Song#: 0442
Date: 12/20/1980
Debut: 97
Peak: 94
Weeks: 4
Genre: R&B, Soul, Soundtrack
Pop Bits: There is very little information around for this singer. From what I can tell, she has written songs for R&B artists and was also in a studio group called Siren with fellow singer/songwriter Beverly Bremers. As Siren, they released the single "Morning Music" in 1979 that went on to win the American Song Festival. The two continued to write songs together and this particular one was featured in the 1980 film comedy "Hopscotch," which starred Walter Matthau. This song and it's b-side appear to be the only solo recordings from English.
ReduxReview: Here is the second song of 1980 where I could not find a single snippet or anything of the song. So what did I do? Buy the 45 online! Then copied it over to YouTube. Was the purchase worth it? Sure. It's not a great song, but it is not awful either. For a disco-ish song used in a movie, I'd say it is a cut above some of the other background songs movies have used before. The b-side of "Please Let Me Be the Other Woman" is actually a bit better. It was fun to find this single and get it posted. With a lowly peak of #94, it certainly is an obscure single.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: Although there is not much about English, her writing partner Bremers has an interesting background. She appeared on Broadway in "Hair" and also in the original Tony-nominated Broadway production (and on the cast album) of "The Me Nobody Knows" (1971). Then she signed with Scepter Records and had three pop chart songs including the #15 "Don't Say You Don't Remember." The rest of the decade she didn't seem to have much luck and her collaborations with English didn't really hit big. However, she did very well when she co-wrote "Mousercise" for Disney, a platinum seller. She also had a couple of songs for RCA under the name Barbara Ann that became Northern Soul hits.
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Saturday, July 6, 2013
Friday, July 5, 2013
"Same Old Lang Syne" by Dan Fogelberg
Top 10 Alert!
Song#: 0441 Date: 12/13/1980
Debut: 75
Peak: 9
Weeks: 18
Genre: Pop, Adult Contemporary
Pop Bits: Fogelberg's previous album yielded his first and biggest Top 10 hit, the #2 "Longer," along with the #21 "Hearts Hotel." To herald his upcoming album "The Innocent Age," this single was released far in advance of the double LP. Due to the nature of the song (see below), it may have been rush released ahead of the album in order for it to fit in to the holiday season. It payed off as the song became Fogelberg's second Top 10 hit.
ReduxReview: What a terrific story song. Everything just comes together with the Michael Brecker sax solo at the end tying everything up with a bow. It is a bowl full of introspective melancholy, but it just seems so real, which it was (see below). Even though it wasn't his biggest hit, I think it will be the one that endures the most.
ReduxRating: 9/10
Trivia: This song tells the story of a musician who runs into his old girlfriend at a hometown grocery store on Christmas Eve. The song is based on an actual even that happened to Fogelberg. While visiting his family in Peoria, Illinois, for the holidays, he was sent out to look for whip cream and the only place open was a convenience store. An old girlfriend from high school just happened to be out an an errand as well and they ran into each other at the store. The story in the song is pretty much the way it happened with the exception of a few minor details. The woman who is the focal point of the song admitted to being the person following Fogelberg's death in 2007 and verified the story of the song. Since it takes place on Christmas Eve, the song often gets played during the holiday season and is becoming a standard for that time of year.
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Thursday, July 4, 2013
"I Ain't Gonna Stand for It" by Stevie Wonder
Song#: 0440
Date: 12/13/1980
Debut: 79
Peak: 11
Weeks: 19
Genre: R&B
Pop Bits: Wonder's album "Hotter Than July" got off to a good start when the reggae-influenced track "Master Blaster (Jammin')" hit #5. This follow-up single just barely missed the Top 10 (oh, those pesky #11 peaks!) but it did reach #4 on the AC chart. "Hotter Than July" was Wonder's first album to be eligible for platinum certification, which it did get awarded after the success of these singles.
ReduxReview: Once again I'll state that Wonder is a genius. However, I just don't understand this song at all. The pedal steel guitar, his weird vocals in the verses, and the country-meets R&B/AC thing is just too strange. I really don't know what he was trying to achieve here and for me it doesn't work. Is he mocking country music? Is he experimenting and trying to get in on the "Urban Cowboy" movement that was happening at the time? Whatever the though process or inspiration, knowing it probably wouldn't change my mind about not liking the tune.
ReduxRating: 4/10
Trivia: Although "Hotter Than July" only yielded three chart singles included one Top 10, in the UK the album became his most successful. The LP peaked at #2 and spawned four Top 10 hits including this single which reached #10.
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Date: 12/13/1980
Debut: 79
Peak: 11
Weeks: 19
Genre: R&B
Pop Bits: Wonder's album "Hotter Than July" got off to a good start when the reggae-influenced track "Master Blaster (Jammin')" hit #5. This follow-up single just barely missed the Top 10 (oh, those pesky #11 peaks!) but it did reach #4 on the AC chart. "Hotter Than July" was Wonder's first album to be eligible for platinum certification, which it did get awarded after the success of these singles.
