Song#: 1308
Date: 01/15/1983
Debut: 76
Peak: 38
Weeks: 11
Genre: Pop
Pop Bits: Newton-John found herself excessively busy following the mega-success of her "Physical" single and album. To keep her music career on track, "Olivia's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2" was issued. It contained eight of her hits and two brand new songs. The first new song, "Heart Attack," was issued as a single and reached #3. This second new song was then pushed out as a follow-up. The single found its way into the Top 40, but that was all it could do.
ReduxReview: This is a good song from Newton-John, but it's just not as strong as some of her recent hit singles. It's missing that extra oomph that made songs like "Physical" and "Magic" such immediate attention getters. You could hear them once and get hooked immediately. This song is a slow burner. It takes a few listens to settle into your brain. I like the song and its arrangement, but it's not one of her better singles.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: Newton-John's song "Hopelessly Devoted to You" (#3, 1978) from the movie "Grease" was nominated for an Oscar. But it wasn't the first song she sang to get an Oscar nomination. In 1975 she sang the theme song to the film "The Other Side of the Mountain." Titled "Richard's Window," the song was featured on the soundtrack but not released as a single. The song's writers received an Oscar nod for Best Song. It's a rare track by Newton-John that has never been issued anywhere except on the film's original soundtrack LP.
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Saturday, June 27, 2015
Friday, June 26, 2015
"Dreamin' Is Easy" by Steel Breeze
Song#: 1307
Date: 01/15/1983
Debut: 80
Peak: 30
Weeks: 13
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: Steel Breeze's first single, "You Don't Want Me Anymore," was an immediate success reaching #16 on the pop chart. They grabbed one more Top 30 entry with this second single from their self-titled debut album. This should have set them up for further success, but the band ended up losing their record deal and basically split. They regrouped (with personnel changes) and would independently issues four more albums, but nothing would come close to their successful debut. This single would be their last to reach the pop chart.
ReduxReview: This song is not as good as "You Don't Want Me Anymore," but it is a worthy follow-up. It has catchy new wave feel to it with a chorus that almost sounds like it could be a theme from an 80s TV sitcom. It's a shame that it all kind of fell apart for them. At least they were able to get out a fun debut album full of good songs.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: Apparently, the band got their name from a Pink Floyd song. In the track "Shine on You Crazy Diamond," from their 1975 album "Wish You Were Here," there is the line "You were caught on the crossfire of childhood and stardom, blown on the steel breeze." That last little bit of the line was captured for the band's name.
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Date: 01/15/1983
Debut: 80
Peak: 30
Weeks: 13
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: Steel Breeze's first single, "You Don't Want Me Anymore," was an immediate success reaching #16 on the pop chart. They grabbed one more Top 30 entry with this second single from their self-titled debut album. This should have set them up for further success, but the band ended up losing their record deal and basically split. They regrouped (with personnel changes) and would independently issues four more albums, but nothing would come close to their successful debut. This single would be their last to reach the pop chart.
ReduxReview: This song is not as good as "You Don't Want Me Anymore," but it is a worthy follow-up. It has catchy new wave feel to it with a chorus that almost sounds like it could be a theme from an 80s TV sitcom. It's a shame that it all kind of fell apart for them. At least they were able to get out a fun debut album full of good songs.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: Apparently, the band got their name from a Pink Floyd song. In the track "Shine on You Crazy Diamond," from their 1975 album "Wish You Were Here," there is the line "You were caught on the crossfire of childhood and stardom, blown on the steel breeze." That last little bit of the line was captured for the band's name.
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Thursday, June 25, 2015
"I Can't Stand Still" by Don Henley
Song#: 1306
Date: 01/15/1983
Debut: 83
Peak: 48
Weeks: 11
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: After the gold success of his #3 hit "Dirty Laundry," Henley released this title-track single from his debut solo album. Despite coming on the heels of his biggest solo hit, the song didn't catch on and it failed to reach the Top 40. Rock radio ignored the tune but another song on the album ended up getting a few spins. The track "You Better Hang Up" nicked the Mainstream Rock chart at #44.
