Second half.
20 - "Trouble," Gillan
The first and biggest hit for Ian's eponymous band was this cover of a song Elvis performed in the 1958 film King Creole, then Ten years later in his 1968 comeback special. Gillan gives a swaggering performance that reminded me a lot of Bad Company's Paul Rogers. It's good, even if I still don't know what a "green-eyed mountain jack" is.
19 - "One Day I'll Fly Away," Randy Crawford
The Georgia jazz singer's first and biggest solo hit here was this ballad about finding the courage to leave an unfulfilling relationship. It's nice, but I'm not sure what made it such a breakout for her.
18 - " Enola Gay," Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
OMD's second hit and first Top Ten was this synthpopper about the plane that dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. It doesn't seem to take a side as to whether it was right or wrong, but it still conveys the importance. One of their best.
17 - "Three Little Birds," Bob Marley and the Wailers
Their last hit during Marley's lifetime was this gentle song of optimism. Yeah, I really hope every little thing's gonna be all right.
16 - "Searching," Change
The second hit for this Italian-American group was a slinky funk number about looking for love, sung by the then-little-known Luther Vandross. It's goodness that Luther makes great.
15 - "You're Lying," Linx
The Britfunk combo's first hit is decent deception disco. Saying anything better about it wouldn't be telling the truth.
14 - "Gotta Pull Myself Together," The Nolans
The second Top Ten for the Irish sisters was this jaunty dance pop track about recovering from a romantic mistake. They hit my bubblegum sweet spot.
13 - "Casanova," Coffee
The only hit for this Philadelphia girl group was a disco cover of a 1967 Ruby Andrews R&B hit about shutting down a playboy. It exists.
12 - "Killer On the Loose," Thin Lizzy
Lizzy's only Top Ten of the decade was this fast rocker in which Phil Lynott sings from the point of view of Jack the Ripper. Effective, if a little on the nose when he flat out says "I'm a mad sexual rapist." Um...you could have maybe couched that a little and still gotten the point across, Phil.
11 - "Amigo," Black Slate
The only major hit for this London reggae band was this loping number about how Jah is your friend. Rastafarian worship music, essentially.
something something Top Ten.
10 - "When You Ask About Love," Matchbox
The retro specialists had their biggest hit by covering Buddy Holly. No need to bother with this. A photocopy from a machine low on toner.
9 - "Woman in Love," Barbra Streisand
Babs grabs a Triple Crown with this big Gibb ballad. Professional pop that still holds up.
8 - "My Old Piano," Diana Ross
This single flopped at home, but gave Miss Ross a Top Five here. It's disco-funk that compares a musical instrument to a reliable lover. Kind of odd, but fine.
7 - "If You're Lookin' for a Way Out," Odyssey
This New York disco trio only cracked the U.S. Top 40 with 1977's "Native New Yorker," but here they racked up five Top Fives, the third being this "I love you enough to set you free of that's what you want" ballad. Lillian Lopez's vocals knock it out of the park. A surprise soul classic.
6 - "Master Blaster (Jammin')," Stevie Wonder
Stevie pays tribute to Marley, funktasticness ensues.
5 - "What You're Proposing," Status Quo
The Quo's first hit of this decade was an energetic rocker about being unspecifically propositioned. They seemed to like what was on the table, though. It's okay, but I think using "runny nosin'" as a verbal is a bit dodgy.
4 - "Et Les Oiseaux Chantaient (And the Birds Were Singing)," Sweet People
Well...this group was from Switzerland...they were led by a guy named Alain Morrison...and their hit here was an easy-listening instrumental literally featuring the sounds of singing birds. I'm just hearing this now, so clearly I was premature in giving Kate Bush the Uneasy Rider. Sorry Kate, but I've got to rescind the award and give it to these other songbirds.
3 - "Baggy Trousers," Madness
Their fourth hit was a jumpy reminiscence of Suggs' schooldays, which apparently involved drunk teachers, fights with kids from other schools, and loose-fitting pants, among other things. It was evidently written as a contrast to the rigid private-school upbringing detailed in "Another Brick in the Wall Part II." And it is a good tonic to Floydian harshness.
2 - "D.I.S.C.O.," Ottawan
The first of the French group's two big hits was this song that describes a woman using the title as an acrostic device. They didn’t come up with any adjectives beginning with O, though. But I'll attribute that to English not being their native language.
And on top 37 years ago was...
1 - "Don't Stand So Close to Me," The Police
Their third #1 was this tale of a teacher lusting after a student. Between this and "Every Breath You Take," Sting did creepy surprisingly well. I guess that role in Brimstone and Treacle fit him better than I thought.
Don't be sad, I have more. Stay tuned.
Saturday, October 28, 2017
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
GATW: UKT40 October 19, 1980 Part One
October 1980. The Queen becomes the first British mornarch to visit the Vatican since Henry VIII decided to form his own church so he could get divorced. What's 450 years between friends? Meanwhile, the U.K.'s pop fans had married themselves to these tunes.
40 - "Eighth Day," Hazel O'Connor
Coventry singer-actress O'Connor scored her first and biggest hit with this song from the soundtrack of Breaking Glass, a film in which she starred as a rock vocalist trying to make it big while keeping her integrity. It's apocalyptic punk/new wave about humanity's inventions eventually destroying life and the planet, sung in a Lene Lovich-style wail. A cool little curiosity.
39 - "Paranoid," Black Sabbath
A tenth anniversary reissue of Sabbath's biggest and best-known hit, this metal classic about a mental breakdown. The beginning of the legend of Ozzy. Bat-biting, nu-metal festivals, and "Shaarrooonn!!" ensued.
38 - "Modern Girl," Sheena Easton
Her debut single. She liked tangerines and television, apparently. It still amazes me that she was the independent lady on this one and the devoted housewife on her very next release.
37 - "Dog Eat Dog," Adam and the Ants
Their first hit established their template; the Burundi beat, the lyrics about non-conformity, and Adam's sneery vocals. A solid start.
36 - "Why Do Lovers Break Each Other’s Hearts," Showaddywaddy
The retro specialists had their first hit of the decade with a cover of a song co-written by Phil Spector for Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans. They did what they did, and it was slowly falling out of favour.
35 - "Let Me Talk," Earth Wind and Fire
The funk machine had another hit with this tune about the issues of the dawn of the decade, including inflation, nuclear disarmament, and reliance on Middle Eastern oil. The groove helps the medicine go down smooth.
34 - "I Need Your Lovin'," Teena Marie
The second and final Brit hit by the Rick James protégé. Still slick funk of the kind that made her an unlikely soul legend.
33 - "She's So Cold," The Rolling Stones
Their second hit of the decade was this burner about how fiery Mick gets around an ironically chilly lady. Should have been a bigger hit. My country did the best by it by pushing it to #11.
32 - "Party Lights," The Gap Band
The second hit here for the Tulsa funk ensemble is just a groove delivery system with bare-bones lyrics. Just dance and turn off the brain.
31- "It's Only Love," Elvis Presley
This reissue of a 1971 single made it all the way to #3. It's a big showy ballad that instantly makes you see the jumpsuit and the sideburns in your mind's eye. Vegas headliner Elvis all the way, no trace of the libidinous Middle America-threatened.
30 - "I Owe You One," Shalamar
Their third hit over here was this disco tune that compares love to a financial transaction. As long as it isn't actually one, it's all good.
29 - "What's in a Kiss," Gilbert O'Sullivan
After a five-year drought, old Gil managed a fourteenth and final hit with this typical trifle about love. This time he compares himself to a delicatessen. That's different. Otherwise, it's just the standard fluff.
28 - "I Got You," Split Enz
The Zealanders' only major hit here was this New Wave gem about romantic paranoia. It gets on my nerves that this wasn't a worldwide Top Five smash.
Sometimes I get frightened about how much this matters to me.
27 - "Feels Like I'm in Love," Kelly Marie
This song was originally written by Mungo Jerry leader Ray Dorset for Elvis, but after the King died, it wound up going to a Scottish newcomer born Jacqueline McKinnon, who took it to #1. It's decent enough disco, but nothing that would make you think a major star was emerging. And it wasn't, as she picked up just two more sub-Top 20s before fading into obscurity.
26 - "Army Dreamers," Kate Bush
Kate's sixth hit was another cool little oddity, a mournful waltz sung from the point of view of a mother who loses a son in a war. On the strength of her Kateness alone, she edges Hazel O'Connor for the Uneasy Rider.
25 - "Special Brew," Bad Manners
The first of two Top Fives for Buster Bloodvessel and his boys was this sweet little ska love song. "All I want is a barrel of you," he sings. Um...I guess he doesn't mean that in a creepy way...right?
24 - "All Out of Love," Air Supply
I am surprised to learn that this was the Aussie duo's only Top 40 here. Well, at least it was one of their better efforts.
23 - "Another One Bites the Dust," Queen
Another surprise: Britain kept this from the Triple Crown, only lifting it to #7. You'd think the combination of Freddie and funk would have been a top spot shoo-in. Funny old world, isn't it?
22 - "Stereotype," The Specials
The fifth Top Ten for the Coventry 2 Tone kings was this portrait of a young man who has a dead-end existence of drinking, shagging and fighting. Although one wonders if this is a cautionary tale or a criticism of mainstream society's view of the youth of the day, with the latter suggested by the title and the fact that the lyrics twice state of the protagonist "He doesn't really exist." One you have to think about, and I always appreciate that.
21 - "Love X Love," George Benson
The second British Top Ten for the jazz guitarist was this smoothie about affection multiplication. It's a very good example of the continuing influence of disco after it's supposed death. I'd still boogie along.
In Part Two: Deception! Murder! Insanity! Lust! And also birds.
