Song#: 0306
Date: 08/23/1980
Debut: 87
Peak: 55
Weeks: 8
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: This third single from their "Departure" album was not a double-sided song, but two consecutive tracks on the album released as one song. On the album there is actually a further prelude with the title track of the album, kind of making this a mini-suite of song. But adding that extra 40 seconds or so was not optimal for a single, so these two were issued together.
ReduxReview: This was an interesting choice for a single. "Good Morning Girl" is a pretty tune with Steve Perry's voice soaring above strings, but "Stay Awhile" is more of a rock ballad that probably sounded good on the radio. I think they should have just stuck with that song for the single. It's a quick three minute power ballad that hits the right marks.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: While in Japan on tour, the band recorded the soundtrack to the Japanese film "Yumi, Yumi No Ato." The subsequent album "Dream, After Dream" came out in December, 1980. The album moves away from their arena rock sound back towards their prog-rock days and only features three vocal tracks. Although it was mainly a Japanese release and didn't see any chart action, the album is seen as an undiscovered gem in their catalog.
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Tuesday, April 2, 2013
"I Got You" by Split Enz
Song#: 0305
Date: 08/23/1980
Debut: 88
Peak: 53
Weeks: 11
Genre: Pop, New Wave
Pop Bits: This New Zealand group had been together almost a decade before finally getting this lone single on the US chart. They began to forma as a group in 1971 and after a few years they obtained a solid following in New Zealand, finally issuing their debut album "Mental Notes" in 1974. At the time, the band's prog-rock sound and theatrical stage shows made them unique, but breaking in to other countries was difficult as many people and critics just didn't get them. By 1980 their struggles and personnel changes gave them an opportunity to update the group and direction. The prog-rock took a backseat to new wave and they issued the "True Colours" album in 1980. This poppy first single brought them a significant hit and finally broke them to a larger audience, including the US. The next couple of years would be their peak commercial success, but by 1984 there were more personnel changes and the last iteration of the group issued one more LP and then called it quits.
ReduxReview: I complete forgot about this song! I remember the group name but thought that I didn't know this song, but I do. It has a chorus that is kind of hard to forget if you are into 80's new wave. I may have gotten this mixed up and thought Squeeze did this. Regardless, I like this song a lot and it just screams 80s music. Love the dark verse vs. the bright chorus too. I'm gonna have to dig back into this period of Split Enz and see if there are other gems.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) One founding member of the group was Tim Finn. His brother Neil joined the group in the late 70s. If the brothers sound familiar, they each have had success separately and together after Split Enz. Neil went on to form Crowded House, who had a couple of hits later in the 80s. Tim went on to a solo career and had great success in New Zealand and Australia. He also joined Crowded House for one album before resuming his solo work. The pair has also recorded together as The Finn Brothers. 2) The group was original called Split Ends, but in a not to their native New Zealand, they altered the spelling to "nz" in Enz.
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Date: 08/23/1980
Debut: 88
Peak: 53
Weeks: 11
Genre: Pop, New Wave
Pop Bits: This New Zealand group had been together almost a decade before finally getting this lone single on the US chart. They began to forma as a group in 1971 and after a few years they obtained a solid following in New Zealand, finally issuing their debut album "Mental Notes" in 1974. At the time, the band's prog-rock sound and theatrical stage shows made them unique, but breaking in to other countries was difficult as many people and critics just didn't get them. By 1980 their struggles and personnel changes gave them an opportunity to update the group and direction. The prog-rock took a backseat to new wave and they issued the "True Colours" album in 1980. This poppy first single brought them a significant hit and finally broke them to a larger audience, including the US. The next couple of years would be their peak commercial success, but by 1984 there were more personnel changes and the last iteration of the group issued one more LP and then called it quits.
