Too Exhausted To Start A Fight

We are entering the final month of the year, into the holiday season, and it seems like the debuts are slowing down. That means that the members of The Other Sixty are becoming fewer. But every week is a new adventure, so who knows what awaits us? Let’s review chart week forty-eight during 1980, 1981 and 1982.

November 29th, 1980

76. Queen – Need Your Loving Tonight

Here’s the fourth chart single from The Game, a great album with an awful cover. Because each member was a songwriter, Queen’s albums have always featured songs from across many genres. But this LP was more of a K-Tel collection than the rest. The only singles of theirs to hit #1, Crazy Little Thing Called Love and Another One Bites The Dust came from this long-play while the other two 45 releases just missed out on the Casey call. This acoustic rocker will miss out at #44.

82. Manhattan Transfer – Trickle Trickle

After a #22 hit in 1975, Operator and a few more albums, member Laurel Masse decided to leave the group. Singer Cheryl Bentyne replaced her, and the quartet immediately had their fortunes changed. They released the album, Extensions in late 1979 and had a #30 hit during the late Spring 1980, Twilight Zone/ Twilight Tone. This was the second charting single from that album, but it will only trickle up to #73. The album will win two Grammys and set them up for even bigger success in 1981.

85. Teddy Pendergrass – Love T.K.O.

If you slip on a copy of Teddy’s fourth Philly Soul album, TP, then you know the weather forecast will be calling for some quiet storms. You might think this was written for Teddy, but Cecil Womack wrote it for singer David Oliver. Once Teddy got a hold of it, it was all his, and it became the penultimate TP track. But this #2 Soul smash will get knocked out at #44 on Pop charts.

98. Pendulum – Gypsy Spirit

If you ever wanted to hear Styx produced by Giorgio Moroder, have I got a tune for you. Here’s a trio from California who, as far as I know, only recorded this one single, a truly cheap-sounding Disco knockoff. This 45 mentions that it’s from an album called Just Bitchin’, but there’s no proof that someone ever released it. Its peak will reverse its debut numbers.

December 5th, 1981

87. Crystal Gayle – The Woman In Me

After 1979’s Miss The Mississippi album, Miss Gayle will never release an album that generates a Top 40 single again. But that’s OK as the honkytonks and Waffle House jukeboxes will fully embrace her. Currently, she’s in the midst of a fifteen-song streak of Top 10 Country songs. This #3 Nashville ballad will peak at #76 Pop.

88. Jennifer Warnes – Could It Be Love

Jennifer released this track ahead of her third Arista Records album. It sounds like the mellow female version of John Cougar, and it’s one of those tracks that makes you wonder why it wasn’t a hit. It will only reach #47, and Arista will never release that next LP. Instead, it will be put on her Best Of compilation that they put out in September 1982.

89. Sheila – Little Darlin’

Here’s French singer Annie Chancel who changed her professional name to Sheila when she was 16 due to her covering the Tommy Roe hit of the same name. Wow, that”s not confusing at all. She joined up with the duo, B. Devotion, and moved towards disco in the late 70s, releasing a Chic-produced album, King of The World, in 1980. Switching musical directions, she headed towards a pop-rock vibe and ended up with her only Hot 100 entry. This #1 French smash will reach #49 in the States.

90. Leif Garrett – Runaway Rita

And now we’ve come to the part of Behind The Music where former kid actor and teen pin-up is on the downside of his once successful singing career. This single sounds like a chipmunk singing a Cliff Richard song. If you play it backward, you can hear everyone in the studio doing lines on the console. Leif’s last chart entry will split at #84.

92. Rufus with Chaka Khan – Sharing The Love

Once Chaka went solo, she should have never looked back. Rufus pulls her back in after her second solo album, Naughty, and their first album without her called Party Til You’re Broke. As you can imagine, the party ended. Chaka came back, but the thrill was gone. Even though this ballad will reach the R&B Top 10, it will stiff at #91 Pop.

December 4th, 1982

82. Lee Ritenour – Cross My Heart

After capturing a #15 hit in 1981 called Is It You, Eric Tagg is back again on vocals for Rit 2 and Captain Fingers’ attempt at a fusion version of EWF’s Let’s Groove. They might have had better luck with Promises, Promises instead. This one will keep Lee a one-hit-wonder when it climbs up to #69.

84. Lanier and Co. – After I Cry Tonight

I had never heard of this octet or their one charting single until now, which I surprised at, considering it made it up to #48. Released on Larc Records, which seemed to exist for only two years and have the Chi-Lites and LaToya Jackson on their roster, it appears to be quite an accomplishment for this Tennessee outfit to place this mellow ballad into the R&B Top 30.

85. The Commodores – Painted Picture

This was the first single for these guys without Lionel Richie, who just so happened to be at #1 this week with Truly. It was released from their All The Great Hits collection, which had just been put out in stores in time for Christmas stockings. It’s a nice little funky midtempo number, but you have no idea who the group was without that familiar voice. That’s why it will only rise to #70.

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Find a Brighter Day

If there’s a lot of extra metal and dance music, it must be the late 80s. It’s as if that’s all that Pop radio was pushing back then. Let’s finish up our review of chart week forty-seven with a look at 1987, 1988, and 1989.

November 28th, 1987

85. Mick Jagger – Throwaway

The first single from the solo Stone’s second album, Primitive Cool, snuck into the Top 40, peaking at #39. This was the follow-up and lived up to its title, topping out at #67. The role of Keef was played by Jeff Beck.

