Saturday, May 2, 2015

"Goodbye to You" by Scandal

Song#:  1245
Date:  11/13/1982
Debut:  86
Peak:  65
Weeks:  11
Genre:  Rock, New Wave

Pop Bits:  This NYC band formed in 1981 and they hit the new wave scene with their self-titled EP the following year. This first single got a lot of airplay and the track reached #5 on the Mainstream Rock chart. Pop seemed a bit resistant to the song as it managed a minor #65 peak. However, the EP became a bit of a cult hit and made it as far as #39 on the album chart. Eventually, the EP was certified gold and it set Scandal up for more success.

ReduxReview:  I remember this song being played on the radio but didn't know the artist. I looked for the single, but it didn't seem to exist. Then I discovered who they were and bought the EP. I didn't care for all of the songs, but this one and the next single "Love's Got a Line on You" were terrific. I played those two quite a bit. The band had a great sound and lots of potential. They got a little slick on their first full-length album ("The Warrior") with some outside hit-making writers, but these first songs still stand the test of time.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  Although EPs had been around for decades, they were not necessarily known as hot sellers. A few would hit the album chart, but Scandal's gold EP was a rare hit, especially for a debut disc. Issued on Columbia, it would become the label's best-selling EP.


Friday, May 1, 2015

"Pledge Pin" by Robert Plant

Song#:  1244
Date:  11/13/1982
Debut:  89
Peak:  74
Weeks:  5
Genre:  Rock

Pop Bits:  Although not particularly aimed at a pop audience, Robert Plant's first solo album was doing well thanks to the #3 Mainstream Rock hit "Burning Down One Side." The song managed a few weeks on the pop chart reaching #64. This second single did about as well peaking ten notches lower. It did much better at rock radio hitting #11.

ReduxReview:  As I've mentioned in previous posts, rock artists like Robert Plant don't really shoot for the pop market (or need to). So getting a single on the pop chart can be considered an extra bonus since it just further promotes their album. This song isn't even close to being a good candidate for the pop chart, but Plant's name and heavy rock radio support helped the single make an appearance. Plant provides a nice Rush-like groove and the song unfolds from there. I like it, but its limited pop appeal prevented it from doing any better.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  Like a lot of the output from Led Zeppelin, Plant's first solo album was well-received by rock audiences. Rock radio was receptive as well and that allowed two other songs from the album to hit the Mainstream Rock chart. "Worse Than Detroit" reached #10 and "Slow Dancer" made it to #19. In addition to those songs, the non-album "Far Post," found on the b-side of the "Burning Down One Side" 12" single, got to #12 on the chart.


Thursday, April 30, 2015

"Put It in a Magazine" by Sonny Charles

Song#:  1243
Date:  11/13/1982
Debut:  90
Peak:  40
Weeks:  14
Genre:  R&B

Pop Bits:  Charles was the lead singer of the Ft. Wayne R&B band Checkmates, Ltd. The group, discovered by jazz vocalist Nancy Wilson, ended up having only one major hit with "Black Pearl" in 1969. The song, produced by Phil Spector, reached #13 on the pop chart and #8 at R&B. Soon after, Charles left the band for an unsuccessful solo career. He would rejoin Checkmates for a few more years before moving back to solo work. He finally succeeded in getting a significant solo hit with this song from his album "The Sun Still Shines."  The song would be a hit at R&B reaching #2 and its popularity lead to a Top 40 showing at pop. A second single, a remake of "Always on My Mind," would reach #53 at R&B, but miss the pop chart. He would be unable to reach either chart again.

ReduxReview:  It's strange what you choose to retain in your memory. I don't remember this song at all but I somehow remember the title and the fact that it peaked at #40. I think that the title was kind of unusual and that stuck with me. However, I guess I wasn't a fan of the song when I first heard it, which is too bad because it's pretty terrific. Charles sounds great singing over a well-produced, smooth groove that reminds me of something George Benson might have done. I need to add this to my 80s playlist pronto.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  In later years, Charles reunited with one of his bandmates, "Sweet Louis" Smith, and toured as Checkmates, Ltd. again. After Smith died in 2007, Charles got a call from Steve Miller. Miller asked Charles to provide vocals on his album "Bingo!" and to go out on tour. Charles did and then continued to tour with Miller until early 2015.


Wednesday, April 29, 2015

"The Girl Is Mine" by Michael Jackson/Paul McCartney

Top 10 Alert!
Gold Record Alert!
Song#:  1242
Date:  11/06/1982
Debut:  45
Peak:  2
Weeks:  18
Genre:  Pop, R&B, Adult Contemporary

Pop Bits:  Jackson's disco-fueled 1979 LP "Off the Wall" was a major hit that established him as a solo superstar. It would take three years for him to follow-up the album and he did so with "Thriller," an album that Jackson and producer Quincy Jones worked and reworked in order to make it an absolute hit. To get the album off the ground, this duet with Paul McCartney was issued as the first single. It would be McCartney's second superstar duet of the year following the #1 "Ebony and Ivory" with Stevie Wonder. The radio-friendly, pop-oriented tune did very well hitting #1 at R&B and AC while spending three weeks at #2 on the pop chart. The song also got the two artists a Grammy nod for Best Pop Vocal, Duo or Group.