ReduxReview: I complete forgot about this song! I remember the group name but thought that I didn't know this song, but I do. It has a chorus that is kind of hard to forget if you are into 80's new wave. I may have gotten this mixed up and thought Squeeze did this. Regardless, I like this song a lot and it just screams 80s music. Love the dark verse vs. the bright chorus too. I'm gonna have to dig back into this period of Split Enz and see if there are other gems.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) One founding member of the group was Tim Finn. His brother Neil joined the group in the late 70s. If the brothers sound familiar, they each have had success separately and together after Split Enz. Neil went on to form Crowded House, who had a couple of hits later in the 80s. Tim went on to a solo career and had great success in New Zealand and Australia. He also joined Crowded House for one album before resuming his solo work. The pair has also recorded together as The Finn Brothers. 2) The group was original called Split Ends, but in a not to their native New Zealand, they altered the spelling to "nz" in Enz.
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Monday, April 1, 2013
"You Can Call Me Blue" by Michael Johnson
Song#: 0304
Date: 08/23/1980
Debut: 89
Peak: 86
Weeks: 3
Genre: Pop, Adult Contemporary
Pop Bits: Before venturing off into a full-fledged solo career, Johnson joined the Chad Mitchell Trio in 1967, which featured another soon-to-be-famous singer, John Denver. But with none of the original members left in the group, they changed the name to Denver, Boise, and Johnson and continued on for a short time. A few years later, Johnson issued his first solo album, "There Is a Breeze," which didn't make much of an impact. A couple of self-produced albums didn't fare much better, but when his demo of the Randy Goodrum song "Bluer Than Blue" made its way to EMI, they signed him and issued "The Michael Johnson Album" in 1978 featuring that #12 hit. He returned to the Top 20 the following year with "This Night Won't Last Forever," but it would be his last one to get that far up the chart. This single from the album of the same name became his last pop chart entry. However, he would have success later in the 80s on the country chart capturing five Top 10 hits including two #1's.
ReduxReview: This is a nicely written song that leans toward the country-crossover sound. I'm not sure it is a tune that might stand out on pop (or country) radio, but it is worthy of a listen for anyone who likes this soft-rock-folk-country ala James Taylor-type of music. Plus, his two Top 20 hits mentioned above are pretty terrific.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: After the Denver, Boise, and Johnson trio disbanded, Johnson switched gears and landed a part in the off-Broadway and touring production of "Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris."
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Date: 08/23/1980
Debut: 89
Peak: 86
Weeks: 3
Genre: Pop, Adult Contemporary
Pop Bits: Before venturing off into a full-fledged solo career, Johnson joined the Chad Mitchell Trio in 1967, which featured another soon-to-be-famous singer, John Denver. But with none of the original members left in the group, they changed the name to Denver, Boise, and Johnson and continued on for a short time. A few years later, Johnson issued his first solo album, "There Is a Breeze," which didn't make much of an impact. A couple of self-produced albums didn't fare much better, but when his demo of the Randy Goodrum song "Bluer Than Blue" made its way to EMI, they signed him and issued "The Michael Johnson Album" in 1978 featuring that #12 hit. He returned to the Top 20 the following year with "This Night Won't Last Forever," but it would be his last one to get that far up the chart. This single from the album of the same name became his last pop chart entry. However, he would have success later in the 80s on the country chart capturing five Top 10 hits including two #1's.
ReduxReview: This is a nicely written song that leans toward the country-crossover sound. I'm not sure it is a tune that might stand out on pop (or country) radio, but it is worthy of a listen for anyone who likes this soft-rock-folk-country ala James Taylor-type of music. Plus, his two Top 20 hits mentioned above are pretty terrific.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: After the Denver, Boise, and Johnson trio disbanded, Johnson switched gears and landed a part in the off-Broadway and touring production of "Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris."
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"Switchin' to Glide/This Beat Goes On" by The Kings
Song#: 0303
Date: 08/23/1980
Debut: 90
Peak: 43
Weeks: 23
Genre: Rock, Power Pop
Pop Bits: This Canadian rock band got picked up by Elektra Records and with the help of producer Bob Ezrin (Alice Cooper, Pink Floyd), their debut LP "The Kings Are Here" came out in 1980. This first single actually peaked twice on the chart (see below) and finally came close to cracking the Top 40. It was solid enough for a second LP, "Amazon Beach," to get released the following year, but it was not as successful as their debut. Consequently, the group was dropped by Elektra. The Kings continued to tour and release a few recordings on their own label, but this lone chart hit remains their most recognizable tune.