91. Europe – Cherokee

Nothing like a Swedish metal band to tell the story of this Appalachian Native American tribe. The fourth single from The Final Countdown album left its own trail of tears at #72.

92. Tony Terry – She’s Fly

This was the first chart single from D.C. New Jack singer Tony Terry. If you were there back then and got down to it, you might still like it for nostalgia’s sake. If not, you didn’t miss much. This Top 10 R&B track will get swatted at #80.

93. Motley Crue – You’re All I Need

This glam metal quartet decided to release as their third single from Girls Girls Girls, a power ballad about a twisted fuck who kills his girlfriend in the name of love. Because these cretins were in the middle of their heroin phase, the lyrics are a poorly written misogynistic revenge fantasy with a cheesy junior high cover band arrangement. Thankfully most of us were spared as this peak at #83. Jon Bon Jovi likes this, so that should tell you something.

November 26th, 1988

91. Bananarama – Love, Truth, And Honesty

Siobhan Fahey left the trio in late 1987 after their Wow! album was out, and she was replaced with singer Jacquie O’Sullivan. They used the transition to release a greatest hits compilation with two new songs. This was the opening single released to promote it and will only inch up two spots. It was their last Hot 100 entry.

99. Yazz & The Plastic Population – The Only Way Is Up

We already had a group named Yaz, or Yazoo, as they were known in the UK, but the duo had since broken up. Now we have singer Yazz with her debut single. Produced by Coldcut, it’s a disco-house cover of a 1982 Otis Clay track that she took to #1 in the UK for five weeks. In the States, it will only go up three more notches. I bought this 45 over in Germany in the Summer and thought it was cool that the sleeve unfolds into a wall poster.

November 25th, 1989

91. Bonham – Wait For You

We started the 80s with drummer John Bonham passing away in September 1980, and we finish it with his son’s band charting with their debut single. Unfortunately, it ends up sounding like a Led Zeppelin cover band, and we already had plenty of those in our local bars for free. We’ll stop waiting around at #55.

92 . KIϟϟ – Hide Your Heart

This group never gave up in the 80s. They released eight albums during the decade, and not one of them spawned a Top 40 hit. Even during the glam metal years, they should have walked through the door with something to show for it. They have Desmond Child & Holly Knight writing with them. With Bruce Kulick now on lead guitar duties, this will reach #66.

Fun fact: This was originally written and rejected for their 1987 album, Crazy Nights. Paul Stanley then offered to other artists, such as Bonnie Tyler, who recorded it, and former Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley who released his version a week before Kiss did.

94. Starship – I Didn’t Mean To Stay All Night

Then why are you still here? The second single from Love Among The Cannibals and the follow-up to It’s Not Enough, a #12 hit, is a tune written by Mutt Lange, who also sings back-up. The group was now Slick-less, which made them more boring if that was even possible. Even with some Fairlight work by Larry Klein and their best effort to make this ballad seem like a lost Hysteria cut, it will peak at #75.

95. Fiona & Kip Winger – Everything You Do (You’re Sexing Me)

Fiona Flanagan tries to go through the Glam metal door with this power rock duet with the Winger frontman, who also plays bass from her third album, Heart Like A Gun. I’m not sure the folks who wrote this understand what the word sexing means, but hey who wants another eight ball, fellas? It will have a zenith of #52.

Home Is Where I Want To Be

As we move to the middle of the 80s during chart week forty-seven, we have a selection of songs worthy of great success but destined for The Other Sixty. Let’s review 1983 through 1987.

November 26th, 1983

82. Saga – The Flyer

This Canadian prog-rock quintet finally struck gold in 1982 when On The Loose made the Top 40. Their next release, Heads or Tales, featured their last US chart single, which will crash at #79. They continued to record into the 2010s and have a considerable following in Germany.

85. Talking Heads – This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)

Burning Down The House from the album, Speaking In Tongues became this New Wave quartet’s most significant success on the charts reaching #9 earlier in the year. This musically stripped-down single was released as the follow-up and peaked at #62. It was featured as one of the songs in David Byrne’s American Utopia.

90. Midnight Star – Wet My Whistle

Here’s another jam from this Kentucky funk outfit’s No Parking on The Dance Floor album which Pop radio ignored even though it was a Top 20 dance hit and Top R&B smash. It stopped blowing at #61, but the beat lives on.

94. Joe Jackson – Memphis

Is this a cover of the Spencer Davis Group’s Gimme Some Lovin’? No, it’s just Joe’s first attempt at scoring a film called Mike’s Murder, a movie so snake bit and mismanaged by the Warner Bros, that it was released six months after the soundtrack came out. It bombed and killed everyone’s career who was involved. It doesn’t mean those artists didn’t create worthy art afterward. Joe’s music seemed to get better, and personally, I await his new releases with great anticipation. Debra Winger never had a hit movie again. This single will get killed at #85.

November 24th, 1984

86. Eurythmics – Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four)

This New Wave duo made a little soundtrack detour of their own for the little-seen film, Nineteen Eighty-Four, based on the George Orwell book. The album and the movie were bombs, to the point that the director released a different cut without the Eurythmics’ music. This single was banned from radio, but it still reached #81. That Apple commercial did well, though.

88. Melissa Manchester – Thief Of Hearts

Another soundtrack single. Another flop. Was that the trend in the 80s – to take a well-known artist and have them sing the theme to a garbage film to help it become popular, only to have both sink like a stone? Giorgio Moroder and Keith Forsey wrote and produced this synth-pop tune, which will only steal two more spots before getting arrested.

