Song#: 0878
Date: 01/16/1982
Debut: 79
Peak: 59
Weeks: 7
Genre: Pop, Classical Crossover
Pop Bits: As one of the most famous tenors in the world, Domingo has performed in 80+ operas and has contributed to over 100 recordings since his career took off in the early 60s. As his popularity grew over the years so did his repertoire, which on occasion would include forays into popular music. His first pop-only album came in 1981 when he issued "Perhaps Love." It featured pop standards, Broadway tunes, newer rock standards (like "Yesterday") and a couple collaborations with John Denver including this title-track single. It reached #22 at AC and almost got halfway up the pop chart becoming Domingo's only chart entry. His album was derided by classical purists, but Domingo has said that doing this project afforded him the opportunity to perform and record more obscure classical works. Plus, it introduce him and classical music to those who had not been exposed to the genre previously.
ReduxReview: Why was this a good idea? It's just my opinion, but for me true opera singers should not sing pop and pop singers should not sing opera. There are exceptions where a crossover collaboration can be a unique success, but those are extremely rare. In this case, Domingo's tenor and Denver's plaintive voice do not mix well. Add to that a weak Denver composition and you are left with this odd experiment that just didn't work.
ReduxRating: 3/10
Trivia: Although the album cover states as by "Placido Domingo with John Denver," Denver only sings on this one track and provides guitar on another. It was a marketing ploy that worked well drawing AC and Denver fans to the album. Denver wrote this title track and also played guitar on Domingo's cover of Denver's hit "Annie's Song." Denver included his own solo version of "Perhaps Love" on his 1982 LP "Seasons of the Heart."
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Saturday, June 7, 2014
Friday, June 6, 2014
"Daddy's Home" by Cliff Richard
Song#: 0877
Date: 01/16/1982
Debut: 80
Peak: 23
Weeks: 13
Genre: Pop
Pop Bits: Richard's album "Wired for Sound" killed his momentum a bit when the LP's first single, the title track, only managed a #71 showing. But this second single got him further up the chart giving him his final Top 40 hit. The song basically capped off the most successful chapter in his US output that began with 1976's "Devil Woman" (#6). Although all other songs on the album were recorded in the studio, this album closer was taken from a live concert performance.
ReduxReview: Although kind of a classic doo-wop song (see below), it was one that I just didn't like. And still don't. Richard does well with the song, but it is so old fashioned that I'm really surprised it became a minor hit. Perhaps nostalgic AC listeners gave it a push. Someone had to. It certainly wasn't me.
ReduxRating: 4/10
Trivia: This song is a cover version a song done by the doo-wop group Shep and the Limelites. Their original version reached #2 on the chart in 1961. It was their only Top 10 hit. Jermaine Jackson took the song to #3 in 1973, making it his first Top 10 solo hit.
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Date: 01/16/1982
Debut: 80
Peak: 23
Weeks: 13
Genre: Pop
Pop Bits: Richard's album "Wired for Sound" killed his momentum a bit when the LP's first single, the title track, only managed a #71 showing. But this second single got him further up the chart giving him his final Top 40 hit. The song basically capped off the most successful chapter in his US output that began with 1976's "Devil Woman" (#6). Although all other songs on the album were recorded in the studio, this album closer was taken from a live concert performance.
ReduxReview: Although kind of a classic doo-wop song (see below), it was one that I just didn't like. And still don't. Richard does well with the song, but it is so old fashioned that I'm really surprised it became a minor hit. Perhaps nostalgic AC listeners gave it a push. Someone had to. It certainly wasn't me.
ReduxRating: 4/10
Trivia: This song is a cover version a song done by the doo-wop group Shep and the Limelites. Their original version reached #2 on the chart in 1961. It was their only Top 10 hit. Jermaine Jackson took the song to #3 in 1973, making it his first Top 10 solo hit.
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Thursday, June 5, 2014
"Let's Get It Up" by AC/DC
Song#: 0876
Date: 01/16/1982
Debut: 81
Peak: 44
Weeks: 9
Genre: Hard Rock, Arena Rock
Pop Bits: Following up the group's hugely successful first album with lead singer Brian Johnson, Back in Black, they issued another winner with For Those About to Rock We Salute You. The album shot up to #1 thanks in part to this first single that reached #9 on the Mainstream Rock chart. The harder rock sound and lightly salacious lyrics (barely PG by today's standards) may have prevented this song from going higher on the pop chart, but it did well by almost getting into the Top 40.
ReduxReview: I like this song, but it's not among my faves in their catalog. While it remains a fan favorite, it has gotten lost over the years in favor of their signature tracks like "Back in Black" and the title track to For Those About to Rock. I can kind of see why because it's just not as strong of a song as those. For me, it doesn't stick in my head like those big anthems. It might have been a popular back in the day, but now I think folks have forgotten it.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: The For Those About to Rock album finally got AC/DC their first #1 album. But throughout the 80s and 90s, the group wasn't able to score another chart topper. That is until 2008 when their first album in eight years, Black Ice, was issued. As a product exclusive only to Wal-Mart (there was no digital release), it was promoted as an event title and it paid off. The album debuted at #1 becoming their second to reach the top - albeit 26 years after For Those hit that peak. But that is not a record wait. The title is held by Johnny Cash who hit #1 in 1969 with Johnny Cash at San Quentin and then finally returned to the top spot in 2006 with American V: A Hundred Highways. That was a 36-year wait for the Man in Black.
