Song#: 0751
Date: 09/26/1981
Debut: 90
Peak: 69
Weeks: 5
Genre: Pop
Pop Bits: The success of his first single, a remake of "It's Now or Never" (#4 country, #14 pop), prompted this follow-up from his debut album. Unfortunately, it didn't grab as much attention and fizzled out before it could crack the top half of the chart. But thanks to the first single (and hit TV show - "The Dukes of Hazzard"), his album "Now or Never" did well and hit #37 on the pop chart (#8 country). While he would go on to top the country music charts, this album would be his best showing at pop.
ReduxReview: Again, Schneider has a good voice but I just don't think it fits this type of pop. He ended up sounding far better as a country artist and as a Broadway singer. Here, all the soul is just sucked out of Richie's song (see below) thanks to his stiff delivery and an arrangement that borders on karaoke. It all just sounds like a quick cash-in project that capitalized on his TV popularity (which it probably was). But he did prove himself later with legit country hits. But this? Yikes...
ReduxRating: 3/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) Yup, another remake. This time around he did a version of the 1979 #1 hit by The Commodores written by Lionel Richie. 2) This song was actually the b-side to his single "Them Good Ol' Boys Are Bad." That song reached #13 at country but failed at pop. But then "Still" got some minor pop attention while not making it to the country chart.
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Saturday, March 15, 2014
Friday, March 14, 2014
"I'm So Glad I'm Standing Here Today" by The Crusaders
Song#: 0750
Date: 09/26/1981
Debut: 98
Peak: 97
Weeks: 3
Genre: Pop, R&B
Pop Bits: The Crusaders had been recording their brand of instrumental jazz, pop, and R&B since 1961 and had a few very minor chart entries along the way. But it was with their 1979 LP "Street Life" that the group found a larger audience. The album reached the Top 20 and spawned the #36 title-track single (#17 R&B). Normally an instrumental band, that single featured vocals by Randy Crawford. It would be the peak moment of their career. Their follow-up LPs (one studio, one live) wouldn't fare as well, but their next album "Standing Tall" contained this very minor chart entry that featured vocals by Joe Cocker. Although it wasn't a major hit, the song got the group and Cocker a Grammy nomination for Best Inspirational Performance. It would also be their last pop chart entry.
ReduxReview: I really wasn't expecting this type of pop-gospel-ish ballad from the group. They try to take the song to church, but I don't think they quite make it there. Cocker sounds pretty good, if slightly subdued, and the sax is nice, but the tune just doesn't sing to me like it should. I guess with the artists involved I just wanted more.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: When the group first formed, they were called The Jazz Crusaders and their focus was on hard bop mixed with R&B. They retained that name for 18 albums over a decade beginning in 1961. They shortened the name for their 1971 album "Pass the Plate" and began to incorporate more funk into their sound. The main era of the group ended in 1991.
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Date: 09/26/1981
Debut: 98
Peak: 97
Weeks: 3
Genre: Pop, R&B
Pop Bits: The Crusaders had been recording their brand of instrumental jazz, pop, and R&B since 1961 and had a few very minor chart entries along the way. But it was with their 1979 LP "Street Life" that the group found a larger audience. The album reached the Top 20 and spawned the #36 title-track single (#17 R&B). Normally an instrumental band, that single featured vocals by Randy Crawford. It would be the peak moment of their career. Their follow-up LPs (one studio, one live) wouldn't fare as well, but their next album "Standing Tall" contained this very minor chart entry that featured vocals by Joe Cocker. Although it wasn't a major hit, the song got the group and Cocker a Grammy nomination for Best Inspirational Performance. It would also be their last pop chart entry.
ReduxReview: I really wasn't expecting this type of pop-gospel-ish ballad from the group. They try to take the song to church, but I don't think they quite make it there. Cocker sounds pretty good, if slightly subdued, and the sax is nice, but the tune just doesn't sing to me like it should. I guess with the artists involved I just wanted more.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: When the group first formed, they were called The Jazz Crusaders and their focus was on hard bop mixed with R&B. They retained that name for 18 albums over a decade beginning in 1961. They shortened the name for their 1971 album "Pass the Plate" and began to incorporate more funk into their sound. The main era of the group ended in 1991.
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Thursday, March 13, 2014
"Atlanta Lady (Something About Your Love)" by Marty Balin
Song#: 0749
Date: 09/19/1981
Debut: 77
Peak: 27
Weeks: 13
Genre: Pop, Adult Contemporary
Pop Bits: Former Jefferson Airplane/Starship member Balin began a solo career with his 1981 album "Balin." It got off to a great start with the #8 hit "Hearts." This follow-up single reached the Top 30, but could not replicate the success of "Hearts." But both helped the album get to #35 on the chart.
ReduxReview: Keeping with the smooth sound that made "Hearts" alluring, Balin issues another good single from his album. Written by the same person who wrote "Hearts" (Jesse Barish), it's a nice, mellow groove that probably sounded great on AC radio (where it peaked at #11).
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: After leaving Jefferson Starship in 1978, Balin produced a rock opera titled "Rock Justice." Loosely based on some of his own experiences, the plot revolved around an artist who, during a recording session, falls asleep and starts dreaming that his bandmates have put him on trial for not being able to produce a hit song. A cast album was recorded, but it did not feature Balin - he directed and co-wrote some of the songs.