90. Alphaville – Big In Japan

Yes, this German synth trio created other songs that weren’t Forever Young. This New Wave pop ditty was actually their first chart hit in the States, peaking at #66. To date, this song has yet to become popular in Nippon.

November 23rd, 1985

87. Paul Young – Everything Must Change

Paul was riding high with his second album, The Secret Of Association which included the hits, I’m Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down, and the #1 smash, Everytime You Go Away. This was the third single released from the LP, a tune that Paul co-wrote. It will hit the UK Top 10 but will reach the status quo at #56. Interestingly, it will peak in the Top 10 in Ireland and Israel, countries whose people were looking for a change.

88. Kenny Rogers – Morning Desire

Kenny was a machine in the 80s and had already racked up 14 Top 40 hits in the decade. But all good things must come to an end, and the first release from his new album, The Heart of The Matter, would stiff at #72. I’m sure this Dave Loggins-penned tune produced by Sir George Martin had higher expectations for the Gambler, but at least it hit #1 on the Country charts.

November 29th, 1986

83. Rod Stewart – Every Beat Of My Heart

This anthemic ballad, the third single from Rod’s 1986 LP, was also the title track and didn’t do much here in the States, debuting at its peak. In the UK, it was one of his biggest hits of the 80s, reaching #2, bested only by Baby Jane, which hit #1.

94. KBC Band – It’s Not You, It’s Not Me

While Starship was building this city, the Jefferson Airplane was parked in a Frisco hangar, and the Hot Tuna was back in the can, Paul Kantner, Marty Balin, and Jack Cassidy formed their own trio. Produced by John Boylan, their only chart single was written by Van Stephenson and will only rise five more notches.

95. Grace Jones – I’m Not Perfect (But I’m Perfect For You)

Heeeeeere’s Grace! Model, actress, singer, icon released her eighth album, Inside Story, in 1986. Produced by Grace and Nile Rodgers, this synth-heavy track was released as the first single, which I prompted ran out to buy. It was big in the clubs back then and hit the R&B Top 10. It was also her biggest success on the Hot 100, reaching the imperfect perfect number #69.

97. Ann Wilson – The Best Man In The World

We fittingly end with another soundtrack tune from a largely forgotten movie, The Golden Child. Ann had one Top 40 hit under her belt, singing a duet from another movie, Footloose with Loverboy’s Mike Reno. Almost Paradise would get up to #7. This mid-tempo rocker did not have as much luck, stalling out at #61 in early 1987.

 

A Dream That I Have Every Night

It’s chart week forty-seven and also the week of Thanksgiving. Let’s give thanks to this awesome lineup of artists and their entries into The Other Sixty as we review 1980, 1981, and 1982.

November 22nd, 1980

81.  Earth, Wind and Fire – You

EWF released a can’t miss funk jam, Let Me Talk, as their lead-off single from their double LP, Faces. But it missed the Top 40 by just four spots. So they decided to let a storm blow in, quietly, with their next single. This ballad came close as well, peaking at #48 while hitting the R&B Top 10.

84. Rockpile – Teacher Teacher

Rockpile was formed in 1976 as a power-pop foursome that came out of the UK pub rock scene. Led by Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe, they recorded two albums in 1979 – Edmunds’ Repeat When Necessary and Lowe’s Labour of Lust, which spawned the Top 20 hit, Cruel to Be Kind. They recorded another album under the Dave Edmunds title earlier in the year before putting out their only album under this name. Their only chart single, which mixed rockabilly and New Wave rock elements, will get detention at #51.

88. Dionne Warwick- Easy Love

Dionne took a few trips to the marina in the early 80s with varying success. This easy-going Westcoast pop tune was the follow-up to her dramatic ballad No Night So Long. It will become a #12 AC hit but will find it harder to climb any higher than #77 pop.

November 28th, 1981

82. Billy Squier – My Kinda Lover

This was the third single released from Billy’s second album, Don’t Say No. The first two songs, The Stroke and In The Dark, made the Top 40. This one just misses the Casey call when it peaks at #45. Eminem heavily sampled this track on Shady XV, which was featured on a 2014 Shady Records compilation.

90. Irene Cara – Anyone Can See

After her success in the movie Fame as well as two Top 40 hits from the soundtrack, Irene released her first solo album in early 1982. The title track was the first released single just in time for the Christmas gift season. Unfortunately, the 45 went blind at #42.

94. All Sports Band – I’m Your Superman

VH-1’s Behind the Music should have been created for one reason only – a sixty-minute expose and explanation about this band. Who thought dressing five guys up as different athletes to play soft pop was a great idea? If there was coke at that meeting in the back room of a Denny’s, it was definitely cut with angel dust and asbestos. Don’t believe me? Here’s the opening line to this ballad – “I’m strong.” (pause, piano break). “You said that you like strong men.” Ouch. That is friggin’ painful. Thankfully these guys didn’t spend their life (or more than two weeks) having to play this song, which only moves up one spot before snorting Kryptonite. Imagine if Scrubs used this for their theme song.

Also, I imagine songs like this are what inspired SNL skits such as this.

98. The Kinks – Better Things

Destroyer failed to rise higher than #85, so Arista quickly released the band’s second single from Give The People What They Want. This track, inspired by Ray Davies’ impending divorce, became one of their best-loved tracks of the 80s, even though it will only top out at #92.

November 27th, 1982

78. America – Right Before Your Eyes

America, pared down to a duo since 1977, made the Top 40 for the first time in six years with You Can Do Magic. This ballad was the follow-up, written by Ian Thomas and produced by Blood, Sweat and Tears’ Bobby Colomby, and it almost followed the first one in. But instead, it will get stuck at #45.