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Date: 01/16/1982
Debut: 81
Peak: 44
Weeks: 9
Genre: Hard Rock, Arena Rock
Pop Bits: Following up the group's hugely successful first album with lead singer Brian Johnson, Back in Black, they issued another winner with For Those About to Rock We Salute You. The album shot up to #1 thanks in part to this first single that reached #9 on the Mainstream Rock chart. The harder rock sound and lightly salacious lyrics (barely PG by today's standards) may have prevented this song from going higher on the pop chart, but it did well by almost getting into the Top 40.
ReduxReview: I like this song, but it's not among my faves in their catalog. While it remains a fan favorite, it has gotten lost over the years in favor of their signature tracks like "Back in Black" and the title track to For Those About to Rock. I can kind of see why because it's just not as strong of a song as those. For me, it doesn't stick in my head like those big anthems. It might have been a popular back in the day, but now I think folks have forgotten it.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: The For Those About to Rock album finally got AC/DC their first #1 album. But throughout the 80s and 90s, the group wasn't able to score another chart topper. That is until 2008 when their first album in eight years, Black Ice, was issued. As a product exclusive only to Wal-Mart (there was no digital release), it was promoted as an event title and it paid off. The album debuted at #1 becoming their second to reach the top - albeit 26 years after For Those hit that peak. But that is not a record wait. The title is held by Johnny Cash who hit #1 in 1969 with Johnny Cash at San Quentin and then finally returned to the top spot in 2006 with American V: A Hundred Highways. That was a 36-year wait for the Man in Black.
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"I Believe" by Chilliwack
Song#: 0875
Date: 01/16/1982
Debut: 83
Peak: 33
Weeks: 11
Genre: Soft Rock
Pop Bits: Chilliwack broke through to the US Top 40 with their #22 single "My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone)" from their album "Wanna Be a Star." This follow-up didn't do as well, but it got them their second, and final, Top 40 entry. It became their fourth top 10 in Canada reaching #7. The album had a loose concept about the road to becoming a famous rock musician. Song titles that played into this theme were "Sign Here," "(So You) Wanna Be a Star," and "Mister Rock."
ReduxReview: Although not as hooky and memorable as "My Girl," this is a nice, easy tune that most likely sounded pretty good on the radio at the time. There were a few similar sounding songs then that ended up charting higher, but I'd probably choose to hear this one. I think it should have done a little bit better.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: So what is up with the group's name? It is the name of a town in the group's home country of Canada, located in the British Columbia region on the west coast. The town is located near the major city of Vancouver, which is where the band was formed.
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Date: 01/16/1982
Debut: 83
Peak: 33
Weeks: 11
Genre: Soft Rock
Pop Bits: Chilliwack broke through to the US Top 40 with their #22 single "My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone)" from their album "Wanna Be a Star." This follow-up didn't do as well, but it got them their second, and final, Top 40 entry. It became their fourth top 10 in Canada reaching #7. The album had a loose concept about the road to becoming a famous rock musician. Song titles that played into this theme were "Sign Here," "(So You) Wanna Be a Star," and "Mister Rock."
ReduxReview: Although not as hooky and memorable as "My Girl," this is a nice, easy tune that most likely sounded pretty good on the radio at the time. There were a few similar sounding songs then that ended up charting higher, but I'd probably choose to hear this one. I think it should have done a little bit better.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: So what is up with the group's name? It is the name of a town in the group's home country of Canada, located in the British Columbia region on the west coast. The town is located near the major city of Vancouver, which is where the band was formed.
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Wednesday, June 4, 2014
"Bobbie Sue" by Oak Ridge Boys
Song#: 0874
Date: 01/16/1982
Debut: 85
Peak: 12
Weeks: 14
Genre: Country Crossover
Pop Bits: After years in the gospel/country business, the Oaks hit it big in the country-pop arena with "Elvira" (#5 pop, #1 country) from their album "Fancy Free." They scored a second country #1 from the album with the title track, but it failed to make the pop chart. However, the title-track single from their follow-up album "Bobbie Sue" got them back on the pop chart and almost into the Top 10. It became their sixth #1 on the country chart. The song also got them a Grammy nod for Best Country & Western Performance, Duo or Group.
ReduxReview: This song has a fun late 50s-ish doo-wop/rock feel. It kind of reminds me of The Coasters' hit "Charlie Brown" (#2, 1959). Of course, the Oaks' bass vocalist Richard Sterban is the stand out as he was on "Elvira." The song is not a real favorite of mine, but it's a good early rock knock-off that the Oaks perform well.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: The song was co-written by Wood Newton. He released an album in 1979 that included three minor country chart entries. After that, he went on to co-write six other country Top 10 hits including this #1 and "Midnight Hauler," which was a #1 hit for Razzie Bailey in 1981.
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Date: 01/16/1982
Debut: 85
Peak: 12
Weeks: 14
Genre: Country Crossover
Pop Bits: After years in the gospel/country business, the Oaks hit it big in the country-pop arena with "Elvira" (#5 pop, #1 country) from their album "Fancy Free." They scored a second country #1 from the album with the title track, but it failed to make the pop chart. However, the title-track single from their follow-up album "Bobbie Sue" got them back on the pop chart and almost into the Top 10. It became their sixth #1 on the country chart. The song also got them a Grammy nod for Best Country & Western Performance, Duo or Group.
ReduxReview: This song has a fun late 50s-ish doo-wop/rock feel. It kind of reminds me of The Coasters' hit "Charlie Brown" (#2, 1959). Of course, the Oaks' bass vocalist Richard Sterban is the stand out as he was on "Elvira." The song is not a real favorite of mine, but it's a good early rock knock-off that the Oaks perform well.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: The song was co-written by Wood Newton. He released an album in 1979 that included three minor country chart entries. After that, he went on to co-write six other country Top 10 hits including this #1 and "Midnight Hauler," which was a #1 hit for Razzie Bailey in 1981.
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