40 - "Eighth Day," Hazel O'Connor
Coventry singer-actress O'Connor scored her first and biggest hit with this song from the soundtrack of Breaking Glass, a film in which she starred as a rock vocalist trying to make it big while keeping her integrity. It's apocalyptic punk/new wave about humanity's inventions eventually destroying life and the planet, sung in a Lene Lovich-style wail. A cool little curiosity.
39 - "Paranoid," Black Sabbath
A tenth anniversary reissue of Sabbath's biggest and best-known hit, this metal classic about a mental breakdown. The beginning of the legend of Ozzy. Bat-biting, nu-metal festivals, and "Shaarrooonn!!" ensued.
38 - "Modern Girl," Sheena Easton
Her debut single. She liked tangerines and television, apparently. It still amazes me that she was the independent lady on this one and the devoted housewife on her very next release.
37 - "Dog Eat Dog," Adam and the Ants
Their first hit established their template; the Burundi beat, the lyrics about non-conformity, and Adam's sneery vocals. A solid start.
36 - "Why Do Lovers Break Each Other’s Hearts," Showaddywaddy
The retro specialists had their first hit of the decade with a cover of a song co-written by Phil Spector for Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans. They did what they did, and it was slowly falling out of favour.
35 - "Let Me Talk," Earth Wind and Fire
The funk machine had another hit with this tune about the issues of the dawn of the decade, including inflation, nuclear disarmament, and reliance on Middle Eastern oil. The groove helps the medicine go down smooth.
34 - "I Need Your Lovin'," Teena Marie
The second and final Brit hit by the Rick James protégé. Still slick funk of the kind that made her an unlikely soul legend.
33 - "She's So Cold," The Rolling Stones
Their second hit of the decade was this burner about how fiery Mick gets around an ironically chilly lady. Should have been a bigger hit. My country did the best by it by pushing it to #11.
32 - "Party Lights," The Gap Band
The second hit here for the Tulsa funk ensemble is just a groove delivery system with bare-bones lyrics. Just dance and turn off the brain.
31- "It's Only Love," Elvis Presley
This reissue of a 1971 single made it all the way to #3. It's a big showy ballad that instantly makes you see the jumpsuit and the sideburns in your mind's eye. Vegas headliner Elvis all the way, no trace of the libidinous Middle America-threatened.
30 - "I Owe You One," Shalamar
Their third hit over here was this disco tune that compares love to a financial transaction. As long as it isn't actually one, it's all good.
29 - "What's in a Kiss," Gilbert O'Sullivan
After a five-year drought, old Gil managed a fourteenth and final hit with this typical trifle about love. This time he compares himself to a delicatessen. That's different. Otherwise, it's just the standard fluff.
28 - "I Got You," Split Enz
The Zealanders' only major hit here was this New Wave gem about romantic paranoia. It gets on my nerves that this wasn't a worldwide Top Five smash.
Sometimes I get frightened about how much this matters to me.
27 - "Feels Like I'm in Love," Kelly Marie
This song was originally written by Mungo Jerry leader Ray Dorset for Elvis, but after the King died, it wound up going to a Scottish newcomer born Jacqueline McKinnon, who took it to #1. It's decent enough disco, but nothing that would make you think a major star was emerging. And it wasn't, as she picked up just two more sub-Top 20s before fading into obscurity.
26 - "Army Dreamers," Kate Bush
Kate's sixth hit was another cool little oddity, a mournful waltz sung from the point of view of a mother who loses a son in a war. On the strength of her Kateness alone, she edges Hazel O'Connor for the Uneasy Rider.
25 - "Special Brew," Bad Manners
The first of two Top Fives for Buster Bloodvessel and his boys was this sweet little ska love song. "All I want is a barrel of you," he sings. Um...I guess he doesn't mean that in a creepy way...right?
24 - "All Out of Love," Air Supply
I am surprised to learn that this was the Aussie duo's only Top 40 here. Well, at least it was one of their better efforts.
23 - "Another One Bites the Dust," Queen
Another surprise: Britain kept this from the Triple Crown, only lifting it to #7. You'd think the combination of Freddie and funk would have been a top spot shoo-in. Funny old world, isn't it?
22 - "Stereotype," The Specials
The fifth Top Ten for the Coventry 2 Tone kings was this portrait of a young man who has a dead-end existence of drinking, shagging and fighting. Although one wonders if this is a cautionary tale or a criticism of mainstream society's view of the youth of the day, with the latter suggested by the title and the fact that the lyrics twice state of the protagonist "He doesn't really exist." One you have to think about, and I always appreciate that.
21 - "Love X Love," George Benson
The second British Top Ten for the jazz guitarist was this smoothie about affection multiplication. It's a very good example of the continuing influence of disco after it's supposed death. I'd still boogie along.
In Part Two: Deception! Murder! Insanity! Lust! And also birds.
Thursday, October 19, 2017
Bobby Goes Home: Canadian Top 50 October 15, 1988
Before we start, I would like to pay tribute to the recently passed Gord Downie. The Tragically Hip are a phenomenon that is hard to explain, but all I can say is that when I hear them, I hear a different little piece of what makes Canada Canada. They have so many songs that are so popular here (and so ignored everywhere else) that not only do they have over a dozen songs I could name Certified CanCon Classics, I might has well give that title to their whole career. RIP, Gordie baby, I knew exactly what you meant, I swear to God.
Now to October 1988. Canada was in a funk. After one of the biggest trades in sports history, we were now watching Wayne Gretzky play hockey in a Los Angeles Kings uniform. Sprinter Ben Johnson's triumph at the Seoul Olympics was squelched when he tested positive for steroids and his gold medal was stripped. And while all that was going on, we had to pay attention to a federal election campaign. Good times. Well, we could always try to escape through music, and here are some of the more popular distractions of the time.
Bonus Track: 57 - "Slow Turning," John Hiatt
Born in Indianapolis in 1952, Hiatt got his first music business attention when his song "Sure as I'm Sittin' Here" became a hit for Three Dog Night in 1974. This got him a major label recording contract, and he bounced around a few label's for over a decade until his 1987 LP Bring the Family garnered him his first significant sales and airplay. This title track from his next album became his biggest hit. It's a banjo-driven folk rocker about adjusting from making noise with your guitar in your youth to being an adult and wanting your children to stop "banging like Charlie Watts" in the back seat of the car. Rootsy goodness. Hiatt has continued performing and writing ever since, with his biggest pop success coming in 1989 when Canada's own Jeff Healey took a cover of "Angel Eyes" to #5 in America.
49 - "Into the Night," Big Bang (CanCon!)
This Scarborough, Ontario trio hasn't left much of an online footprint with their only hit. Couldn't find lyrics, and all I could find of the song is a clip on YouTube of a profile of the band from a show on YTV (the Canadian version of Nickelodeon) that contained parts of the video and a snippet of a live performance. From that I vaguely remember the song as being kind of Simple Minds-ish, but nothing special. They were pretty much done after this, and there clearly isn't much nostalgia for their one moment.
48 - "Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution," Tracy Chapman
After her smash debut single "Fast Car" topped the charts here and went Top Ten in the U.S. and the U.K., Cleveland native Chapman could do not better than this position with her follow-up, a folk-rocker that essentially warns of/encourages an uprising by the world's lower economic classes. Probably not surprising that commercial radio didn't want to embrace it. Nor is it surprising that it was adopted last year by the presidential campaign of left-wing populist Bernie Sanders last year. A good addition to any protest playlist alongside the Woody Guthries, Phil Ochs, and Billy Braggs of the world.
47 - "Don't Go," Hothouse Flowers
From the Monkstown section of Dublin, this band got its start with a single on the U2-owned Mother Records label, then they were signed to a major label and hit #11 in Britain and this high here with this rollicking mix of folk, rock, and soul. Urgent and inspiring, it seemed to promise a big career, but they wouldn't go beyond a cult following outside the British Isles. But this one still reaches out and grabs me.
43 - "Come Back to Me," Barney Bentall and the Legendary Hearts (CanCon!)
This Vancouver band first garnered attention when the video for their indie single "Something to Live For" gained significant airplay on MuchMusic. They would then sign a major label deal and become a steady CanCon provider for several years. Their second hit was this bar-rocker on which Bentall tells an old flame that he's better than her flashy new guy. The theme and the sound are very much junior Springsteen, but they pull the sound off better than, say, John Cafferty's band. And in case I don't get to it, I'm going to take the time to induct "Something to Live For" into the ranks of my Certified CanCon Classics. That one you should definitely track down if you don't know it.
41 - "My Girl," Myles Goodwyn (CanCon!)
Between the breakup of April Wine in 1982 and their reunion in 1992, leader Goodwyn recorded a solo album that contained this ballad about wanting to get his lady back. Blah, drowning in synths, and not up to his band's legacy of okayness. He was right to get back with the boys and return to jamming out "Roller" and "Could've Been a Lady" for the cottage crowd.
40 - "Nothing Can Come Between Us," Sade
The Nigerian-Briton and her band hit bigger here than in those two bigger countries with another bit of slick jazz-pop about the galvanizing power of love. Not super distinctive, but nice.
38 - "Spot You in a Coalmine," Corey Hart (CanCon!)
The Montreal heartthrob had the fifteenth of his whopping 30 Top 40s at home with this soulful rocker about being able to know where his lover is at all times, no matter what. There's a Dylan reference in the lyrics and some good guest vocals from British singer Ruby Turner. He was maturing as an artist, and while that didn't help him from fading commercially in the States, it helped him weather the future at home.
37 - "Endless Night," Eye Eye (CanCon!)
This Toronto band's biggest hit was this nondescript rock song about getting through the night with someone special. Synths and sax are present and correct, as they should be on this sort of 80s blandness.