79. Santana – Nowhere To Run

Speaking of Ian Thomas, Carlos and his cohorts hit #15 earlier in the year with his own version of Hold On, originally recorded for Ian’s 1981 LP, The Runner. This rocker was the follow-up single that didn’t perform as well, letting go after climbing to #66.

82. Alan Parsons Project – Psychobabble

The title track to APP’s 1982 album, Eye In The Sky, became the most successful single in their history, reaching #3 for three weeks. It was a hard act to follow, but this single gave it its all. With lead vocals by Elmer Gantry, it will incoherently blab its way up to #57.

84. Elvis Presley – The Elvis Medley

Someone forgot to tell the folks at RCA that the medley craze was winding down in 1982. Instead, they repeatedly kicked the King’s coffin and released this beyond shitty medley of Elvis tunes. It was so bad that it left the building at #71.

A Tired Heart Can Find No Peace

Let’s wrap up chart week forty week with a review of the Other Sixty from 1986 up through 1989.

November 22nd, 1986

92. Don Johnson – Heartache Away

Imagine you’re recording a song, and you’ve got Ron Wood on guitar, Bonnie Raitt on backing vocals, and a guitar solo by Stevie Ray Vaughn. Why on earth would you ruin it by letting Don Johnson sing lead vocals? That was the quintessential 80’s celebrity rock album experience. The pain will go on until #56.

94. David Lee Roth – That’s Life

Dave, seriously, what the fuck is this? It’s bad enough I have to hear Sammy Hagar sing about dreams with a boring jingoistic video featuring the Blue Angels. Then you want us to sit through your Sintara phase? Please go makeup with Eddie before it’s late. [note: 2006 is too late] The people say flush it at #85.

98. Debbie Harry – French Kissin’

After Blondie split up in 1982, Debbie took some time off to take care of her then-partner, Chris Stein, who was suffering from a rare autoimmune disease called pemphigus. With his subsequent recovery, she resumed her solo career with her first album in five years called, Rockbird. This was the lead single released from it and will become a Top 10 in the UK. In the States, it will get tongue-tied at #57.

November 21st, 1987

78. Bananarama – I Can’t Help It

This UK female threesome had some big hits in the US, but they could never manage more than one per album. I always found that odd. The subsequently released singles all had potential, and they would do very well in England. Following up the Top 5 smash, I Heard A Rumour, this single will reach the Top 10 on the Dance charts but stall out at #47 Pop.

93. Martha Davis – Don’t Tell Me The Time

Martha’s first solo album, Policy, was intended to be a new Motels long-play before breaking up the band in early 1987. She hasn’t been very fond of this endeavor in the past, and it certainly wasn’t very successful. But there are many terrific songs on it, including this one, the first single released. It will only reach #80 but will become a Top 10 smash in Australia.

94. Deja – You And Me Tonight

The band Aurra started out as an offshoot of the funk band, Slave and they had one chart, Make Up Your Mind, in 1981. They released five total albums before a legal dispute prompted them to change their name to Deja. This single, from their first album Serious, will be their biggest hit, reaching #12 on the R&B charts and #54 on the Hot 100.

November 19th, 1988

88. Al B. Sure! – Killing Me Softly

Fifteen years after Roberta Flack went to #1 and eight years before the Fugees returned it to the top, Al B. Sure released his New Jack version as the third single from his In Effect Mode album. I wouldn’t doubt that a young Lauryn Hill heard this, sang along, while she dreamed about her future. Al’s cover will only reach #80 but will make the Top 15 on the Soul chart.

96. Eighth Wonder – Cross My Heart

Here’s the first US charting single from a UK pop quartet fronted by singer/actress Patsy Kensit, who appeared in Absolute Beginners two years previous. This song had been recorded by other artists in 1988, such as Tracie Spencer and Martika, but this version is the only one to make the Hot 100. Lightning will strike it at #56.

November 18th, 1989

83. Eric Clapton – Pretending

Radio played this lead off track from Eric’s Journeyman album so much, you’d be forgiven if you thought it was a Top 40 hit. It will only reach #55 but will spend six weeks atop the Mainstream Rock charts. Chaka Khan sings background vocals on the track.

The Last Time We Will Fight Like This

We’re moving into the middle of the decade during chart week forty-six with some great tunes by well-known acts that couldn’t lift them up past #41, which makes them part of The Other Sixty. Let’s review 1983, 1984, and 1985.

November 19th, 1983

77. Alan Parsons Project – You Don’t Believe

APP released this single in the Fall of 83 to simultaneously promote a Best Of collection and their new album, Ammonia Avenue, which were both released months apart. Not sure I understand that logic from a financial point of view. With lead vocals by Lenny Zakatek, it will peak at #54.

92. Industry – State Of The Nation

This was the only charting single for this US New Wave quartet. After releasing multiple EPs, they finally put out a full-length album that features this anti-war track. It will only climb to #81 but will become a #1 hit in Italy.

Fun fact: Lead singer Jon Carin joined Pink Floyd on the road in the late 80s and co-wrote the track, Learning To Fly.

94. S.O.S. Band – Tell Me If You Still Care

Here’s the follow-up to the Atalanta band’s huge Soul smash Just Be Good To Me. From their album, On The Rise, this Quiet storm ballad, written and produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, will reach the R&B Top 5 but will face indifference on the Hot 100 at #65.

