Song#: 0129
Date: 04/12/1980
Debut: 83
Peak: 38
Weeks: 12
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: Here is one of those songs you would swear was a Top 10 hit. I remember it being all over the radio and kids screaming "love stinks!" in the hallways. However, it did about the same as their first single from the "Love Stinks" album, "Come Back" (covered in a previous entry). Despite chart position, this anthematic song would prove to be one of their most loved hits.
ReduxReview: A big-ass arena song was not really something the band typically did, but they hit the mark just right on this one. I'm pretty sure most everyone during their dating days has screamed these lyrics in anger or while crying - or both. Nothing like a good, angry cry when some asshole or beeyatch just took a club to your heart. I'm not sure, but if love did stink I think it might smell like a butcher shop that caught on fire and was doused with saline solution. Just a hunch.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: Some have speculated that this song was Peter Wolf's response to his divorce from actress Faye Dunaway. Whatever the inspiration, it has been used in several movies including "Mr. Wrong" (done by Joan Jett) and "The Wedding Singer" (sung by Adam Sandler).
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Saturday, November 10, 2012
Friday, November 9, 2012
"Goin' On" by The Beach Boys
Song#: 0128
Date: 04/12/1980
Debut: 84
Peak: 83
Weeks: 3
Genre: Pop
Pop Bits: As the 80s approached, the Beach Boys were having issues. They had only one Top 10 hit in the 70s (1976's "Rock and Roll Music," #5) and the internal struggles were making a mess of the group and their music. They moved to the CBS label and in 1979 issued "L.A. (Light Album)." At this time Brian Wilson's problems were hampering efforts so the band brought back former member Bruce Johnston (who had left the group in 1972) to help and co-produce the album. Critical reception was harsh and the public wasn't buying it either. The follow-up album "Keepin' the Summer Alive" presented even more problems and found the band at their most fractured. Brian Wilson was supposed to help the album (at the urging of CBS), but disputes on the music's direction forced the band to regroup and Bruce Johnston became sole producer of the album with Brian basically stepping to the side. Dennis Wilson abandoned the project early on and is barely represented on the final LP. It also represented an end to a steady stream of albums from the group as it would take five years before releasing their next studio album. This old-fashioned tune would be the first singled from the album.
ReduxReview: I dearly love the "Pet Sounds" era of the group, some of their early songs, and a few later cuts like "Wild Honey" and "Feel Flows," but I've never been a real fan of their music. I especially have never liked these types of doo-wop, waltzy pop tunes and this is no exception. It is the sound of a once-great group unable to sustain their music in a decade where the landscape was changing rapidly.
ReduxRating: 2/10
Trivia: This album would mark the last time Dennis Wilson appeared on a Beach Boys album. Alcohol abuse had been taking its toll through the years and after a day of drinking in 1983, he dived into the waters of a marina and ended up drowning.
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Date: 04/12/1980
Debut: 84
Peak: 83
Weeks: 3
Genre: Pop
Pop Bits: As the 80s approached, the Beach Boys were having issues. They had only one Top 10 hit in the 70s (1976's "Rock and Roll Music," #5) and the internal struggles were making a mess of the group and their music. They moved to the CBS label and in 1979 issued "L.A. (Light Album)." At this time Brian Wilson's problems were hampering efforts so the band brought back former member Bruce Johnston (who had left the group in 1972) to help and co-produce the album. Critical reception was harsh and the public wasn't buying it either. The follow-up album "Keepin' the Summer Alive" presented even more problems and found the band at their most fractured. Brian Wilson was supposed to help the album (at the urging of CBS), but disputes on the music's direction forced the band to regroup and Bruce Johnston became sole producer of the album with Brian basically stepping to the side. Dennis Wilson abandoned the project early on and is barely represented on the final LP. It also represented an end to a steady stream of albums from the group as it would take five years before releasing their next studio album. This old-fashioned tune would be the first singled from the album.
ReduxReview: I dearly love the "Pet Sounds" era of the group, some of their early songs, and a few later cuts like "Wild Honey" and "Feel Flows," but I've never been a real fan of their music. I especially have never liked these types of doo-wop, waltzy pop tunes and this is no exception. It is the sound of a once-great group unable to sustain their music in a decade where the landscape was changing rapidly.
ReduxRating: 2/10
Trivia: This album would mark the last time Dennis Wilson appeared on a Beach Boys album. Alcohol abuse had been taking its toll through the years and after a day of drinking in 1983, he dived into the waters of a marina and ended up drowning.
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"Steal Away" by Robbie Dupree
Top 10 Alert!
Song#: 0127 Date: 04/12/1980
Debut: 85
Peak: 6
Weeks: 23
Genre: Pop, Soft Rock
Pop Bits: Growing up in Brooklyn, Dupree was influenced by R&B and blues music and sang doo-wop with street corner groups. He performed around NYC and in Woodstock, New York, before making the move to L.A. for a solo career. He signed with Elektra and recorded his self-titled debut album. The first single was this slice of blue-eyed soul that could easily fit in the Doobie Brothers catalog.
ReduxReview: This is just a great single. It's like the Doobies had a child with Hall & Oates. In fact, I've been in conversations where folks thought the song was by one of those groups. When I'd tell them it was by Robbie Dupree, they would go "who?" It's unfortunate because he is a solid musician who should get his due.
ReduxRating: 8/10
Trivia: The success of this single lead to a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist in 1981. Unfortunately, that was the year Christopher Cross swept the Grammys including this category.