34 - "Bring Me Some Water," Melissa Etheridge
In the States, the raspy Kansas rocker didn't get much airplay beyond rock radio until the mid-90s, but here she was having pop hits right from her debut album, the first being this intense howl of jealousy and desperation. For me, it's her best hit by quite a margin.
33 - "My Song," Glass Tiger (CanCon!)
While they were months removed from their last U.S. Top 40, the hits continued at home, including this jaunty collaboration with Irish traditionalists The Chieftains. Not bad, but a little out of their depth.
32 - "Smile Me Down," Andrew Cash (CanCon!)
Torontonian Cash started in the punk band L'etranger in the early 80s, then went in a folk-rock direction for his solo career. His second hit was this jangly number about people who intimidate and belittle others in the guise of friendliness. Which is something I'm sure he became familiar with during his recent four-year stint as a Member of Parliament.
31 - "Dream On," Blvd. (CanCon!)
The third of five hits for these Calgarians was this...well, see my entry on Eye Eye, minus the sax.
29 - "Don't be Afraid of the Dark," The Robert Cray Band
Georgia blues guitarist Cray had scored a surprise pop hit the year before with "Smoking Gun," and Canada gave him another one with this invitation to a lady to come over for what today might be called "Marvin Gaye and chill." Pretty good.
28 - "When I Fall in Love," Natalie Cole
For some reason, this R&B cover of a song that was a hit for Doris Day in 1952 and Natalie's father four years later made it's biggest chart impact here. I don't get it. It's blandly modernized and overly sung. But it does serve as foreshadowing of her 90s turn to traditionalism.
26 - "Dancing Under a Latin Moon," Candi (CanCon!)
This Toronto group started as a band specializing in Italian weddings, but after getting a major label deal, they had a brief string of hits, the best-remembered being this dance-pop tune about fantasizing about falling in love in Brazil. Why the location was so important is unclear, but singer Candi Penella sells it with her personality. She's someone I thought could have been a bigger star, but instead she married her drummer and became a high school teacher. Nothing wrong with that.
25 - "Levity," Ian Thomas (CanCon!)
Though Hamilton native Thomas had little international success after his 1973 hit "Painted Ladies," he would be a CanCon staple for the next couple decades. His last solo hit was this okay rock track about wanting more lightness in his life. Though the song's serious tone kind of blunts that message. If you want more of him, I'd suggest tracking down "Pilot" or "Right Before Your Eyes" instead of this.
19 - "Round and Round," Frozen Ghost (CanCon!)
This Toronto band's featured two members of the band Sheriff, who broke up in 1985 but would see their 1983 domestic Top Ten "When I'm With You," top the American charts in '89. These guys had a handful of hits, including this soft-rocker about the cyclical nature of relationships. It's just okay CanCon, nothing more or less.
16 - "Voodoo Thing," Colin James (CanCon!)
From Regina, Saskatchewan, James got his first break in 1984 when Stevie Ray Vaughan came to town and tapped James and his band as a last-minute replacement opening act. A major-label deal followed, and James scored his first of several hits with this bluesy tale of an encounter with a Southern lady who practices black magic. It's a well-worn trope, but James sounds authentic and enthusiastic enough to make it work. And to make it another Certified CanCon Classic.
15 - "Better be Home Soon," Crowded House
The New Zealanders only reached #42 in the States with the first single from their second album, never coming close to another Top 40 hit there. But here, this sweet countryish ballad hit the Top Ten, and they would do so four more times. This is why Canada is cool. These guys are a Hall of Fame calibre pop band.
Out at the speedway, some kind of Top Ten thing.
10 - "It Would Take a Strong Strong Man," Rick Astley
This pleading midtempo ballad became the Roller's third of four #1s here. And it's probably the best showcase his talent ever got.
9 - "Never Tear Us Apart," INXS
The fourth hit from Kick, and probably my favorite 80s ballad. It hits all the sweet spots, and Michael Hutchence sings the hell out of it. Nothing short of classic.
8 - "Forever Young," Rod Stewart
Rod's maudlin wishlist for a child was so close to Bob Dylan's identically titled 1974 song that Dylan got a writing credit and the chunk of the royalties that came with it. Good for him. His song was much better, but this one sold more. Best of both worlds.
7 - "Groovy Kind of Love," Phil Collins
Buster failed to launch him as a movie star, but the soundtrack gave him this Triple Crown-winning cover of Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders 1966 hit. Blah.
6 - "Love Bites," Def Leppard
The Leps were at their commercial peak on this power ballad about the pitfalls of romance. One of the great examples of the Mutt Lange template.
5 - "Don't be Cruel," Cheap Trick
The Tricksters followed up their cross-border #1 "The Flame" with an Elvis cover. They clearly had fun doing it, but I didn't need to hear it.
4 - "Don't You Know What the Night Can Do," Steve Winwood
The Woodman followed up the throwback soul of "Roll With It," with this slick pop that sounds like it belongs in a beer commercial. And wouldn't you know it, it was used in one. Between Genesis, Clapton, and this guy, American beer and aging British rockers were the hot combo at the time.
3 - "One Good Woman," Peter Cetera
Ugh, we made this pukey Ceteramush #1? And America didn't? Wow, we really screwed that one up.
2 - "True Love," Glenn Frey
And we made this crap a #2 too? When America had the good sense to keep it out of the Top Ten? Wow. My fellow Canadians, repeat after me "Glenn Frey is not a soul singer. He is an Eagle, and an Eagle only."
And 29 years ago, Canada loved best...
1 - "Don't Worry, Be Happy," Bobby McFerrin
Ah yes, that moment when this one-man a capella band went from a jazz curiosity to a pop sensation when he took two thirds of the Triple Crown (only Britain held it to #2) with this reggae-flavored ode to unfettered optimism. It didn't age well (less than a year later Public Enemy were angrily decrying it on "Fight the Power"), but it still has some charm, and it's hard not to be amazed by the technical ability. And maybe Bobby would be happy to know that I'm giving him an Uneasy Rider.
The journey continues soon.
Now to October 1988. Canada was in a funk. After one of the biggest trades in sports history, we were now watching Wayne Gretzky play hockey in a Los Angeles Kings uniform. Sprinter Ben Johnson's triumph at the Seoul Olympics was squelched when he tested positive for steroids and his gold medal was stripped. And while all that was going on, we had to pay attention to a federal election campaign. Good times. Well, we could always try to escape through music, and here are some of the more popular distractions of the time.
Bonus Track: 57 - "Slow Turning," John Hiatt
Born in Indianapolis in 1952, Hiatt got his first music business attention when his song "Sure as I'm Sittin' Here" became a hit for Three Dog Night in 1974. This got him a major label recording contract, and he bounced around a few label's for over a decade until his 1987 LP Bring the Family garnered him his first significant sales and airplay. This title track from his next album became his biggest hit. It's a banjo-driven folk rocker about adjusting from making noise with your guitar in your youth to being an adult and wanting your children to stop "banging like Charlie Watts" in the back seat of the car. Rootsy goodness. Hiatt has continued performing and writing ever since, with his biggest pop success coming in 1989 when Canada's own Jeff Healey took a cover of "Angel Eyes" to #5 in America.
49 - "Into the Night," Big Bang (CanCon!)
This Scarborough, Ontario trio hasn't left much of an online footprint with their only hit. Couldn't find lyrics, and all I could find of the song is a clip on YouTube of a profile of the band from a show on YTV (the Canadian version of Nickelodeon) that contained parts of the video and a snippet of a live performance. From that I vaguely remember the song as being kind of Simple Minds-ish, but nothing special. They were pretty much done after this, and there clearly isn't much nostalgia for their one moment.
48 - "Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution," Tracy Chapman
After her smash debut single "Fast Car" topped the charts here and went Top Ten in the U.S. and the U.K., Cleveland native Chapman could do not better than this position with her follow-up, a folk-rocker that essentially warns of/encourages an uprising by the world's lower economic classes. Probably not surprising that commercial radio didn't want to embrace it. Nor is it surprising that it was adopted last year by the presidential campaign of left-wing populist Bernie Sanders last year. A good addition to any protest playlist alongside the Woody Guthries, Phil Ochs, and Billy Braggs of the world.
47 - "Don't Go," Hothouse Flowers
From the Monkstown section of Dublin, this band got its start with a single on the U2-owned Mother Records label, then they were signed to a major label and hit #11 in Britain and this high here with this rollicking mix of folk, rock, and soul. Urgent and inspiring, it seemed to promise a big career, but they wouldn't go beyond a cult following outside the British Isles. But this one still reaches out and grabs me.
43 - "Come Back to Me," Barney Bentall and the Legendary Hearts (CanCon!)
This Vancouver band first garnered attention when the video for their indie single "Something to Live For" gained significant airplay on MuchMusic. They would then sign a major label deal and become a steady CanCon provider for several years. Their second hit was this bar-rocker on which Bentall tells an old flame that he's better than her flashy new guy. The theme and the sound are very much junior Springsteen, but they pull the sound off better than, say, John Cafferty's band. And in case I don't get to it, I'm going to take the time to induct "Something to Live For" into the ranks of my Certified CanCon Classics. That one you should definitely track down if you don't know it.
41 - "My Girl," Myles Goodwyn (CanCon!)
Between the breakup of April Wine in 1982 and their reunion in 1992, leader Goodwyn recorded a solo album that contained this ballad about wanting to get his lady back. Blah, drowning in synths, and not up to his band's legacy of okayness. He was right to get back with the boys and return to jamming out "Roller" and "Could've Been a Lady" for the cottage crowd.