ReduxReview: I've chatted with a few folks about this song and it's odd that most have the same feeling - they don't know why the two songs are combined (see below) and they prefer just listening to "Switchin' to Glide." On one of the YouTube versions of this song there was a rather crude, but funny comment regarding the two songs that said: "Why the fuck doesn't anyone have 'Glide' separate from the shitty first part?" A bit harsh, yes. But it seems to be the sentiment. However, I wonder why then the single did better when it was released as two songs? Hmmm. Interesting. Anyway, I kind of agree. "This Beat" is okay and sounds a bit like an Elvis Costello/Joe Jackson knock-off, but "Glide" is much more interesting. Based on that song, I'd definitely check out more of their tunes.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: Their debut album begins with the song "This Beat Goes On" which then segues directly into "Switchin' to Glide." The intent was for the songs to remain matched together. However, the obvious single to Elektra was "Switchin' to Glide," so they elected to just release that song only as a single. It entered the chart and made it as far as #56 before heading back down. At some point, Elektra was pressured into releasing the two songs together and just as the initial single was about to go off the chart, the combined single started to get attention and it began moving up again and ended up peaking higher than the original single.
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Date: 08/23/1980
Debut: 90
Peak: 43
Weeks: 23
Genre: Rock, Power Pop
Pop Bits: This Canadian rock band got picked up by Elektra Records and with the help of producer Bob Ezrin (Alice Cooper, Pink Floyd), their debut LP "The Kings Are Here" came out in 1980. This first single actually peaked twice on the chart (see below) and finally came close to cracking the Top 40. It was solid enough for a second LP, "Amazon Beach," to get released the following year, but it was not as successful as their debut. Consequently, the group was dropped by Elektra. The Kings continued to tour and release a few recordings on their own label, but this lone chart hit remains their most recognizable tune.
ReduxReview: I've chatted with a few folks about this song and it's odd that most have the same feeling - they don't know why the two songs are combined (see below) and they prefer just listening to "Switchin' to Glide." On one of the YouTube versions of this song there was a rather crude, but funny comment regarding the two songs that said: "Why the fuck doesn't anyone have 'Glide' separate from the shitty first part?" A bit harsh, yes. But it seems to be the sentiment. However, I wonder why then the single did better when it was released as two songs? Hmmm. Interesting. Anyway, I kind of agree. "This Beat" is okay and sounds a bit like an Elvis Costello/Joe Jackson knock-off, but "Glide" is much more interesting. Based on that song, I'd definitely check out more of their tunes.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: Their debut album begins with the song "This Beat Goes On" which then segues directly into "Switchin' to Glide." The intent was for the songs to remain matched together. However, the obvious single to Elektra was "Switchin' to Glide," so they elected to just release that song only as a single. It entered the chart and made it as far as #56 before heading back down. At some point, Elektra was pressured into releasing the two songs together and just as the initial single was about to go off the chart, the combined single started to get attention and it began moving up again and ended up peaking higher than the original single.
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Sunday, March 31, 2013
"Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen
#1 Alert!
Platinum Alert!
Song#: 0302 Date: 08/16/1980
Debut: 67
Peak: 1 (3 weeks)
Weeks: 31
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: After the second single, "Play the Game," from their album "The Game" kind of tanked (#42), this third single caught fire and became another signature tune for them and their second #1 (their first being "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" from the same album).
ReduxReview: Oh c'mon now. If you haven't heard this song then you just don't know any music at all or you live in a cave. This thing has never stopped playing since it was released. And rightly so. It's a thumping, ballsy anthem with a great vocal by Freddie Mercury that has been played at about any sporting or competitive event for decades now. Killer Queen!
ReduxRating: 9/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) Queen received a 1981 Grammy nomination for Best Rock Vocal for this song, but lost out to Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band. 2) It has been said that after seeing Queen in concert, Michael Jackson was the one who suggested this song be released as a single.
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