96. Eddie Money – The Big Crash

Former NYPD employee leads off his fifth studio album, Where’s The Party? with this rocker about a rebellious girl who’s about to hit rock bottom. It’s pretty ironic because it was around this time that Eddie’s music career and personal life would go through the same thing. He’ll turn it around, but not before this crashes at #54 in early 1984.

November 17th, 1984

83. Rick Springfield & Randy Crawford – Taxi Dancing

This duet was the B-side of Bop Til You Drop, the third Top 40 hit from the Hard To Hold soundtrack, moving down the charts and sitting at #82 when this song debuts at #83. [Even better, an old track of Rick’s called Bruce from a 1978 album of his debuts at #81.] The song will run out of dimes at #59.

87. The Fixx – Sunshine In the Shade

This UK New Wave quintet follow-up their question of Are We Ourselves with this track about light being present in the darkness. It will go dark at #69. Both were from their Rupert Hine-produced album, Phantoms. I was always partial to Less Cities, More Moving People, the song, and the concept.

88. Shalamar – Amnesia

By their eighth album, the trio Shalamar had no original members left, although Howard Hewitt did play a big part during their successful years. He co-writes this track with George Duke, which won’t do much on any chart. On the Hot 100, it forgets where it’s going and heads back down after hitting #73. Howard will leave after the group after this album.

November 16th, 1985

86. Loverboy – Dangerous

The follow-up to the title track of this Canadian quintet’s fourth album, Lovin’ Every Minute Of It, is a song that Brian Adams wrote with his partner Jim Vallance and recorded for himself. Originally titled Reckless, he left it off but kept the title for the album. It will appear less threatening after it falls from #65.

91. INXS – This Time

This Australian sextet kicks off their Listen Like Thieves release with this single that always reminds me of R.E.M., at least until Michael Hutchence starts singing. It’s one of my favorites from this group, and I’m still dumbfounded how it languished at #81. Thankfully their next single, What You Need, will do much better.

92. John Parr – Love Grammar

If you like confusing relationship metaphors and faux-rock drama created by studio producers rather than good songwriting, then Foreigner John Parr has you covered. He destroys any will goodwill he created with St. Elmo’s Fire by wasting it with this track. It had originally been released and May and went nowhere. He should have seen that as a sign. It charts this week but will only move up three spots before enrolling in an English class.

93. Robert Palmer – Discipline Of Love (Why Did You Do It) 

If the plan for Island Records was to just release this single to get people interested in Palmer’s new LP before walloping them with Addicted To Love, then bravo. If it wasn’t, then they almost blew it. [and yes, it begs the question, ‘why did you do it?’] To me, it’s a good song but definitely not a lead single. The Bernard Edwards-produced Riptide will produce three Top 40 hits, including the aforementioned #1 single and I Didn’t Mean To Turn You On, which hit #2. This one will lose its focus at #82.

94. Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam with Full Force – Can You Feel The Beat

Man, they played this song so much on New York radio, I would’ve thought it was a Top 40 hit. But I guess the rest of the world didn’t have Lisa X 2 mania just yet. It was a huge club hit but will only freestyle its way up to #69. Duo Nina Sky pays tribute to this song on their #4 hit, Move Ya Body, in 2004.

Make All Those Phony Relationships Dissolve

As we enter chart week forty-six, there’s only a month and a half left in the year. Let’s dig in and review 1980 up through 1982.

November 15th, 1980

79. The Babys – Turn And Walk Away

The Babys released five albums before calling it quits in the early 80s. This was the lead single from their last studio effort, On The Edge. Written by John Waite and Jonathan Cain, it will just miss the Casey call after an abrupt about-face at #42. Cain was probably already gone and a part of Journey during this release, getting ready to record the Escape album.

86. Climax Blues Band – Gotta Have More Love

This UK quartet tried to get their first single selection right from their new album, Flying The Flag. This mellow pop-rock single almost did the trick but will stall out at #47. The second release, I Love You, will make it into the Top 15, becoming their second Top 40 single.

89. Chic – Real People/ Chip Off The Old Block

The second charting single from Chic’s Real People LP lists both the A & B-side. From what I gather, radio thought the A-side rocked too hard for Chic fans, and so some stations played the B-side because it grooved more like their other singles. Idiots. Maybe if they just played with the A-side, it would have done better than a #79 showing.

92. Pete Townshend – Rough Boys

This was the third charting single from Pete’s Empty Glass album. Many thought it was a veiled attempt at Pete coming out. The truth about that has gotten muddled over the years, but I could care less. The song just rocks. Also, every time I hear it, I think of the Wayne’s World theme. It will only move three more spots.

94. The Reddings – Remote Control

The progeny of the late Otis Redding, Dexter and Otis III, got together in the late 70s to try a little funkiness with their pal Mark Lockett. They released their debut album in 1980, The Awakening, and this single became their biggest hit on the R&B charts peaking at #6. On the Hot 100, the power off button was hit at #89.

November 21st, 1981

83. Greg Lake – Let Me Love You Once

Former King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer guitarist Greg Lake charts with his third and final entry on the Hot 100. This hilariously-titled ballad will be his best showing at Pop radio when it climbs to #48.

85. Lulu – If I Were You

Lulu slows it down a tad with a laidback funky pop groove on her follow-up to I Could Never Miss You, which hit #18. It’s a cover of a Toby “My Angel Baby” Beau song, which they took up to #70 in 1980. She will do far better with it when it peaks at #44 in early 1982.

86. Kenny Rogers – Blaze Of Glory

The Gambler had four chart hits from the Lionel Richie-produced album, Share Your Love. This was the only one not to make the Pop Top 15. Released in between Share Your Love With Me & Through The Years, this uptempo single will reach the Country Top 10 but will whoa, horsey at #66.