40 - "Nothing Can Come Between Us," Sade
The Nigerian-Briton and her band hit bigger here than in those two bigger countries with another bit of slick jazz-pop about the galvanizing power of love. Not super distinctive, but nice.
38 - "Spot You in a Coalmine," Corey Hart (CanCon!)
The Montreal heartthrob had the fifteenth of his whopping 30 Top 40s at home with this soulful rocker about being able to know where his lover is at all times, no matter what. There's a Dylan reference in the lyrics and some good guest vocals from British singer Ruby Turner. He was maturing as an artist, and while that didn't help him from fading commercially in the States, it helped him weather the future at home.
37 - "Endless Night," Eye Eye (CanCon!)
This Toronto band's biggest hit was this nondescript rock song about getting through the night with someone special. Synths and sax are present and correct, as they should be on this sort of 80s blandness.
34 - "Bring Me Some Water," Melissa Etheridge
In the States, the raspy Kansas rocker didn't get much airplay beyond rock radio until the mid-90s, but here she was having pop hits right from her debut album, the first being this intense howl of jealousy and desperation. For me, it's her best hit by quite a margin.
33 - "My Song," Glass Tiger (CanCon!)
While they were months removed from their last U.S. Top 40, the hits continued at home, including this jaunty collaboration with Irish traditionalists The Chieftains. Not bad, but a little out of their depth.
32 - "Smile Me Down," Andrew Cash (CanCon!)
Torontonian Cash started in the punk band L'etranger in the early 80s, then went in a folk-rock direction for his solo career. His second hit was this jangly number about people who intimidate and belittle others in the guise of friendliness. Which is something I'm sure he became familiar with during his recent four-year stint as a Member of Parliament.
31 - "Dream On," Blvd. (CanCon!)
The third of five hits for these Calgarians was this...well, see my entry on Eye Eye, minus the sax.
29 - "Don't be Afraid of the Dark," The Robert Cray Band
Georgia blues guitarist Cray had scored a surprise pop hit the year before with "Smoking Gun," and Canada gave him another one with this invitation to a lady to come over for what today might be called "Marvin Gaye and chill." Pretty good.
28 - "When I Fall in Love," Natalie Cole
For some reason, this R&B cover of a song that was a hit for Doris Day in 1952 and Natalie's father four years later made it's biggest chart impact here. I don't get it. It's blandly modernized and overly sung. But it does serve as foreshadowing of her 90s turn to traditionalism.
26 - "Dancing Under a Latin Moon," Candi (CanCon!)
This Toronto group started as a band specializing in Italian weddings, but after getting a major label deal, they had a brief string of hits, the best-remembered being this dance-pop tune about fantasizing about falling in love in Brazil. Why the location was so important is unclear, but singer Candi Penella sells it with her personality. She's someone I thought could have been a bigger star, but instead she married her drummer and became a high school teacher. Nothing wrong with that.
25 - "Levity," Ian Thomas (CanCon!)
Though Hamilton native Thomas had little international success after his 1973 hit "Painted Ladies," he would be a CanCon staple for the next couple decades. His last solo hit was this okay rock track about wanting more lightness in his life. Though the song's serious tone kind of blunts that message. If you want more of him, I'd suggest tracking down "Pilot" or "Right Before Your Eyes" instead of this.
19 - "Round and Round," Frozen Ghost (CanCon!)
This Toronto band's featured two members of the band Sheriff, who broke up in 1985 but would see their 1983 domestic Top Ten "When I'm With You," top the American charts in '89. These guys had a handful of hits, including this soft-rocker about the cyclical nature of relationships. It's just okay CanCon, nothing more or less.
16 - "Voodoo Thing," Colin James (CanCon!)
From Regina, Saskatchewan, James got his first break in 1984 when Stevie Ray Vaughan came to town and tapped James and his band as a last-minute replacement opening act. A major-label deal followed, and James scored his first of several hits with this bluesy tale of an encounter with a Southern lady who practices black magic. It's a well-worn trope, but James sounds authentic and enthusiastic enough to make it work. And to make it another Certified CanCon Classic.
15 - "Better be Home Soon," Crowded House
The New Zealanders only reached #42 in the States with the first single from their second album, never coming close to another Top 40 hit there. But here, this sweet countryish ballad hit the Top Ten, and they would do so four more times. This is why Canada is cool. These guys are a Hall of Fame calibre pop band.
Out at the speedway, some kind of Top Ten thing.
10 - "It Would Take a Strong Strong Man," Rick Astley
This pleading midtempo ballad became the Roller's third of four #1s here. And it's probably the best showcase his talent ever got.
9 - "Never Tear Us Apart," INXS
The fourth hit from Kick, and probably my favorite 80s ballad. It hits all the sweet spots, and Michael Hutchence sings the hell out of it. Nothing short of classic.
8 - "Forever Young," Rod Stewart
Rod's maudlin wishlist for a child was so close to Bob Dylan's identically titled 1974 song that Dylan got a writing credit and the chunk of the royalties that came with it. Good for him. His song was much better, but this one sold more. Best of both worlds.
7 - "Groovy Kind of Love," Phil Collins
Buster failed to launch him as a movie star, but the soundtrack gave him this Triple Crown-winning cover of Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders 1966 hit. Blah.
6 - "Love Bites," Def Leppard
The Leps were at their commercial peak on this power ballad about the pitfalls of romance. One of the great examples of the Mutt Lange template.
5 - "Don't be Cruel," Cheap Trick
The Tricksters followed up their cross-border #1 "The Flame" with an Elvis cover. They clearly had fun doing it, but I didn't need to hear it.
4 - "Don't You Know What the Night Can Do," Steve Winwood
The Woodman followed up the throwback soul of "Roll With It," with this slick pop that sounds like it belongs in a beer commercial. And wouldn't you know it, it was used in one. Between Genesis, Clapton, and this guy, American beer and aging British rockers were the hot combo at the time.
3 - "One Good Woman," Peter Cetera
Ugh, we made this pukey Ceteramush #1? And America didn't? Wow, we really screwed that one up.
2 - "True Love," Glenn Frey
And we made this crap a #2 too? When America had the good sense to keep it out of the Top Ten? Wow. My fellow Canadians, repeat after me "Glenn Frey is not a soul singer. He is an Eagle, and an Eagle only."
And 29 years ago, Canada loved best...
1 - "Don't Worry, Be Happy," Bobby McFerrin
Ah yes, that moment when this one-man a capella band went from a jazz curiosity to a pop sensation when he took two thirds of the Triple Crown (only Britain held it to #2) with this reggae-flavored ode to unfettered optimism. It didn't age well (less than a year later Public Enemy were angrily decrying it on "Fight the Power"), but it still has some charm, and it's hard not to be amazed by the technical ability. And maybe Bobby would be happy to know that I'm giving him an Uneasy Rider.
The journey continues soon.
Friday, October 13, 2017
GATW: UKT40 September 25, 1982 Part Two
End.
20 - "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," Boys Town Gang
This group was founded by a San Francisco DJ in 1980 to perform in the city's gay clubs, and they first attracted attention with an explicit club hit called "Cruisin' the Streets." Then they had their biggest international success with this disco take on a Four Seasons perennial. I don't heare much in it, but I am curious to find out what "Cruisin' the Streets" sounds like.
19 - "Just What I Always Wanted," Mari Wilson
Not to be confused with ex-Supreme Mary Wilson or "Telephone Man" novelty act Meri Wilson, this beehive-sporting Londoner had her first and biggest hit with this number about needing love more than the material things she'sacc surrounded with. It has a cool little hybrid sound, like if Phil Spector had access to synths and drum machines in 1963.
18 - "Leave in Silence," Depeche Mode
The Mode's fifth hit was this moody tune about a relationship that cannot no longer be saved by talking. They were definitely sounding like the mope music purveyors we would come to know and love.
17 - "Zoom," Fat Larry's Band
Formed by corpulent singer/drummer Larry James, this Philadelphia funk band were more successful here than at home, reaching their peak by hitting #2 with this midtempo ballad about being taken aback by romance. It's pretty good, and reminds me more than a little of Stevie Wonder.
16 - "Today," Talk Talk
Their first hit was this speedy New Wave track about not being sure how to achieve real happiness. I think that's it. It's in the same solid class of the rest of the stuff I've heard from them,
15 - "Love Come Down," Evelyn King
Champagne's only U.K. Top Ten. Simply superlative.
14 - "Come on Eileen," Dexy's Midnight Runners
The 80s standard was their second #1 here, and it nearly got the Triple Crown, but it only hit #2 in...Canada. Yeah, we were the stingy ones. Damn.
13 - "Hi Fidelity," The Kids from Fame
As we saw in Part One, the TV version of Fame was huge over here, to the point where some of its young cast members got a substantial music career out of it, scoring two Top Fives, the first of which being this peppy number about either monogamy or stereo sound. Could be either, really. Just too sugary for my taste, right down to the stage musical style "everybody shout the title in unison" ending.
12 - "Why," Carly Simon
Carly wasn't as big here as she was athis home, but while there she didn’t hit the Top Ten in the 80s, she did that here twice, first with this synth-reggae song about romantic betrayal, produced by Chic's Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards for the soundtrack of the romantic comedy Soup for One, starring...uh, the woman who played Mr, Kotter's wife. Carly did better than I would have thought in this setting. This is another nice little discovery.
11 - "Give Me Your Heart Tonight," Shakin' Stevens
More from Shaky, this time a romantic plea withave a bit of a tangoish touch. That makes it stand out. One of the better things I've heard from him so far.
Oh yeah, all right, take it easy baby, make it last all night, this was...the British Top Ten.
