Before we finish off 1985, let's quickly flash back to May 6, 1972
Roberta Flack was on top with "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face." The Top Ten also included "Day Dreaming," "I'll Take You There," "Doctor My Eyes," and surprise, a couple newbies, the first being Al Green's "Look What You've Done for Me" at #9. More soul greatness from the good Reverend...And then at #10 we have Ringo Starr and his boisterous "Back Off Boogaloo." Not sure what it means, but it talks about "wallpaper shoes" which is an interesting concept. I like it...Badfinger are at #14 with their last major hit, "Baby Blue." They always brought the power pop cool, and this is no exception...L.A rock band Jo Jo Gunne had their only major hit with the blues rocker "Run Run Run," this week's #27. Not much in the lyric department, but still, quite enjoyable...(Harry) Nilsson is at #30 with "Jump Into the Fire." It kind of sounds like something Grand Funk would have done at the time. Not what I expected at all. And yet, it works...At #33, Gladys Knight and the Pips put a soulful spin on Kris Kristofferson's "Help Me Make it Through the Night." I like it almost as much as their version of "The Way We Were"...And with the appearance of the CanCon rock standard "Could've Been a Lady" at #35, I've now covered all of April Wine's American hits. That's nice...But this week, my spotlight seeks out, and finds...
38 - "Mister Can't You See," Buffy Sainte-Marie
A Saskatchewan-born Cree Indian, Sainte-Marie is a well-known folksinger, activist, and songwriter, whose best-known compositions include "Universal Soldier" and "Until It's Time for You to Go," She also co-wrote the #1 "Up Where We Belong" from the movie An Officer and a Gentleman. And my childhood memories include her appearances on Sesame Street. But the only time she appeared on the U.S Top 40 was with a song she didn't write, this Mickey Newbury/Townes Van Zandt number about the power of nature and how it may one day rebel against humanity if we're not careful. The arrangement is upbeat pop, but Sainte-Marie's voice conveys the message, which rings truer every day. I'm glad I was introduced to this.
Okay, now back to '85.
20 - "Suddenly," Billy Ocean
19 - "New Attitude," Patti LaBelle
18 - "Some Things are Better Left Unsaid," Daryl Hall and John Oates
17 - "One More Night," Phil Collins
16 - "Axel F.," Harold Faltermeyer
The second half opens with Billy Ocean's third Top 5 hit, An uncomplicated love ballad, delivered smoothly. Not much more to it, and there doesn't need to be.
Patti LaBelle her biggest solo pop hit with this strutting pop-soul number about taking a new approach to life that first appeared on the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack. Then it was used as the theme song for Dr. Laura Schlessinger's radio show, and I grew to hate the song by association. But I'm giving it a second chance, and now I can tolerate it. Tolerance, however, isn't something Dr. Schlessinger is known for.
Next are Hall and Oates with one of their lesser 80s hits, an okay song about how silence is sometimes golden. This didn't get any higher than its position this week, and that seems about right.
Then Phil Collins returns from last time with this plea for a little more time. I'm not sure if I'd have given it to him had I been on the other end of this entreaty.
This section closes with the only pop hit for German keyboardist Harold Faltermeyer, his instrumental theme to Beverly Hills Cop (named for Eddie Murphy's character, Axel Foley). It's burbly synthesizer noodling, good for doing The Robot to. Later, it would be responsible for helping popularize the advertising character Crazy Frog. But I can forgive that. My nieces liked that annoying thing.
15 - "Don't Come Around Here No More," Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
14 - "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," Tears for Fears
13 - "I'm on Fire," Bruce Springsteen
12 - "That was Yesterday," Foreigner
11 - "Everything She Wants," Wham!
This group is led off by Tom Petty and co. This song was co-written and co-produced by Eurythmics' Dave Stewart, which explains why it was the most keyboard-heavy Heartbreakers' track to that point. It was apparently inspired by something Stevie Nicks said to Joe Walsh in the early morning hours after a party at Nicks' house. Cool. And everyone remembers the Alice in Wonderland- themed video. Petty made a very good Mad Hatter.
Next are Britain's Tears for Fears with their first American hit, a #1 about the desire for control. The song's stuttery beat and shimmery guitar made it stand out from the pack to my ears. High-quality pop songcraft.
Then it's The Boss, back from last time with his sultry plea for relief for his "bad desire." Possibly one of the most deeply sexual songs to ever make it to pop radio.