ReduxReview:  Looking back, it is hard to believe that this is the song that lead off "Thriller." Just from hearing this, who would have thought that the album would have become the biggest selling album in history to-date? Certainly not me. To be honest, I hated this song when it came out. I thought it was sappy, dorky, and a complete letdown. And let's not get started on the spoken word part...yeesh. Let's face it. When people think of "Thriller," most will never even bring up this tune. On a classic album loaded with classic songs, this one was the dog o' tha bunch. Doggone it you two and your fighting!

ReduxRating:  4/10

Trivia:  Most critics will state that this song is one of the weakest tracks on "Thriller." So why was it the first single? A couple of reason have been called out. First, the attraction of a duet between the red-hot McCartney and Jackson would have gotten attention right away regardless if it was a single or not. Superstar duets were not as common then as they are now, so it would have received immediate airplay. The theory - get the song out there and capitalize on it before the moment passes. Second, it is truly a pop tune and folks have said that this was done purposely to attract a larger audience - meaning white listeners/record buyers. Pop radio at the time (and MTV) was still resistant to R&B with only a few artists able to break through. A pop song like this would certainly get more radio stations on board. Whatever the reasons, it worked and became a multi-format hit.


Tuesday, April 28, 2015

"Hand to Hold on To" by John Cougar

Song#:  1241
Date:  11/06/1982
Debut:  72
Peak:  19
Weeks:  18
Genre:  Rock

Pop Bits:  The soon-to-be Mr. Mellencamp was riding high with his biggest successes - the #1 album "American Fool" and #1 single "Jack and Diane." The pair would always remain his biggest hits on their respective charts. For an encore, this third single was lifted from the album. It wasn't a major hit, but it did become his fourth Top 20 entry.

ReduxReview:  Although I was head over heels for "Jack and Diane," this next single didn't do much to make me a real fan of Mellencamp (of course that would change later and now he is one of my all-time favorites). Although a solid tune, this sounds more like a leftover from his previous album. I didn't care for it back in the day and it is still not a favorite. For a Mellencamp song, it's a little bland.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  Double Shot!  1) Although not released as a single, another track from the "American Fool" album grabbed enough airplay to spend a little time on the Mainstream Rock chart. "Thundering Hearts" was able to crack the Top 40 on that chart to hit #36.  2) Mellencamp recorded several songs for possible inclusion on the album and in the end there were nine chosen. Among the recorded songs not selected was the one that inspired the album's title. The song "American Fool" was left of the final product. However, it was included as a bonus track on a 2005 reissue.


Monday, April 27, 2015

"You Can't Hurry Love" by Phil Collins

Top 10 Alert!
Song#:  1240
Date:  11/06/1982
Debut:  77
Peak:  10
Weeks:  21
Genre:  Pop, Blue-Eyed Soul

Pop Bits:  Collins' first solo album, "Face Value," was a multi-platinum success that yielded the #19 gold single "In the Air Tonight." For his next LP, "Hello, I Must Be Going," Collins moved towards a more pop/R&B sound as typified by this first single. The Motown cover (see below) shot to #1 in the UK and became Collins' first solo Top 10 in the US. 

ReduxReview:  Collins set out to replicate a 60s sound and succeeded quite well. Its retro feel is fun and kind of hard to resist. Is it an awesome remake? No, but it certainly is enjoyable and it got me to buy the album right away. I always remember the video which was all over MTV. It was done like a spot from a 60s TV variety show almost in a way that The Supremes would have done with Collins appearing as his own back-up singers. His homage to them and Motown paid off with a Top 10'er.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  This song is a remake of the 1966 #1 hit by The Supremes. Composed by the Holland-Dozier-Holland team, the single became The Supreme's seventh #1. The title and some of the lyrics were inspired by the gospel song "You Can't Hurry God (He's Right on Time)" written in 1950 by Dorothy Love Coates.


Sunday, April 26, 2015

"Does It Make You Remember" by Kim Carnes

Song#:  1239
Date:  11/06/1982
Debut:  78
Peak:  36
Weeks:  13
Genre: Pop

Pop Bits:  Carnes' album "Voyeur" got off to a rocky start when the title track could only muster a #28 showing. It was a disappointment coming off of a #1 album ("Mistaken Identity") and massive #1 single ("Bette Davis Eyes"). This second single from the LP was unable to turn things around with its lackluster Top 40 showing. Without a supporting hit single, the album sunk after a disappointing #49 peak.

ReduxReview:  As I mentioned in an earlier post, I love Carnes' "Voyeur" album. But no matter how much I love it, I think it was the wrong move to go totally dark synthpop after "Mistaken Identity." Sadly, this played out as correct and the album pretty much tanked. It is unfortunate because it is a masterful 80s synthpop record. This haunting ballad is a highlight, but I don't think listeners related to a more brooding Carnes.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  In 1979, Carnes and her husband Dave Ellingson wrote a comedy/novelty song called "She Dances with Meat." The recording was credited to "Connie con Carne." The song has been featured on the Dr. Demento radio show and was covered by the comedy team of Pinkard and Bowden. It is on their 1989 album "Live in Front of a Bunch of Dickheads."