10 - "Friend or Foe," Adam Ant
The head Ant's second solo hit is a bouncy declaration that he wants people to love him or hate him, nothing in between. It's...okay. Sorry, Stuart.
9 - "Saddle Up," David Christie
Under various anglicized names, Frenchman Jacques Pepino helped write songs for artists such as Gloria Gaynor and Grace Jones, but his only hit as a singer came with this disco-funker about letting go of adversity and moving on. Infectiously inspirational.
8 - "The Message," Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
Formed in 1976, DJ Joseph "Grandmaster Flash" Saddler and five rappers led by Melvin "Melle Mel" Glover made a pivotal moment in hip-hop history when they released this document of inner-city reality that showed that rap could be much more than boasts and party records. It could talk frankly about crime, prostitution, economic inequality, ignorance, and any other issue that needed addressing. It didn't go much beyond black radio at home, but Britain made it Top Ten, and it has since been recognized as one of the most significant records of any genre ever released.
7 - "Save a Prayer," Duran Duran
This floaty synth ballad was the Duranies' biggest hit to this point, reaching #2, higher than even such classic predecessors as "Girls on Film" and "Hungry Like the Wolf." That seems wrong, but this is still pretty nice proof of their versatility.
6 - "There it Is," Shalamar
Their third Top Ten of 1982 was this funk tune about finding love at long last. Maybe a bit derivative of Chic, but it's good enough to be forgiven.
5 - "All of My Heart," ABC
The Sheffield smoothies' fourth hit was this midtempo ballad about wanting a former lover back. I think this is the period where they were at their perfect slickness level, and they would overdo it later to their detriment.
4 - "Walking on Sunshine," Rockers Revenge featuring Donnie Calvin
The biggest hit for Arthur Baker's studio project was this cover of a 1978 Eddy Grant track about how love makes the drudgeries of life worthwhile. It's catchy electro-dance, and no, it isn't the same song that Katrina and the Waves did. Which was kind of a relief.
3 - "Private Investigations," Dire Straits
The first of the band's two #2s was this six-minute acoustic-guitar-and-synthesizer ballad on which Mark Knopfler talks (not sings) in the voice of a cynical, world-weary private detective. It's their most ambitious and interesting work. Look it up if your sick of only hearing "Money for Nothing" and "Sultans of Swing."
2 - "The Bitterest Pill (I Ever Had to Swallow)," The Jam
The group's penultimate single was this seething song about seeing an ex find love with someone else. More mature and soulful than their early stuff, and a good indication of where Paul Weller was heading in his future endeavours.
And on top 35 years ago was...
1 - "Eye of the Tiger," Survivor
Rocky III theme, Triple Crown winner, and immoral pump-up jam. You don't love it or hate it, you just listen to its inevitability. You're paying attention no matter what.
Thanks, more, see ya soon.
20 - "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," Boys Town Gang
This group was founded by a San Francisco DJ in 1980 to perform in the city's gay clubs, and they first attracted attention with an explicit club hit called "Cruisin' the Streets." Then they had their biggest international success with this disco take on a Four Seasons perennial. I don't heare much in it, but I am curious to find out what "Cruisin' the Streets" sounds like.
19 - "Just What I Always Wanted," Mari Wilson
Not to be confused with ex-Supreme Mary Wilson or "Telephone Man" novelty act Meri Wilson, this beehive-sporting Londoner had her first and biggest hit with this number about needing love more than the material things she'sacc surrounded with. It has a cool little hybrid sound, like if Phil Spector had access to synths and drum machines in 1963.
18 - "Leave in Silence," Depeche Mode
The Mode's fifth hit was this moody tune about a relationship that cannot no longer be saved by talking. They were definitely sounding like the mope music purveyors we would come to know and love.
17 - "Zoom," Fat Larry's Band
Formed by corpulent singer/drummer Larry James, this Philadelphia funk band were more successful here than at home, reaching their peak by hitting #2 with this midtempo ballad about being taken aback by romance. It's pretty good, and reminds me more than a little of Stevie Wonder.
16 - "Today," Talk Talk
Their first hit was this speedy New Wave track about not being sure how to achieve real happiness. I think that's it. It's in the same solid class of the rest of the stuff I've heard from them,
15 - "Love Come Down," Evelyn King
Champagne's only U.K. Top Ten. Simply superlative.
14 - "Come on Eileen," Dexy's Midnight Runners
The 80s standard was their second #1 here, and it nearly got the Triple Crown, but it only hit #2 in...Canada. Yeah, we were the stingy ones. Damn.
13 - "Hi Fidelity," The Kids from Fame
As we saw in Part One, the TV version of Fame was huge over here, to the point where some of its young cast members got a substantial music career out of it, scoring two Top Fives, the first of which being this peppy number about either monogamy or stereo sound. Could be either, really. Just too sugary for my taste, right down to the stage musical style "everybody shout the title in unison" ending.
12 - "Why," Carly Simon
Carly wasn't as big here as she was athis home, but while there she didn’t hit the Top Ten in the 80s, she did that here twice, first with this synth-reggae song about romantic betrayal, produced by Chic's Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards for the soundtrack of the romantic comedy Soup for One, starring...uh, the woman who played Mr, Kotter's wife. Carly did better than I would have thought in this setting. This is another nice little discovery.
11 - "Give Me Your Heart Tonight," Shakin' Stevens
More from Shaky, this time a romantic plea withave a bit of a tangoish touch. That makes it stand out. One of the better things I've heard from him so far.
Oh yeah, all right, take it easy baby, make it last all night, this was...the British Top Ten.
10 - "Friend or Foe," Adam Ant
The head Ant's second solo hit is a bouncy declaration that he wants people to love him or hate him, nothing in between. It's...okay. Sorry, Stuart.
9 - "Saddle Up," David Christie
Under various anglicized names, Frenchman Jacques Pepino helped write songs for artists such as Gloria Gaynor and Grace Jones, but his only hit as a singer came with this disco-funker about letting go of adversity and moving on. Infectiously inspirational.
8 - "The Message," Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
Formed in 1976, DJ Joseph "Grandmaster Flash" Saddler and five rappers led by Melvin "Melle Mel" Glover made a pivotal moment in hip-hop history when they released this document of inner-city reality that showed that rap could be much more than boasts and party records. It could talk frankly about crime, prostitution, economic inequality, ignorance, and any other issue that needed addressing. It didn't go much beyond black radio at home, but Britain made it Top Ten, and it has since been recognized as one of the most significant records of any genre ever released.
7 - "Save a Prayer," Duran Duran
This floaty synth ballad was the Duranies' biggest hit to this point, reaching #2, higher than even such classic predecessors as "Girls on Film" and "Hungry Like the Wolf." That seems wrong, but this is still pretty nice proof of their versatility.
6 - "There it Is," Shalamar
Their third Top Ten of 1982 was this funk tune about finding love at long last. Maybe a bit derivative of Chic, but it's good enough to be forgiven.
5 - "All of My Heart," ABC
The Sheffield smoothies' fourth hit was this midtempo ballad about wanting a former lover back. I think this is the period where they were at their perfect slickness level, and they would overdo it later to their detriment.
4 - "Walking on Sunshine," Rockers Revenge featuring Donnie Calvin
The biggest hit for Arthur Baker's studio project was this cover of a 1978 Eddy Grant track about how love makes the drudgeries of life worthwhile. It's catchy electro-dance, and no, it isn't the same song that Katrina and the Waves did. Which was kind of a relief.
3 - "Private Investigations," Dire Straits
The first of the band's two #2s was this six-minute acoustic-guitar-and-synthesizer ballad on which Mark Knopfler talks (not sings) in the voice of a cynical, world-weary private detective. It's their most ambitious and interesting work. Look it up if your sick of only hearing "Money for Nothing" and "Sultans of Swing."
2 - "The Bitterest Pill (I Ever Had to Swallow)," The Jam
The group's penultimate single was this seething song about seeing an ex find love with someone else. More mature and soulful than their early stuff, and a good indication of where Paul Weller was heading in his future endeavours.
And on top 35 years ago was...
1 - "Eye of the Tiger," Survivor
Rocky III theme, Triple Crown winner, and immoral pump-up jam. You don't love it or hate it, you just listen to its inevitability. You're paying attention no matter what.
Thanks, more, see ya soon.
Monday, October 2, 2017
GATW: UKT40 September 25, 1982 Part One
End of September 1982. Around this time, Lord Alfred Thompson Denning finished his term as Master of the Rolls. I guessed that was what they called the Queen's bread baker, but apparently, it's the second-highest judgeship in Britain. The more you know. Anyway, the magistrates known as the U.K.'s record buyers found the following songs guilty of hitdom in the twenty-
40 - "House of the Rising Sun," The Animals
Eric Burdon's first hit band were one of the top second-tier stars of the British Invasion, and this 1964 take on a folk song about being seduced into ruin at a Louisiana establishment of ill fame earned them a Triple Crown of #1s in 1964. It's third U.K. charttopper run saw it reached #1. It may be the best non-Beatles or -Stones British hit of its originating decade.
39 - "Windpower," Thomas Dolby
The London synth innovators had five Top 40s at home; surprisingly, his North American smash "She Blinded Me with Science" wasn't one of them. However, that song's parent album, The Golden Age of Wireless, also produced his first British hit, a jagged little number about looking at the world differently. I think that's it. It's more of a technological showcase than a pop song, but still worth a listen.
38 - " Do You Really Want to Hurt Me," Culture Club
Boy George and associates' first hit was almost a Triple Crown winner, but America held it to #2. No matter, it's still his finest soul moment.
37 - "Fame," Irene Cara
The theme to the 1980 film went to #1 here when it was used as the theme to the spinoff TV series. Apparently the Brits were big fans of it, because we'll hear more related content later.