ReduxReview: This mid-tempo track didn't win me over with its lumbering beat and swirling keyboard. It's just not a good single. The strength of "Dirty Laundry" probably helped to push this song further up the chart. If it wasn't for that, I would venture to guess that this single would have totally flopped. There were no other surefire hits on the album, but there were better choices than this one.
ReduxRating: 4/10
Trivia: While still in college, Henley joined a country rock band that eventually became known as Shiloh. Thanks to a chance meeting, the band found a fan in Kenny Rogers, who was having success at the time with his band The First Edition. Rogers invited them out to Los Angeles to do some recording. They did and the song "Jennifer (O' My Lady)" got issued as a single on Amos Records. It did well enough on a local level to call for a full album from the band. With Kenny Rogers producing, Shiloh issued their self-titled debut in 1970. Unfortunately, it went nowhere and the band went their own ways with Henley joining Glenn Frey in Linda Ronstadt's backing band (the initial beginnings of the Eagles). Another member of Shiloh also had a significant music career. Jim Ed Norman went on to be a noted string arranger and producer who worked with the Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, Anne Murray, Crystal Gayle, and many others. He later served as the president of Warner Bros. Nashville from 1984 through 2004.
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Date: 01/15/1983
Debut: 83
Peak: 48
Weeks: 11
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: After the gold success of his #3 hit "Dirty Laundry," Henley released this title-track single from his debut solo album. Despite coming on the heels of his biggest solo hit, the song didn't catch on and it failed to reach the Top 40. Rock radio ignored the tune but another song on the album ended up getting a few spins. The track "You Better Hang Up" nicked the Mainstream Rock chart at #44.
ReduxReview: This mid-tempo track didn't win me over with its lumbering beat and swirling keyboard. It's just not a good single. The strength of "Dirty Laundry" probably helped to push this song further up the chart. If it wasn't for that, I would venture to guess that this single would have totally flopped. There were no other surefire hits on the album, but there were better choices than this one.
ReduxRating: 4/10
Trivia: While still in college, Henley joined a country rock band that eventually became known as Shiloh. Thanks to a chance meeting, the band found a fan in Kenny Rogers, who was having success at the time with his band The First Edition. Rogers invited them out to Los Angeles to do some recording. They did and the song "Jennifer (O' My Lady)" got issued as a single on Amos Records. It did well enough on a local level to call for a full album from the band. With Kenny Rogers producing, Shiloh issued their self-titled debut in 1970. Unfortunately, it went nowhere and the band went their own ways with Henley joining Glenn Frey in Linda Ronstadt's backing band (the initial beginnings of the Eagles). Another member of Shiloh also had a significant music career. Jim Ed Norman went on to be a noted string arranger and producer who worked with the Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, Anne Murray, Crystal Gayle, and many others. He later served as the president of Warner Bros. Nashville from 1984 through 2004.
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"Don't Tell Me You Love Me" by Night Ranger
Song#: 1305
Date: 01/15/1983
Debut: 86
Peak: 40
Weeks: 11
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: Jack Blades and Brad Gillis were members of a San Francisco-based soft rock band called Rubicon who would grab one minor hit in 1978 with "I'm Gonna Take Care of Everything" (#28). Unfortunately, Rubicon would fold the following year so Blades and Gillis decided to developed a new band with a harder rock edge. Boardwalk Records signed Night Ranger and issued their debut album "Dawn Patrol." This first single became a hit on rock radio peaking at #4. It proved to be popular enough to crossover to the pop chart where it reached the Top 40 - just barely.
ReduxReview: I remember this tune quite well. Night Ranger were a hot band on our local rock station, so this was played a lot. I think they had really good commercial appeal and their music leaned that way as well. They didn't necessarily impress the critics, but if you like fluffy, inoffensive rock, Night Ranger can be a pretty sweet listen. I enjoy them and this single was a good way to get their career kicked off.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: The group was initially called Ranger when recording their first album. At the time it was the go-ahead name and so the initial printing of albums listed the band as Ranger. However, there was a country group called The Rangers that had issues with that name. So the band decided to change their name to Night Ranger, which happened to be the closing song on the album. The initial printings of the Ranger album had not been distributed yet, so the label destroyed them and did a reprint for the new band name of Night Ranger.