ReduxReview: Once again I'll state that Wonder is a genius. However, I just don't understand this song at all. The pedal steel guitar, his weird vocals in the verses, and the country-meets R&B/AC thing is just too strange. I really don't know what he was trying to achieve here and for me it doesn't work. Is he mocking country music? Is he experimenting and trying to get in on the "Urban Cowboy" movement that was happening at the time? Whatever the though process or inspiration, knowing it probably wouldn't change my mind about not liking the tune.
ReduxRating: 4/10
Trivia: Although "Hotter Than July" only yielded three chart singles included one Top 10, in the UK the album became his most successful. The LP peaked at #2 and spawned four Top 10 hits including this single which reached #10.
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Wednesday, July 3, 2013
"Fool That I Am" by Rita Coolidge
Song#: 0439
Date: 12/13/1980
Debut: 81
Peak: 46
Weeks: 12
Genre: Pop, Soundtrack
Pop Bits: After her two Top 10's in 1977, "(You're Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher" and "We're All Alone" (both cover songs), Coolidge's chart fortunes dwindled. She couldn't seem to get back into the Top 30 and her last single, a duet with Glen Campbell, stalled at #42 ("Somethin' 'Bout You Baby I Like"). She issued her "Greatest Hits" LP in 1980 and it included this single release which was from the film "Coast to Coast." It was not a stellar pop chart showing, but it did reach #15 on the AC chart.
ReduxReview: Although it has good songwriting pedigree with Bruce Roberts and Carol Bayer Sager co-writing, it is quite a bland ballad. I can't say it is a bad song, because it is well-written. But there is just nothing here to latch on to and remember. Nice, but forgettable.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: As her career was beginning, Coolidge met Kris Kristofferson and the pair married in 1973. They also recorded together and ended up winning two Grammy awards for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group in 1974 and 1976. The pair divorced in 1980.
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Date: 12/13/1980
Debut: 81
Peak: 46
Weeks: 12
Genre: Pop, Soundtrack
Pop Bits: After her two Top 10's in 1977, "(You're Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher" and "We're All Alone" (both cover songs), Coolidge's chart fortunes dwindled. She couldn't seem to get back into the Top 30 and her last single, a duet with Glen Campbell, stalled at #42 ("Somethin' 'Bout You Baby I Like"). She issued her "Greatest Hits" LP in 1980 and it included this single release which was from the film "Coast to Coast." It was not a stellar pop chart showing, but it did reach #15 on the AC chart.
ReduxReview: Although it has good songwriting pedigree with Bruce Roberts and Carol Bayer Sager co-writing, it is quite a bland ballad. I can't say it is a bad song, because it is well-written. But there is just nothing here to latch on to and remember. Nice, but forgettable.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: As her career was beginning, Coolidge met Kris Kristofferson and the pair married in 1973. They also recorded together and ended up winning two Grammy awards for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group in 1974 and 1976. The pair divorced in 1980.
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"Breakfast in America" by Supertramp
Song#: 0438
Date: 12/13/1980
Debut: 82
Peak: 62
Weeks: 8
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: After three successful singles from their mega-hit album "Breakfast in America," Supertramp released a live album and issued the single "Dreamer" (#15). The second live single was "Breakfast in America," but somehow that did not catch on. Instead, the song was issued from the same-titled album as its fourth single. By that time, the album had pretty much finished up its run and this song peaked far lower than the other three issued singles. However, this song was issued far earlier in the UK as the album's second single and it peaked at #9 there.
ReduxReview: I know folks recognize this song, but many probably have no idea what the title is. That is probably because it is one of those rare chart songs where the actual title of the song is not included in the lyrics. That makes it kind of hard to request to hear..."um, yeah, can you play that Supertramp song - you know - the one that takes a look at a girlfriend..?" And without a catchy definitive chorus, it makes the song a rather unfortunate choice for a single. Regardless, it is still really good Supertramp from a classic album.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: Apparently the French loved this album. It has become the biggest selling English language album in that country. It beats out Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" and Michael Jackson's "Thriller."
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Date: 12/13/1980
Debut: 82
Peak: 62
Weeks: 8
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: After three successful singles from their mega-hit album "Breakfast in America," Supertramp released a live album and issued the single "Dreamer" (#15). The second live single was "Breakfast in America," but somehow that did not catch on. Instead, the song was issued from the same-titled album as its fourth single. By that time, the album had pretty much finished up its run and this song peaked far lower than the other three issued singles. However, this song was issued far earlier in the UK as the album's second single and it peaked at #9 there.
ReduxReview: I know folks recognize this song, but many probably have no idea what the title is. That is probably because it is one of those rare chart songs where the actual title of the song is not included in the lyrics. That makes it kind of hard to request to hear..."um, yeah, can you play that Supertramp song - you know - the one that takes a look at a girlfriend..?" And without a catchy definitive chorus, it makes the song a rather unfortunate choice for a single. Regardless, it is still really good Supertramp from a classic album.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: Apparently the French loved this album. It has become the biggest selling English language album in that country. It beats out Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" and Michael Jackson's "Thriller."
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