36 - "Give Me Some Kinda Magic," Dollar
The penultimate hit for the Anglo-Canadian duo was this peppy love song. It sounds like people trying really hard to pretend to be happy. The genuine article is always preferable.
35 - "Do Ya Wanna Funk," Sylvester with Patrick Cowley
Mr. James the disco legend had his third and final U.K. hit teaming up with producer Cowley on this dance floor burner. I would definitely say yes to this.
34 - "Take a Chance With Me," Roxy Music
Roxy's sixteenth and final first-run hit was this hauntingly poppy number on which Bryan Ferry tells us he can be trusted with someone's heart. Don't know how convincing he is, but I certainly enjoyed hearing him out.
33 - "Ruff Mix," Wonder Dog
A dance track featuring artificial dog barks created by German electronic musician Harry Thumann. This is somehow worse than those barking dog Christmas carols. Playing this for spies and prisonerst of war needs to be specifically outlawed by the Geneva Convention, if it somehow isn't already.
32 - "And I am Telling You I'm Not Going," Jennifer Holliday
The showpiece ballad from Dreamgirls, delivered mightily by the woman who first performed it on Broadway. Defiance defined.
31 - "So Here I Am," UB40
These guys again, this time with a song about about the futility of go-nowhere jobs. Not super-impactful, but all right.
30 - "Invitations," Shakatak
The jazz-funkers had their fourth hit with a discoey track that seems to be about being seduced and betrayed by a woman. The music doesn't reflect the intrigue of the lyrics, so it turns out a mess.
29 - "Spread a Little Happiness," Sting
Gordon Sumner's first solo hit came even before the breakup of The Police, in the form of this old-fashioned version of a song from a 1929 musical. It's from the soundtrack of Brimstone and Treacle, a film in which he plays a mysterious stranger who forever alters the lives of a middle-aged couple and their disabled daughter. He sounds unrecognizable crooning this kind of material. An interesting curio.
28 - "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White," Modern Romance
The group's fourth hit was this cover of a 1950 French song that was a huge hit in 1955 for Cuban bandleader Perez Prado. The English lyrics are about love and fruit trees. Music for suburban grandmothers' salsa dancing lessons.
27 - "Under the Boardwalk," Tom Tom Club
The second and last U.K. Top 40 for the group formed by Talking Heads' rhythm section was this fun funk cover of the 1964 Drifters classic. It is kind of disappointing to learn that "Genius of Love" only made it to #65 here. Big miss.
26 - "Pass the Dutchie," Musical Youth
The teen reggae band's biggest hit topped the charts here and in Canada, but was only a #10 in the States. I guess the drug references weren't covered up sufficiently for Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No" America,
25 - "Glittering Prize," Simple Minds
The Scots' second hit was this dreamy new waver about the enchanting qualities of love. It sounds like them, for better or worse. That's all the analysis I can provide.
24 - "Nobody’s Fool," Haircut One Hundred
The fourth and last hit for the Beckenham boys was this springy pop song about wanting to emerge unscathed from the game of love. Good luck with that, boys. It was a pleasure hearing about it, though.
23 - "What," Soft Cell
The Leeds duo's fifth and last first-release Top Five was this cover of a Northern Soul hit by Judy Street. Just like on "Tainted Love," they make it sound modern while maintaining the pleading urgency of the original. These guys should have been more than one hit wonders in my neck of the woods.
22 - "Hard to Say I'm Sorry," Chicago
Blecccchhh! Yep, I'm down to using Mad magazine expressions of disgust to talk about Chicago power ballads. They've broken me.
21 - "I Eat Cannibals," Toto Coelo
70s hit maker Barry Blue assembled five women, formed them into a group he named after a Latin phrase meaning "as wide as heaven," and wrote and produced this Top Ten dance-rocker that seemingly equates sexual desire with the hunger to consume human flesh. It's disturbing, yet at the same time undeniably catchy. I don't know if I love or hate this song, it's that odd. Which is why it beat out a synthetic canine cacophony and Sting's anachronism to take this chart's Uneasy Rider.
In Part Two: some are quiet, some can't shut up, and some select their words carefully to convey something very important.
40 - "House of the Rising Sun," The Animals
Eric Burdon's first hit band were one of the top second-tier stars of the British Invasion, and this 1964 take on a folk song about being seduced into ruin at a Louisiana establishment of ill fame earned them a Triple Crown of #1s in 1964. It's third U.K. charttopper run saw it reached #1. It may be the best non-Beatles or -Stones British hit of its originating decade.
39 - "Windpower," Thomas Dolby
The London synth innovators had five Top 40s at home; surprisingly, his North American smash "She Blinded Me with Science" wasn't one of them. However, that song's parent album, The Golden Age of Wireless, also produced his first British hit, a jagged little number about looking at the world differently. I think that's it. It's more of a technological showcase than a pop song, but still worth a listen.
38 - " Do You Really Want to Hurt Me," Culture Club
Boy George and associates' first hit was almost a Triple Crown winner, but America held it to #2. No matter, it's still his finest soul moment.
37 - "Fame," Irene Cara
The theme to the 1980 film went to #1 here when it was used as the theme to the spinoff TV series. Apparently the Brits were big fans of it, because we'll hear more related content later.
36 - "Give Me Some Kinda Magic," Dollar
The penultimate hit for the Anglo-Canadian duo was this peppy love song. It sounds like people trying really hard to pretend to be happy. The genuine article is always preferable.
35 - "Do Ya Wanna Funk," Sylvester with Patrick Cowley
Mr. James the disco legend had his third and final U.K. hit teaming up with producer Cowley on this dance floor burner. I would definitely say yes to this.
34 - "Take a Chance With Me," Roxy Music
Roxy's sixteenth and final first-run hit was this hauntingly poppy number on which Bryan Ferry tells us he can be trusted with someone's heart. Don't know how convincing he is, but I certainly enjoyed hearing him out.
33 - "Ruff Mix," Wonder Dog
A dance track featuring artificial dog barks created by German electronic musician Harry Thumann. This is somehow worse than those barking dog Christmas carols. Playing this for spies and prisonerst of war needs to be specifically outlawed by the Geneva Convention, if it somehow isn't already.
32 - "And I am Telling You I'm Not Going," Jennifer Holliday
The showpiece ballad from Dreamgirls, delivered mightily by the woman who first performed it on Broadway. Defiance defined.
31 - "So Here I Am," UB40
These guys again, this time with a song about about the futility of go-nowhere jobs. Not super-impactful, but all right.
30 - "Invitations," Shakatak
The jazz-funkers had their fourth hit with a discoey track that seems to be about being seduced and betrayed by a woman. The music doesn't reflect the intrigue of the lyrics, so it turns out a mess.
29 - "Spread a Little Happiness," Sting
Gordon Sumner's first solo hit came even before the breakup of The Police, in the form of this old-fashioned version of a song from a 1929 musical. It's from the soundtrack of Brimstone and Treacle, a film in which he plays a mysterious stranger who forever alters the lives of a middle-aged couple and their disabled daughter. He sounds unrecognizable crooning this kind of material. An interesting curio.
28 - "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White," Modern Romance
The group's fourth hit was this cover of a 1950 French song that was a huge hit in 1955 for Cuban bandleader Perez Prado. The English lyrics are about love and fruit trees. Music for suburban grandmothers' salsa dancing lessons.
27 - "Under the Boardwalk," Tom Tom Club
The second and last U.K. Top 40 for the group formed by Talking Heads' rhythm section was this fun funk cover of the 1964 Drifters classic. It is kind of disappointing to learn that "Genius of Love" only made it to #65 here. Big miss.
26 - "Pass the Dutchie," Musical Youth
The teen reggae band's biggest hit topped the charts here and in Canada, but was only a #10 in the States. I guess the drug references weren't covered up sufficiently for Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No" America,
25 - "Glittering Prize," Simple Minds
The Scots' second hit was this dreamy new waver about the enchanting qualities of love. It sounds like them, for better or worse. That's all the analysis I can provide.
24 - "Nobody’s Fool," Haircut One Hundred
The fourth and last hit for the Beckenham boys was this springy pop song about wanting to emerge unscathed from the game of love. Good luck with that, boys. It was a pleasure hearing about it, though.
23 - "What," Soft Cell
The Leeds duo's fifth and last first-release Top Five was this cover of a Northern Soul hit by Judy Street. Just like on "Tainted Love," they make it sound modern while maintaining the pleading urgency of the original. These guys should have been more than one hit wonders in my neck of the woods.
22 - "Hard to Say I'm Sorry," Chicago
Blecccchhh! Yep, I'm down to using Mad magazine expressions of disgust to talk about Chicago power ballads. They've broken me.
21 - "I Eat Cannibals," Toto Coelo
70s hit maker Barry Blue assembled five women, formed them into a group he named after a Latin phrase meaning "as wide as heaven," and wrote and produced this Top Ten dance-rocker that seemingly equates sexual desire with the hunger to consume human flesh. It's disturbing, yet at the same time undeniably catchy. I don't know if I love or hate this song, it's that odd. Which is why it beat out a synthetic canine cacophony and Sting's anachronism to take this chart's Uneasy Rider.
In Part Two: some are quiet, some can't shut up, and some select their words carefully to convey something very important.
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Bobby Goes Home: Canadian Top 50 September 27, 1980
1980. The year "O Canada," officially became our national anthem. Before that it was either "God Save the Queen" or Stompin' Tom Connors' "Sudbury Saturday Night." I forget which. Here's a look at a few of the song's that were almost as popular at the time.
