs were co-written by Hatton and Michaels along with Pat Schunk and Mark Konrad. Michaels produced all the tracks. Despite the involvement of Michaels, the album came and went quickly. Hatton would be dropped from Giant and it seems she didn't pursue another deal. It wasn't long after that she and Michaels would end their relationship.

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"A Nightmare on My Street" by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince

Song#:  3602

Date:  07/30/1988

Debut:  74

Peak:  15

Weeks:  16

Genre:  Hip-Hop, Rap

Pop Bits:  The duo's second album, He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper, would be their mainstream breakthrough reaching #4 Pop and #5 R&B thanks to a pair of hits. First, "Parents Just Don't Understand" would make it to #10 R&B and #12 Pop. It would end up being a gold-selling single. Then this follow-up would do similar business getting to #9 R&B and #15 Pop. The two songs helped sell albums and by September of '88 it would be certified double-platinum. In 1995, it would reach the triple-platinum mark.

ReduxReview:  If I hadn't heard tracks from Run-D.M.C. and LL Cool J, maybe I would have liked DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince; or maybe not. Their brand of rap/hip-hop bordered on novelty to me and because of that some of their tunes were kind of fun the first time around, but they quickly got stale and annoying. I think what they did was perfect for a younger crowd (and their parents). For folks who had heard rap tracks by the artists I mention above and others, the duo's work already sounded a bit antiquated. These days, some rap considered old school is still fun to hear and continues to be influential, but tracks like this one from JJ & FP have virtually disappeared becoming nostalgic novelties. This Nightmare-influenced track certainly hasn't aged well. It was silly when it came out and it is even worse now.

ReduxRating:  3/10

Trivia:  This song is basically a tribute/take on the horror film franchise A Nightmare on Elm Street and its famous villain Freddy Krueger and it happened to be written and recorded around the time that the fourth film in the series, subtitled The Dream Master, was in production. Oddly enough, the film's production company and rights owner New Line Cinema was contemplating having a rap act do a theme song for the film along with an associated video. The duo's record label, Jive, contacted New Line about a song the pair had written and were hoping they could do a video that would be released in conjunction with the film. At the same time, New Line was in talks with The Fat Boys to do the theme. Despite that, New Line extended an offer to Jive for the JJ&FP track but they turned it down as the financial portion was too low. New Line then signed on The Fat Boys who came up with "Are You Ready for Freddy." Meanwhile, the He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper album was released, which included the track. New Line noticed and looked into legal action for copyright infringement. To make things worse, the duo filmed a music video of their song that included a Freddy Krueger lookalike. It got aired a few times on MTV, but the channel pulled it once they were notified of a potential lawsuit. In the end, a settlement was agreed upon between New Line and Jive. Some finances were exchanged and future pressings of the album had to include a disclaimer stating "A Nightmare on My Street" was in no way associated with the Nightmare franchise. In addition, all copies of the video had to be destroyed. The agreement also had New Line offering DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince options to star in two films, both of which they turned down. One of those films was House Party, which then got cast with Kid 'n Play and was a hit. In an odd twist, Kid 'n Play were initially pitched a TV series, which eventually became The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air starring - the Fresh Prince Will Smith. The video for "A Nightmare on My Street" was seemingly lost forever and even personal copies that the duo had got lost along the way. However, in 2018 someone discovered they had taped MTV during a time that the video aired and put it out on YouTube. It later got taken down, but at least a copy of it still survives.

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