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Date: 01/15/1983
Debut: 86
Peak: 40
Weeks: 11
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: Jack Blades and Brad Gillis were members of a San Francisco-based soft rock band called Rubicon who would grab one minor hit in 1978 with "I'm Gonna Take Care of Everything" (#28). Unfortunately, Rubicon would fold the following year so Blades and Gillis decided to developed a new band with a harder rock edge. Boardwalk Records signed Night Ranger and issued their debut album "Dawn Patrol." This first single became a hit on rock radio peaking at #4. It proved to be popular enough to crossover to the pop chart where it reached the Top 40 - just barely.
ReduxReview: I remember this tune quite well. Night Ranger were a hot band on our local rock station, so this was played a lot. I think they had really good commercial appeal and their music leaned that way as well. They didn't necessarily impress the critics, but if you like fluffy, inoffensive rock, Night Ranger can be a pretty sweet listen. I enjoy them and this single was a good way to get their career kicked off.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: The group was initially called Ranger when recording their first album. At the time it was the go-ahead name and so the initial printing of albums listed the band as Ranger. However, there was a country group called The Rangers that had issues with that name. So the band decided to change their name to Night Ranger, which happened to be the closing song on the album. The initial printings of the Ranger album had not been distributed yet, so the label destroyed them and did a reprint for the new band name of Night Ranger.
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Wednesday, June 24, 2015
"Windows" by Missing Persons
Song#: 1304
Date: 01/15/1983
Debut: 88
Peak: 63
Weeks: 8
Genre: New Wave, Synthpop
Pop Bits: The first two singles from Missing Persons' album "Spring Session M," "Words" and "Destination Unknown," both peaked at #42. Still looking for a song to break into the Top 40, this third single was issued. Unfortunately, it fared a bit worse and stalled before even hitting the top half of the chart.
ReduxReview: Here is another radio-ready song from the band that once again failed to make any significant waves. I'm not exactly sure why their songs were not bigger hits. The only thing I can think of is that pop radio was just beginning to warm up to this type of synthpop so there may have been reluctance to shove a song like this between Lionel Richie and Toto. I would bet that had their album and singles been released a year later, the band would have had a lot more success. However, being a cult-ish early leader of a style has a certain cool-factor that can last longer than actual hits.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: In a "before they were famous" moment, Missing Persons appeared in the 1981 sex-romp comedy "Lunch Wagon." They played a band (duh!) called U.S. Drag. That band name would become the title of one of their songs that would appear on "Spring Session M." Throughout the film they performed two of their early songs, "Mental Hopscotch" and "I Like Boys." Both songs were from their 1980 debut EP.
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Date: 01/15/1983
Debut: 88
Peak: 63
Weeks: 8
Genre: New Wave, Synthpop
Pop Bits: The first two singles from Missing Persons' album "Spring Session M," "Words" and "Destination Unknown," both peaked at #42. Still looking for a song to break into the Top 40, this third single was issued. Unfortunately, it fared a bit worse and stalled before even hitting the top half of the chart.
ReduxReview: Here is another radio-ready song from the band that once again failed to make any significant waves. I'm not exactly sure why their songs were not bigger hits. The only thing I can think of is that pop radio was just beginning to warm up to this type of synthpop so there may have been reluctance to shove a song like this between Lionel Richie and Toto. I would bet that had their album and singles been released a year later, the band would have had a lot more success. However, being a cult-ish early leader of a style has a certain cool-factor that can last longer than actual hits.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: In a "before they were famous" moment, Missing Persons appeared in the 1981 sex-romp comedy "Lunch Wagon." They played a band (duh!) called U.S. Drag. That band name would become the title of one of their songs that would appear on "Spring Session M." Throughout the film they performed two of their early songs, "Mental Hopscotch" and "I Like Boys." Both songs were from their 1980 debut EP.
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