After topping the charts with "I Want to Know What Love Is," Foreigner followed up with a midtempo pop-rock tune about regretting the loss of a lover. A big comedown in terms of quality. Lou gives it his all, but this is mediocrity, plain and simple
This quintet is rounded out by Wham!'s third American hit, an uptempo pop number about doing more giving than taking in a relationship, and slowly realizing that it isn't worth it. The group's teen-idol image probably blinded me to it at the time, but it holds up as a very good pop song. George Michael's talent was starting to become clearer and clearer.
And now, passing by our reviewing stand, is a float containing the proud members of the Top Ten.
10 - "Smooth Operator," Sade
Helen Folosade Adu and her band made their first impression on the American public with this jazzy ode to a slick, love 'em-and-leave 'em playboy. "His eyes are like angels," she sings, but "his heart is cold." An enduring pop classic.
9 - "All She Wants to Do is Dance," Don Henley
The ex-Eagle picked up another Top Ten with this rocker about being in a corrupt, war-torn, drug-infested part of the world, and trying to make sense of it all while dealing with a girlfriend who only cares about having fun. Stealthily delivered social commentary, thought-provking but not preachy. Good job, Don.
8 - "Nightshift," The Commodores
A nice tribute to Marvin and Jackie. But yes, it would have been better with Lionel.
7 - "Some Like It Hot," The Power Station
The first hit from Robert Palmer, two of Duran Duran's Taylors, and Chic's drummer, was this beat-heavy hunk of lusty rock. It's lost a little sting over the years, but still, pretty damn good.
6 - "Obsession," Animotion
"Who do you want me to be to make you sleep with me?" I wonder if that's actually and effective pickup line. Perhaps I'll have to try it sometime.
5 - "One Night in Bangkok," Murray Head
Head, a British singer and actor, had hit the charts a decade-and-a-half earlier with the title song from the original Jesus Christ Superstar LP. His second hit was once again a song from an album version of a yet-to-be-produced stage musical, this one being Chess, featuring lyrics from Superstar's Tim Rice and music by ABBA's Benny Adersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus. The musical is about the intersection of chess and Cold War intrigue, and was partially inspired by the famous Bobby Fischer-Boris Spassky match of 1972. In this song, Head plays a player-turned-observer explaining that he much prefers watching the action on the board to the Buddhist culture and decadent nightlife of the Thai city where a championship match is taking place. Very strange subject matter for a pop song, but it was catchy, and so it scaled the charts. And like a knight capturing a pawn, it captures this week's Uneasy Rider.
4 - "Don't You (Forget About Me)," Simple Minds
After Billy Idol, Bryan Ferry, and The Fixx's lead singer Cy Curnin all declined the opportunity to record this theme song from John Hughes' mismatched-teens-in-detention dramedy The Breakfast Club, Scottish New Wavers Simple Minds stepped in. The result was this enduring #1 smash that broke the band in America. Maybe not as good as some of the band's other stuff, but still, perfect radio pop.
3 - "Rhythm of the Night," DeBarge
The Motown family band had their biggest hit with this island flavored dance-pop trifle. Sounds a little thin nowadays, but the exuberance can't be denied. Their best moment.
2 - "Crazy for You," Madonna
Ms. Ciccone's second #1 was this tender ballad from the forgotten Matthew Modine movie Vision Quest. This isn't one of her better slow songs. Her best is probably "Take a Bow," with "This Used to be My Playground" second.
And topping the hit parade 27 years ago was...
1 - "We are the World," USA for Africa
Inspired by the Bob Geldof-masterminded, British all-star Band Aid single "Do They Know It's Christmas," which raised millions for the famine-ravaged people of Ethiopia, a group of American performers decided to "check their egos at the door" and recorded this Michael Jackson-Lionel Richie anthem on January 22, 1985, just after that evening's American Music Awards. Not surprisingly, it was a major hit, probably more for its intentions than the song itself. But I must say, I quite enjoy the second half of the song. Bob Dylan's vocal contribution is oddly mesmerizing, Ray Charles' gospel fervor is well-suited to the occasion, and the interplay between Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Wonder is one of those combinations that shouldn't work, yet does. But as a Canadian, I think I still prefer our relief record, "Tears Are Not Enough." It's got Neil Young and Geddy Lee!
The NotCaseys this week were "Would I Lie to You" by Eurythmics, "Angel" by Madonna, "Voices Carry" by 'Til Tuesday, and "The Search is Over" by Survivor. As an extra, Casey played "Theme from New York, New York," by Frank Sinatra as a tribute to his long and successful career. And there were two LDDs. In the first, a woman who'd survived tough times in her live requested Barry Manilow's "I Made it Through the Rain." And later, a soldier stationed in Germany sent out Chicago's "You're the Inspiration" to his girlfriend back in the States.
And there you have it. If you want it again, see me in six days or so.
No comments:
Post a Comment