87. Steve Carlisle – WKRP In Cincinnati

This kick-ass sitcom, which made me wanna be a DJ, about the hijinks at a mid-market radio station was already seven episodes into its fourth and final season when its theme song charted as a single. Produced by Buckner & Garcia, who would go on to get Pac-Man Fever, this single reached #65 on the Hot 100.

Fun Fact: Steve went on to re-record this theme song and customize it for many different real stations around the country. Also, I’ve always felt like the theme to Hello, Larry ripped this off, at least lyrically, but hey, he was a DJ too.

One more thing: the song that ended each WKRP episode is almost as good as the theme. Damn should have been the B-side.

90. Balance – Falling In Love

This New York quartet led by former Blues Magoos singer Peppy Castro follows up their #22 hit, Breaking Away, with this tender ballad. It will swoon its way to #58 in early 1982 and become their final chart entry.

November 20th, 1982

68. George Harrison – Wake Up My Love

George is back with the synth-heavy lead single from his Gone Troppo album, which was his least successful in his catalog. I’m not sure why Pop radio turned their backs on this one. After debut this high, it will only get to #53 before disappearing. George will take a five-year break after this release but will roar back strong.

78. Joni Mitchell – (You’re So Square) I Don’t Care

Joni shifted out of her deep jazz period in the early 80s, starting with her Wild Things Run Fast album. Her cover of the Elvis classic, which was featured in Jailhouse Rock, was inspired by New Wave bands such as The Police and Talking Heads and became her best showing since on the Hot 100 since 1974’s Free Man In Paris. It will peak at #47, which isn’t a square number, but she didn’t give a rat’s ass.

 

A Feeling I Can’t Accept

Let’s wrap our review of The Other Sixty during chart week forty-five with a look a the debuts from 1987, 1988, and 1989 that missed out on the Casey (and Shadoe) call.

November 14th, 1987

83. Millions Like Us – Guaranteed For Life

This is a pretty good soulful Pop song along the lines of Michael McDonald or Living In A Box. But this UK duo is hampered by an awful band name. It’s the kind of tune you’d hear walking around the halls of Bally’s (If you were in a casino during the 80s, you know what I mean.) Produced by Rufus’ Hawk Wolinski, it will peak at Bill & Ted’s favorite number in a few weeks and be their only chart hit.

90. Smokey Robinson – What’s Too Much

1987 saw Smokey nab two more Top 10 hits, One Heartbeat and Just To See Her, from his fifteenth solo album. It was great to hear that smooth voice on the radio again. This will be the third release from that LP, a Quiet Storm brewing into the R&B Top 20. But I guess #79 was too much for Pop.

92. Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam Featuring Full Force – Someone To Love Me For Me

After two straight #1 singles on the Pop and Soul charts, this trio aligns with Full Force again for another ballad a la All Cried Out. It will slide up into the Soul Top 10 but will quizically top out at #78 on the Hot 100.

94. The Cars – Strap Me In

What is a car without a seat belt? What is love without the feeling of security? Those are the questions that Ric Ocasek and the boys try to answer with the second single release and one of my favorites from Door To Door, their final album with the original lineup. This mid-tempo pop-rocker will get snapped in two at #85.

97. Alexander O’Neal – Criticize

Alex follows up his first solo Top 40 hit, Fake, with another solid jam from his Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis-produced album, Hearsay. Jellybean Johnson gets involved with this one as well. Featuring Lisa Keith on backing vocals, it will become another R&B Top 10 while reaching #4 on the UK charts. Don’t mean to be a nag, but this should have climbed higher than #70 Pop.

November 12th, 1988

88. Paula Abdul – (It’s Just) The Way You Love Me

Ex-Laker girl Paula Abdul keeps trying to break her debut album, Forever Your Girl, by releasing a second single. No one was biting as this one debuts at its peak. But what a difference a year makes. It will get re-released in the Fall of 1989 and eventually reach #3, becoming her fourth straight Top 10 single.

90. Kenny Loggins – I’m Gonna Miss You

Even though it’s 1988, Kenny was still keeping his boat out of dry dock with another smooth West Coast Pop entry. This was the second single from his Back To Avalon album and features backing vocals by Starship’s Mickey Thomas. It’s another case of how-did-this-not-rise-higher-than, for this example, #82.

96. Denise Lopez – If You Feel It

Denise became a one-hit-wonder this year with Sayin’ Sorry (Don’t Make It Right), but they played this song on New York radio just as much. I kinda like it better than her hit myself. This freestyle track was big in the clubs but will only inch up two spots on the Hot 100.

100. New Edition – You’re Not My Kind Of Girl

Ouch, the dreaded #100 entry. New Edition only had one Top 40 hit from their album, Heart Break, which I felt was their best to date. In fact, it spun off five R&B Top 40 hits, with four of them hitting the Top 5. It’s another Jimmy Jam/ Terry Lewis collaboration, but this New Jack track will only swing up to #95.

November 11th, 1989

85. Fine Young Cannibals – I’m Not the Man I Used To Be

No one expected this UK trio to have two #1s from the second album, The Raw & The Cooked. This was the fourth charting single from the album, and they still one more to go. Rolling over the Funky Drummer sample, this one had a good chance to be the fourth Top 40 from these guys. But it stalled at #54.

88. Pajama Party – Over And Over

This will be the biggest Hot 100 chart success for this Freestyle trio from Brooklyn from their debut album, Up All Night. Although it won’t reach the Expose heights, it will still rise as high as #59.