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Date: 09/19/1981
Debut: 77
Peak: 27
Weeks: 13
Genre: Pop, Adult Contemporary
Pop Bits: Former Jefferson Airplane/Starship member Balin began a solo career with his 1981 album "Balin." It got off to a great start with the #8 hit "Hearts." This follow-up single reached the Top 30, but could not replicate the success of "Hearts." But both helped the album get to #35 on the chart.
ReduxReview: Keeping with the smooth sound that made "Hearts" alluring, Balin issues another good single from his album. Written by the same person who wrote "Hearts" (Jesse Barish), it's a nice, mellow groove that probably sounded great on AC radio (where it peaked at #11).
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: After leaving Jefferson Starship in 1978, Balin produced a rock opera titled "Rock Justice." Loosely based on some of his own experiences, the plot revolved around an artist who, during a recording session, falls asleep and starts dreaming that his bandmates have put him on trial for not being able to produce a hit song. A cast album was recorded, but it did not feature Balin - he directed and co-wrote some of the songs.
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"Aiming at Your Heart" by The Temptations
Song#: 0748
Date: 09/19/1981
Debut: 83
Peak: 67
Weeks: 5
Genre: R&B
Pop Bits: After leaving the label for a couple of albums, The Temptations returned to Motown with the LP "Power" and its title-track single (#43 pop, #11 R&B). It wasn't the most spectacular return but it setup some attention for their next self-titled album. This first single fared even worse staying in the lower third of the pop chart while only reaching #36 R&B. The LP was their first to not reach the Top 100 on the album chart (#119). It was a rough period for the group as they struggled to find a way to remain popular in the 80s after 15+ hit-making years.
ReduxReview: For The Temptations, this was a bit lackluster. It's not a bad tune and they try to give it that Temps treatment, but it just falls short. With a track record of such quality hits, this one just can't compete. The lack of chart action seems to confirm that assertion.
ReduxRating: 4/10
Trivia: Although the group was in a major slump, they did have one bright spot. They released a Christmas album in 1980 called "Give Love at Christmas." It proved to be popular and reached #6 on the yearly Christmas music chart.
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Date: 09/19/1981
Debut: 83
Peak: 67
Weeks: 5
Genre: R&B
Pop Bits: After leaving the label for a couple of albums, The Temptations returned to Motown with the LP "Power" and its title-track single (#43 pop, #11 R&B). It wasn't the most spectacular return but it setup some attention for their next self-titled album. This first single fared even worse staying in the lower third of the pop chart while only reaching #36 R&B. The LP was their first to not reach the Top 100 on the album chart (#119). It was a rough period for the group as they struggled to find a way to remain popular in the 80s after 15+ hit-making years.
ReduxReview: For The Temptations, this was a bit lackluster. It's not a bad tune and they try to give it that Temps treatment, but it just falls short. With a track record of such quality hits, this one just can't compete. The lack of chart action seems to confirm that assertion.
ReduxRating: 4/10
Trivia: Although the group was in a major slump, they did have one bright spot. They released a Christmas album in 1980 called "Give Love at Christmas." It proved to be popular and reached #6 on the yearly Christmas music chart.
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Wednesday, March 12, 2014
"No Time to Lose" by The Tarney/Spencer Band
Redux Spotlight Alert!
Song#: 0747 Date: 09/19/1981
Debut: 84
Peak: 74
Weeks: 4
Genre: Pop
Pop Bits: Australians Alan Tarney and Trevor Spencer formed this duo in 1975 but they had been working together on other recordings and projects since the late 60s. Throughout the 70s both would support Cliff Richard and the Shadows on many sessions with Tarney formally joining the Shadows in 1973. The duo's first album was a UK-only release in 1976. Then they signed with A&M Records and issued their second album in 1978, which did a little business due to the #86 single "It's Really You." The following year their third album, "Run for Your Life," came out and featured this single. Initially released in 1979, the song reached #84. This lackluster showing got A&M to cancel their contract and the duo broke up. Enter the fledgling MTV channel who began airing the video for this song and it gained enough popularity to have the single reissued two years after its initial release. It peaked slightly higher the second time around, but it wasn't enough to really revive the group.
ReduxReview: This has a lot that I really like - the opening is great and the chorus is like a cross of Fleetwood Mac and Alan Parsons Project. I can't say it is the strongest single, but it if I heard this on the radio, I would have picked it up right away. I like Tarney's work with Cliff Richard and others (see below) and his songwriting is strong, so I'm not too surprised I liked this so much. The surprise is that I didn't know it existed. I think the song deserved a better fate, so I'm Spotlighting this tune as being a terrific lost song from 1981 (or really, 1979). I've already got this album ordered and coming my way!
ReduxRating: 8/10
Trivia: Tarney's career took a turn from performing to being behind the boards. He wrote/co-wrote songs and produced them for Cliff Richard including the hits "We Don't Talk Anymore" (#7, 1979) and "Dreaming" (#10, 1980). But his biggest success would be producing the first three albums for Norwegian group a-ha, who reached #1 with "Take on Me" (1985).
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