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Thursday, November 8, 2012
"You've Got What I Needed" by Shooting Star
Song#: 0126
Date: 04/12/1980
Debut: 88
Peak: 76
Weeks: 4
Genre: Rock, Arena Rock
Pop Bits: This Kansas City band always seemed on the brink of making it big but despite several tries they only managed to sit on the edge of stardom with a loyal fan base backing them. Their first brush was being signed by Arista in England, but they were dropped soon after. They got a second chance when Virgin Records (UK) signed them in 1978. So back to England the group went to record their debut album which yielded this minor chart entry. The group would continue to bubble under for many years recording albums and touring with big A-list bands like REO Speedwagon, Heart, and ZZ Top. They would go on to have a couple more small hits but they just never seemed to be able to break wide.
ReduxReview: As with most of their material, this is a solid rock track. I think they needed one really, really great track to push them and I don't think they were able to come up with it. Again, they came close but I guess it just wasn't in the cards for them. But if you like this type of 80s rock, look them up.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: Shooting Star would be the first American band signed by Virgin Records - a UK label. When they went to England to record their first album, it ended up being produced by Gus Dudgeon - Elton John's long-time producer.
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Date: 04/12/1980
Debut: 88
Peak: 76
Weeks: 4
Genre: Rock, Arena Rock
Pop Bits: This Kansas City band always seemed on the brink of making it big but despite several tries they only managed to sit on the edge of stardom with a loyal fan base backing them. Their first brush was being signed by Arista in England, but they were dropped soon after. They got a second chance when Virgin Records (UK) signed them in 1978. So back to England the group went to record their debut album which yielded this minor chart entry. The group would continue to bubble under for many years recording albums and touring with big A-list bands like REO Speedwagon, Heart, and ZZ Top. They would go on to have a couple more small hits but they just never seemed to be able to break wide.
ReduxReview: As with most of their material, this is a solid rock track. I think they needed one really, really great track to push them and I don't think they were able to come up with it. Again, they came close but I guess it just wasn't in the cards for them. But if you like this type of 80s rock, look them up.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: Shooting Star would be the first American band signed by Virgin Records - a UK label. When they went to England to record their first album, it ended up being produced by Gus Dudgeon - Elton John's long-time producer.
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"Say Goodbye to Little Joe" by Steve Forbert
Song#: 0125
Date: 04/12/1980
Debut: 89
Peak: 85
Weeks: 3
Genre: Contemporary Folk, Pop
Pop Bits: It's one thing to be compared to a legendary artist, but it is a whole other ball of shizzle to be called "the next" so-and-so. It is practically a curse. In fact, whenever you have heard a new artist called "the next," how did that end up panning out? Most likely not great. Steve Forbert was one of unfortunate artists to experience this when he was initially hailed as the next Bob Dylan. With his similar vocal sound and writing style, Forbert was a quick fave of critics who placed the burden of the comparison on him. Initially it paid off as his second album produced the #11 hit "Romeo's Tune" and it was followed up with this minor chart entry. But his follow-up albums failed to produce any hits and just as quickly as he was placed on the pedestal, it was knocked out from under him. Making matters worse, a disagreement with his label also hindered his recording career and he was unable to release anything for six years. But Forbert continued on and has been steadily recording and touring since. His most recent album, "Over with You," was release in 2012.
ReduxReview: I had never heard "Romeo's Tune," which is quite a fine song with a memorable piano lick that I'm sure sounded great on the radio. He actually reminds me more of Rod Stewart on this track than Dylan. This follow-up single is good, but nowhere near as catchy as "Romeo." I think he has more in common with John Prine or John Hiatt than Dylan, which is good because I'm not a Dylan fan.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: Forbert has a brief cameo appearance playing Cyndi Lauper's boyfriend in her video for "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun." He appears near the end of the song arriving at the party in a tux and carrying flowers.
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Date: 04/12/1980
Debut: 89
Peak: 85
Weeks: 3
Genre: Contemporary Folk, Pop
Pop Bits: It's one thing to be compared to a legendary artist, but it is a whole other ball of shizzle to be called "the next" so-and-so. It is practically a curse. In fact, whenever you have heard a new artist called "the next," how did that end up panning out? Most likely not great. Steve Forbert was one of unfortunate artists to experience this when he was initially hailed as the next Bob Dylan. With his similar vocal sound and writing style, Forbert was a quick fave of critics who placed the burden of the comparison on him. Initially it paid off as his second album produced the #11 hit "Romeo's Tune" and it was followed up with this minor chart entry. But his follow-up albums failed to produce any hits and just as quickly as he was placed on the pedestal, it was knocked out from under him. Making matters worse, a disagreement with his label also hindered his recording career and he was unable to release anything for six years. But Forbert continued on and has been steadily recording and touring since. His most recent album, "Over with You," was release in 2012.
ReduxReview: I had never heard "Romeo's Tune," which is quite a fine song with a memorable piano lick that I'm sure sounded great on the radio. He actually reminds me more of Rod Stewart on this track than Dylan. This follow-up single is good, but nowhere near as catchy as "Romeo." I think he has more in common with John Prine or John Hiatt than Dylan, which is good because I'm not a Dylan fan.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: Forbert has a brief cameo appearance playing Cyndi Lauper's boyfriend in her video for "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun." He appears near the end of the song arriving at the party in a tux and carrying flowers.
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