91. Saraya – Back To The Bullet

It’s a shame that Pop radio didn’t make any room for this New Jersey rock quintet when they let glam metal acts with half the energy and muscle walk right in. This was the group’s second charting single from their debut and their best Hot 100 showing, peaking at #63.

Are You Willing To Wager A Little Of Your Life?

As we move into the middle of the decade, we have an all-star line-up for The Other Sixty. These artists, minus the Eurogliders, have had Top 40 hits and sold millions of albums. Some have even made the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. But not every egg is golden. Let’s review 1984, 1985, and 1986.

November 10th, 1984

79. The Eurogliders – Heaven (Must Be There)

This Australian sextet released its second album, This Island, in 1984. The third single released from the LP became their biggest worldwide smash, hitting #2 in their native land and charting in the States. Even though it received a fair amount of Mainstream Rock airplay, the pearly gates will slam shut at #65.

84. Donna Summer – Supernatural Love

After 1980’s The Wanderer, Donna never released another album that would spawn more than one Top 40 hit. For someone who was the most popular singer in American in 1979, that was some free fall. It’s not like the songs weren’t good, so she must have faced some sort of backlash from Pop radio. This single followed up her #21 cover of The Drifters classic. I greatly prefer it over the previous single, especially after the dramatic synth intro and cheesy drum machine riffs. #75 seems too low for a track this catchy.

88. John Denver & Sylvie Vartan – Love Again

John Denver is one of the few artists to release a Greatest Hits Vol. 3 compilation while still actively charting. Of course, his biggest days were behind him, and thankfully so was that horrible haircut. He still had his diehard fans left, so he treated them to a new single, a duet with French ye-ye singer Sylvie Vartan. It will get a little AC action but only move up three spots on the Hot 100.

89. Thompson Twins – Into The Gap

The Gap broke the Twins open in America. Not only did they have two big Top 40 hits, Hold Me Now entered the Ne Wave trio into Soft Rock land. Now your Mom could enjoy them along with you. This was the fourth US single from the album, and it falls into the crevasse at #69. The famous mall clothing store also missed an obvious opportunity with this one, or maybe Tom Bailey dissed them.

94. Bananarama – The Wild Life

This UK trio of ladies entered the cruel world of movie soundtracks with the title theme from the little-seen film starring Chris Penn and Eric Stolz. The fun times will be over at #70, and the song will be added to re-released versions of their second album, Bananarama.

November 9th, 1985

79. James Taylor – Everyday

JT never hit the Top 40 again after his #11 showing with Her Town Too in 1981. That doesn’t mean hits stopped coming. He just had them in another place – the Adult Contemporary chart. His slowed-down cover (Did he do any other kind?) of the Buddy Holly 1957 classic reached #3 there and has been the soundtrack of teeth drillers ever since. It will peak at #61 Pop.

82 . John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band – Small Town Girl

JC and his buddies surprised everyone by having two Top 40 hits from a non-Eddie & the Cruisers soundtrack in 1985. This ballad was the third single released from that album, Tough All Over, but it won’t follow the first two singles in. Instead, it does the stroll and tops out at #64.

93. Rush – The Big Money

It’s a mystery that this Canadian Prog-rock trio only nabbed one Top 40 hit in the States, especially with their status as one of the biggest charting Mainstream Rock artists of all time. This single from their LP Power Windows just missed the Casey call cashing out at #45. It will be their last Hot 100 entry

November 15th, 1986

87. Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band – Miami

Detroiter Bob Seger wrote this tribute to his favorite Floridian town for his Like A Rock LP and released it as the fourth single. It almost sounds like he was looking for a Miami Vice soundtrack invite, but alas, he did not get one. Though he did get Don Henley and Timothy B. Schmit to sing back up on this #74 track.

94. Eurythmics – Thorn In My Side

Is this just a random song about an annoying lover, or were the cracks between this twosome beginning to show? The follow-up to the Top 20 Missionary Man from their album, Revenge, had its best showing in the UK, hitting #5. In the States, it will grab a #68 zenith.

96. Paul Young – Some People

Paul had a #1 single just one year before his new album Between Two Fires was released and effectively killed his US singles career. Maybe folks were expecting some more soulful covers, and Paul released an album of originals instead. The shuffly pop tune will climb to #65 and should have been given a better chance to survive than it did by Pop radio. Paul will learn his lesson and be back in four years with a cover of The Chi-Lites’ Oh Girl, which will hit #8 in 1990.

97. Paul McCartney – Stranglehold

Paul wasn’t writing Yesterday, or Maybe I’m Amazed by 1986, but also didn’t need to. But I suppose that’s the bar will always have to rise above rather than just make fun and entertaining music. This bluesy number is a forgotten gem in his collection and can only be found if you buy the Press To Play album. Written and performed with Eric Stewart of 10cc, it has some of his former band’s late 70s Pop panache. Unfortunately, this one was left to die at #81

98. Steve Miller Band – I Want To Make The World Turn Around

I know I dunk on Steve a lot, but I generally like his music. It’s simple and pleasant, easy to digest and enjoy. So why the hell was this smooth piece of pop-rock left to die at #97? It went #1 on the Mainstream charts and unwittingly exposed the rock world to the sax sounds of Kenny G, who plays the solo.

 

Maybe This World’s Just Incomplete

As we jump into chart week forty-five, we have many veteran artists in this group of The Other Sixty. They must be pushing new albums or trying to extend their success into the holiday season. Let’s review 1980 up thru 1983.