Bonus Track: #65 - "Knee Deep in Love," Klaatu
This Toronto prog-psychedelia trio emerged in the mid 1970s, and their sound and the lack of biographical information on their album packaging initially caused some speculation that they were a front for a secretly reunited Beatles. In the U.S., they managed one Hot 100 single with a 45 that included the future Carpenters hit "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft." At home they managed three Top 50 singles, not including this more conventional acoustic love ballad, which in spite of being part of their label's concerted effort to mainstream them, only reached #52. It's okay, but hardly a lost gem. I'm more interested in having a listen to their other stuff, whenever I get a chance.
49 - "Drugs in My Pocket," The Monks
There former members of the mainstream British rock band Strawbs formed a new band with a punk-pop sound. They weren'the embraced at home, but in the Dominion they scored a double-platinum album and a Top Twenty hit in the form of this tune about possessing narcotics and being unsure how or when to use them. Definitely more a parody of punk than the genuine article, but charming in its way.
46 - "Free Me," Roger Daltrey
The Who front man scored a rare solo hit with this rocker about inner turmoil from McVicar, a movie in which he starred as a real life 1960s bank robber. Not that interesting, There is more and better solo Who coming up.
45 - "Too Bad," Doug and the Slugs (CanCon!)
This Vancouver band led by Toronto-born had a few CanCon earworms in this decade, and the first and arguably best of these was this snappy, ska-tinged number about a con man who gets conned himself. I think that's it. To me, these guys were the better, Canadian version of Huey Lewis and the News, and it would be nice if in a parallel universe the two band's swapped careers. But as it stands, this is the second entry in the Official Glovehead Registry of CanConClassics.
44 - "Clones (We're All)," Alice Cooper
King Coopa's first single of the 80s just scraped into the Top 40 at home, but here it got as high as #25. Musically, it finds Alice embracing New Wave synths, and lyrically, it sees him turning from horror to science fiction as he takes on genetic engineering. I like it a lot, even though it heralded the beginning of a commercially fallow and creatively confused period for Cooper that lasted for most of the decade.
36 - "Play the Game," Queen
Their follow-up to the almost Triple Crown-winning "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" missed the U.S. Top 40 but got into the middle reaches of it here. It's a theatrical Freddie power ballad about not being afraid of romance. Another solid entry in the band's hit collection.
34 - "My Mistake," The Kingbees (CanCon!)
Formed in California by Torontonian Jamie James, this band melded rockabilly and new wave on their biggest hit, a song about romantic trial and error. Honestly, I like it better than anything the Stray Cats would put out.
32 - "Can I Come Near," Graham Shaw and the Sincere Serenaders
A Winnipeg native who was in a band with Burton Cummings in the 60s before the latter joined the Guess Who, Shaw and the band he formed in 1977 scored the biggest of his two hits with this soft rock plea to get next to someone. Decent enough for what it is.
26 - "Young and Restless," Prism (CanCon!)
This Vancouver band had their biggest run between 1978 and 1981, picking up five Top 50s at home, including a U.S. #39 in '81 with "Don't Let Him Know," Their most successful hit was rock tune about being youthful and ready for something you can't name. Okay playlist filler.
15 - "Echo Beach," Martha and the Muffins (CanCon!)
The first hit for the future M+M was this New Wave bouncer about an office clerk daydreaming about relaxing by the lakeshore. A great song that also went Top Ten in Britain. Muffintastic.
12 - "Fine State of Affairs," Burton Cummings (CanCon!)
Graham Shaw's ex-bandmate's third and last solo Top Ten was this 50s-style midtempo ballad that I think might be about the loneliness of life on the road. It's his usual competent songcraft that made him one of CanCon's cornerstones for a good quarter century or so.
Top Ten, hosers.
10 - "Tired of Toein' the Line," Rocky Burnette
The only hit for the second generation rocker from Memphis. Another terrific new wave/rockabilly hybrid.
9 - "Games Without Frontiers," Peter Gabriel
Pete's first U.K. Top Ten was Top Ten here too, but missed the Top 40 to the south of us. Big mistake, Uncle Sam, because this is a masterpiece about children playing war that was inspired by a French game show, And it has Kate Bush singing the title in a way that sounds like "She's so popular." It's gold. And an Uneasy Rider too.
8 - "Cocaine/Tulsa Time," Eric Clapton's
A double-sided live single containing two covers; the former a grinding version of J.J. Cale's ode to nose candy, the latter a take on a 1978 hit by the recently passed country legend Don Williams. Not released in Britain, only #30 in the States, but Top Five here. Canada loved itself some Slowhand. And/or coke.
7 - "Misunderstanding," Genesis
These guys had more #1s here than in Britain and America combined, and this was the first. And yes, we knew what we were doing. I think. Much worse songs have topped charts.
6 - "Shining Star," The Manhattans
A cross border Top Ten. It still shines.
5 - "Let My Love Open the Door," Pete Townshend
Pete's perfect little pop song about the power of love was a Top Ten here and in America, but didn't even reach the Top 40 in the U.S.
4 - "Boulevard," Jackson Browne
He never made the Top Five at home, but he did so for the third and final time here with this tough rocker about L.A. street kids. Appropriately gritty.
3 - "Sailing," Christopher Cross
The least rousing sea chantey ever went to #1 on both sides of the border. If you listened to this while actually sailing, you'd probably fall asleep and fall overboard.
2 - "Emotional Rescue," The Rolling Stones
Their second-best disco hit. The falsetto was a worthy experiment, but Mick was right to shelve it.
1 - "Magic," Olivia Newton-John
ONJ's fifth Canuck #1 was her Xanadu showcase. I can't listen to anything from this soundtrack anymore without being in absolute bewilderment that this movie got made.
And there it is. Back to Britain next time. See you then.
Bonus Track: #65 - "Knee Deep in Love," Klaatu
This Toronto prog-psychedelia trio emerged in the mid 1970s, and their sound and the lack of biographical information on their album packaging initially caused some speculation that they were a front for a secretly reunited Beatles. In the U.S., they managed one Hot 100 single with a 45 that included the future Carpenters hit "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft." At home they managed three Top 50 singles, not including this more conventional acoustic love ballad, which in spite of being part of their label's concerted effort to mainstream them, only reached #52. It's okay, but hardly a lost gem. I'm more interested in having a listen to their other stuff, whenever I get a chance.
49 - "Drugs in My Pocket," The Monks
There former members of the mainstream British rock band Strawbs formed a new band with a punk-pop sound. They weren'the embraced at home, but in the Dominion they scored a double-platinum album and a Top Twenty hit in the form of this tune about possessing narcotics and being unsure how or when to use them. Definitely more a parody of punk than the genuine article, but charming in its way.
46 - "Free Me," Roger Daltrey
The Who front man scored a rare solo hit with this rocker about inner turmoil from McVicar, a movie in which he starred as a real life 1960s bank robber. Not that interesting, There is more and better solo Who coming up.
45 - "Too Bad," Doug and the Slugs (CanCon!)
This Vancouver band led by Toronto-born had a few CanCon earworms in this decade, and the first and arguably best of these was this snappy, ska-tinged number about a con man who gets conned himself. I think that's it. To me, these guys were the better, Canadian version of Huey Lewis and the News, and it would be nice if in a parallel universe the two band's swapped careers. But as it stands, this is the second entry in the Official Glovehead Registry of CanConClassics.
44 - "Clones (We're All)," Alice Cooper
King Coopa's first single of the 80s just scraped into the Top 40 at home, but here it got as high as #25. Musically, it finds Alice embracing New Wave synths, and lyrically, it sees him turning from horror to science fiction as he takes on genetic engineering. I like it a lot, even though it heralded the beginning of a commercially fallow and creatively confused period for Cooper that lasted for most of the decade.
36 - "Play the Game," Queen
Their follow-up to the almost Triple Crown-winning "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" missed the U.S. Top 40 but got into the middle reaches of it here. It's a theatrical Freddie power ballad about not being afraid of romance. Another solid entry in the band's hit collection.
34 - "My Mistake," The Kingbees (CanCon!)
Formed in California by Torontonian Jamie James, this band melded rockabilly and new wave on their biggest hit, a song about romantic trial and error. Honestly, I like it better than anything the Stray Cats would put out.
32 - "Can I Come Near," Graham Shaw and the Sincere Serenaders
A Winnipeg native who was in a band with Burton Cummings in the 60s before the latter joined the Guess Who, Shaw and the band he formed in 1977 scored the biggest of his two hits with this soft rock plea to get next to someone. Decent enough for what it is.
26 - "Young and Restless," Prism (CanCon!)
This Vancouver band had their biggest run between 1978 and 1981, picking up five Top 50s at home, including a U.S. #39 in '81 with "Don't Let Him Know," Their most successful hit was rock tune about being youthful and ready for something you can't name. Okay playlist filler.
15 - "Echo Beach," Martha and the Muffins (CanCon!)
The first hit for the future M+M was this New Wave bouncer about an office clerk daydreaming about relaxing by the lakeshore. A great song that also went Top Ten in Britain. Muffintastic.
12 - "Fine State of Affairs," Burton Cummings (CanCon!)
Graham Shaw's ex-bandmate's third and last solo Top Ten was this 50s-style midtempo ballad that I think might be about the loneliness of life on the road. It's his usual competent songcraft that made him one of CanCon's cornerstones for a good quarter century or so.
Top Ten, hosers.
10 - "Tired of Toein' the Line," Rocky Burnette
The only hit for the second generation rocker from Memphis. Another terrific new wave/rockabilly hybrid.
9 - "Games Without Frontiers," Peter Gabriel
Pete's first U.K. Top Ten was Top Ten here too, but missed the Top 40 to the south of us. Big mistake, Uncle Sam, because this is a masterpiece about children playing war that was inspired by a French game show, And it has Kate Bush singing the title in a way that sounds like "She's so popular." It's gold. And an Uneasy Rider too.