November 8th, 1980

81. Pointer Sisters – Could I Be Dreaming

As the Oakland trio’s lead hit, He’s So Shy, from their Special Things LP hangs at #3, their second single debuts on the Hot 100. Anita co-writes this one and sings lead. I hate to diss these ladies, but this track is a rip-off of Shake Your Body by the Jacksons. That might be why it was woken up at #52.

84. Cheap Trick – Stop This Game

The Illinois tricksters bring in Sir George Martin to produce their fifth album, All Shook Up, and veer off into a more experimental direction. This was the lead and only charting single from the album, which probably challenged their fans a bit. Time and distance can allow us to see how well crafted this song is, deserving of a higher chart spot than #48.

85. Rupert Holmes – Morning Man

Six albums in, Rupert’s on his fifth record label, that greatly contributed to his failure to capture any momentum from his breakout album Partners In Crime. His new LP, Adventure, had many great tracks on it, such as Blackjack and Crowd Pleaser. This one was too mellow as the lead-off, which is why it went early to bed at #68.

86. Eric Clapton and His Band – Blues Power

Clapton is back with another single from Just One Night, his third live album in ten years, recorded at the Budokan in Tokyo, laid out over two discs. Originally recorded for his Eric Clapton LP back in 1970 and co-written by Leon Russell, this 45 will only have a #76 zenith.

87. Marcy Levy and Robin Gibb – Help Me

Robin Gibb lends his voice to another RSO soundtrack for the film, Times Square, which featured a New Wave heavy lineup of XTC, The Ramones, The Cure, and others. So why were a Bee Gee and former Eric Clapton back up singer used to promote this album? Ask Robert “Money is blinding my decision-making process” Stigwood. There’s some good sone on here, but this one is a bit of a mess. It flashes an S.O.S at #50.

90. Bob Seger – The Horizontal Bop

The Grammy-winning Against The Wind is Bob’s only #1 album to date, and it spun off three Top 40 hits. This was the fourth single and just missed the Casey call, peaking at #42. It’s Bob’s clumsy attempt at euphemism, but at least it’s a rockin’ number.

November 14th, 1981

91. Central Line – Walking Into Sunshine

Brit-Funk was the late 70s/early 80s musical movement that blossomed in the UK. Bands such as Light Of The World, Hi-Tension, and Level 42 mixed in jazz fusion with their soulful pop rarely had success with it here in the States. This was the biggest crossover single from that period, a Top 20 R&B and Dance club smash, which went dark at #84. George Michael stole the keyboard lick for I Want Your Sex, and LL Cool J sampled it for his remix of Jingling Baby.

November 13th, 1982

76. Michael McDonald – I Gotta Try

Mike’s follow-up to the smooth as silk I Keep Forgettin’ should have followed him right into the Top 40 as well. Somehow this Kenny Loggins co-write didn’t make it in and gave up at #44. It has since gone on to be a Yacht Rock classic.

77. The Motels – Forever Mine

This is the third single from the L.A. band’s album, All Four One. It’s a poppy number with a Motown vibe that would seemingly be used throughout the 80s. The 45 will only stomp up to #60.

79. Steve Winwood – Valerie

Here’s the second single from Steve’s third solo album, Talking Back to The Night. Still In the Game made it up to #47. This tribute to singer Valerie Carter will only move up nine spots. It will receive a remix in 1987, reenter the charts and capitalize on the momentum from Back In The High Life, climbing into the Top 10. Eric Prydz will sample the ‘call on me” section for a #1 UK smash dance track in 2004.

86. Scandal – Goodbye To You

Here’s the first charting single from this New York quintet. Released as the first 45 from their Scandal EP, it will get massive rock airplay but will only reach #65. The keyboard solo was played by Paul Shaffer.

89. Robert Plant – Pledge Pin

This was the second charting single from Plant’s first solo album, Pictures At Eleven. It sounds like his imitation of a Police song, and I’m surprised it didn’t do any better than #74. The track features Raphael “Baker Street” Ravenscroft on sax, and Phil the Shill is playing drums.

November 12th, 1983

85. Earth, Wind & Fire – Magnetic

EWF had a hard time surviving in the digital 80s, but damn if they didn’t try. I’m not sure why Pop radio turned away from a song with a funky electro-groove. But this Martin Page composition went bi-polar at #57 even as it hit the R&B Top 10.

87. Kiss – Lick It Up

I cannot help but laugh when I hear this. There’s no way they took themselves seriously when they recorded this. The make-up was finally off, and the world got to see four regular white guys. The thrill was gone, and the single peaked at #66.

88. Moody Blues – Blue World

This was the follow-up to Sitting At the Wheel, the #27 hit from 1983’s The Present. I prefer it and think it should have been the bigger hit. The synth vibes fit in well with what was going on at the time but still retained its Moodiness. Alas, it will only reach #62.

93. Men Without Hats – I Like

How do you follow-up a juggernaut such as The Safety Dance? With another great synth-pop track such as this. This Montreal, Quebec trio will look at their hands and take a chance but will only climb to #84. They will nab another Top 40 song in early 1988 called Pop Goes The World.

94. Jennifer Warnes & Chris Thompson – All The Right Moves

Jennifer was turning into the female Kenny Loggins when it came to soundtrack songs. She hit #1 with Up Where We Belong from An Officer And A Gentleman, and her song It Goes Like It Goes from Norma Rae won an Oscar. I guess soundtrack producers really liked her and asked her to sing this duet with the singer from Manfred Mann’s Earth Band for the newTom Cruise movie. It all bombed out with this track topping out at #85. She will get redemption in four years with a little flick called Dirty Dancing.