8 - "Cocaine/Tulsa Time," Eric Clapton's
A double-sided live single containing two covers; the former a grinding version of J.J. Cale's ode to nose candy, the latter a take on a 1978 hit by the recently passed country legend Don Williams. Not released in Britain, only #30 in the States, but Top Five here. Canada loved itself some Slowhand. And/or coke.
7 - "Misunderstanding," Genesis
These guys had more #1s here than in Britain and America combined, and this was the first. And yes, we knew what we were doing. I think. Much worse songs have topped charts.
6 - "Shining Star," The Manhattans
A cross border Top Ten. It still shines.
5 - "Let My Love Open the Door," Pete Townshend
Pete's perfect little pop song about the power of love was a Top Ten here and in America, but didn't even reach the Top 40 in the U.S.
4 - "Boulevard," Jackson Browne
He never made the Top Five at home, but he did so for the third and final time here with this tough rocker about L.A. street kids. Appropriately gritty.
3 - "Sailing," Christopher Cross
The least rousing sea chantey ever went to #1 on both sides of the border. If you listened to this while actually sailing, you'd probably fall asleep and fall overboard.
2 - "Emotional Rescue," The Rolling Stones
Their second-best disco hit. The falsetto was a worthy experiment, but Mick was right to shelve it.
1 - "Magic," Olivia Newton-John
ONJ's fifth Canuck #1 was her Xanadu showcase. I can't listen to anything from this soundtrack anymore without being in absolute bewilderment that this movie got made.
And there it is. Back to Britain next time. See you then.
Friday, September 22, 2017
GATW: UKT40 September 16, 1972 Part Two
The other twenty.
20 - "Come on Over to My Place," The Drifters
This seven-year old invitation to a dance party went Top Ten and helped launch these guys' 70s U.K. career revival. Maybe too similar to Sam Cooke's "Having a Party," but still fine fun.
19 - "Too Busy Thinking 'Bout My Baby," Mardi Gras
This New York group had the bulk of their success in Europe, and their biggest Brit hit was this cover of a 1969 Marvin Gaye hit. A cool little garage-band version.
18 - "Lean on Me," Bill Withers
Another example of Britain being off its taste game at this time, as this is the highest this U.S. #1 and stone cold soul immortal got here. For shame.
17 - "Popcorn," Hot Butter
The early synth earwormy was Top Ten on both sides of the Atlantic. Still tinny perfection.
16 - "School's Out," Alice Cooper
Alice's first hit here, and his only charttopper here or at home. Okay, that one the Brits got right. As we know from their later embrace of punk, they like youth rebellion.
15 - "The Loco-Motion," Little Eva
A reissue of Brooklynite Eva Boyd's dance-craze smash of ten years earlier. Neither Grand Funk nor Kylie came close to topping it.
14 - "Children of the Revolution," T. Rex
The seventh of eight straight Top 2s for Bolan's boys was this this slinky rocker that might be a parody of glam posturing ("I drive a Rolls-Royce 'cos it's good for my voice") or, conversely, a celebration of same. A great song either way.
13 - "Silver Machine," Hawkwind
This London band has been around since 1969, playing to a loyal fan base enamored with their mix of prog, psychedelia, and science fiction. Their most famous song is this spacey rocker that seems to be about a device that can be used to travel through time and space. It's certainly a trip. And if you think the lead singer's voice is vaguely familiar, it's because it is that of the band's then-bass player, one Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister. Three years later, he got kicked out of the band for a drug busts, and that gave birth to the legend that is Motorhead.
12 - "Living in Harmony," Cliff Richard
Yet another hit for him. Okay soft rock about loneliness. Product from a machine.
11 - "Layla," Derek and the Dominos
Clapton's classic about wanting George Harrison's wife. The riff and the piano breakdown are standalone standards, but it is worth listening to the whole song if you somehow have never heard it. But please don't bother with the unplugged version. That's just dreary on so many levels.
Ain't no Ten like a Top Ten.
10 - "How Can I be Sure," David Cassidy
Keith Partridge's first of two British Number Ones was this Turtles cover. Sounds like a deep, deep Tom Jones cut.
9 - "I Get the Sweetest Feeling," Jackie Wilson
Mr. Excitement picked up a Top Ten here with a four-year-old track about the exhilaration of love. It lands right in that Northern Soul sweet spot.
8 - "Ain't No Sunshine," Michael Jackson
This cover of Bill Withers' immortal blues was just a B-side in America, but here it became Michael's third Top Ten. It's hard to compete with the absolute perfection of the original, but the kid gives it his own spin that works well in a different way.
7 - "All the Young Dudes," Mott the Hoople
Mott's breakthrough and biggest hit. Bowie could have kept it for himself, but these guys more than did it justice. They carried the news better than any paperboy.
6 - "Standing in the Road," Blackfoot Sue
Led by twins Tom and David Farmer, thetbiggest of this Birmingham band's two hits was this blues rocker about being down and out. It's much, much better than that meager description would tell you. Find it and have a listen.
5 - "Sugar Me," Lynsey de Paul
Her first and biggest hit was this bouncy pop song about craving something sweet, and she probably doesn't really mean candy, wink wink nudge nudge say no more. Well-performed, well-arranged, well done.
4 - "Virginia Plain," Roxy Music
Roxy's debut single was this arty rock song about travelling and doing cool stuff and meeting girls. It doesn't make sense, it just sounds great. Which is kind of Roxy at their best in a nutshell.
3 - "It's Four in the Morning," Faron Young
Not only did this Waltz about not being able to leave a lover give former "Hillbilly Heartthrob" Young his first country #1 in ten years, it was a surprise smash over here. And deservedly so. This is primo heartbreak balladry.
2 - "You Wear it Well," Rod Stewart
Moddy Roddy got his second #1 with a sweet ode to a first lost love. This is the stuff I try to think of whenergy I'm confronted with the "Love Touch"es of his catalogue.
And Britain's favourite 45 45 years ago was...
1 - "Mama Weer All Crazee Now," Slade
The Wolverhampton hit machine's third #1 was this raucous paean to booze. A raucous racket with all the sleaze and grime that made their name. Once again, the Quiet Riot cover only skimmed the surface.
More musical musings to come. Bye for now.
20 - "Come on Over to My Place," The Drifters
This seven-year old invitation to a dance party went Top Ten and helped launch these guys' 70s U.K. career revival. Maybe too similar to Sam Cooke's "Having a Party," but still fine fun.
19 - "Too Busy Thinking 'Bout My Baby," Mardi Gras
This New York group had the bulk of their success in Europe, and their biggest Brit hit was this cover of a 1969 Marvin Gaye hit. A cool little garage-band version.
18 - "Lean on Me," Bill Withers
Another example of Britain being off its taste game at this time, as this is the highest this U.S. #1 and stone cold soul immortal got here. For shame.
17 - "Popcorn," Hot Butter
The early synth earwormy was Top Ten on both sides of the Atlantic. Still tinny perfection.
16 - "School's Out," Alice Cooper
Alice's first hit here, and his only charttopper here or at home. Okay, that one the Brits got right. As we know from their later embrace of punk, they like youth rebellion.
15 - "The Loco-Motion," Little Eva
A reissue of Brooklynite Eva Boyd's dance-craze smash of ten years earlier. Neither Grand Funk nor Kylie came close to topping it.
14 - "Children of the Revolution," T. Rex
The seventh of eight straight Top 2s for Bolan's boys was this this slinky rocker that might be a parody of glam posturing ("I drive a Rolls-Royce 'cos it's good for my voice") or, conversely, a celebration of same. A great song either way.
13 - "Silver Machine," Hawkwind
This London band has been around since 1969, playing to a loyal fan base enamored with their mix of prog, psychedelia, and science fiction. Their most famous song is this spacey rocker that seems to be about a device that can be used to travel through time and space. It's certainly a trip. And if you think the lead singer's voice is vaguely familiar, it's because it is that of the band's then-bass player, one Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister. Three years later, he got kicked out of the band for a drug busts, and that gave birth to the legend that is Motorhead.
12 - "Living in Harmony," Cliff Richard
Yet another hit for him. Okay soft rock about loneliness. Product from a machine.
11 - "Layla," Derek and the Dominos
Clapton's classic about wanting George Harrison's wife. The riff and the piano breakdown are standalone standards, but it is worth listening to the whole song if you somehow have never heard it. But please don't bother with the unplugged version. That's just dreary on so many levels.
Ain't no Ten like a Top Ten.
10 - "How Can I be Sure," David Cassidy
Keith Partridge's first of two British Number Ones was this Turtles cover. Sounds like a deep, deep Tom Jones cut.
9 - "I Get the Sweetest Feeling," Jackie Wilson
Mr. Excitement picked up a Top Ten here with a four-year-old track about the exhilaration of love. It lands right in that Northern Soul sweet spot.
8 - "Ain't No Sunshine," Michael Jackson
This cover of Bill Withers' immortal blues was just a B-side in America, but here it became Michael's third Top Ten. It's hard to compete with the absolute perfection of the original, but the kid gives it his own spin that works well in a different way.
7 - "All the Young Dudes," Mott the Hoople
Mott's breakthrough and biggest hit. Bowie could have kept it for himself, but these guys more than did it justice. They carried the news better than any paperboy.
6 - "Standing in the Road," Blackfoot Sue
Led by twins Tom and David Farmer, thetbiggest of this Birmingham band's two hits was this blues rocker about being down and out. It's much, much better than that meager description would tell you. Find it and have a listen.
5 - "Sugar Me," Lynsey de Paul
Her first and biggest hit was this bouncy pop song about craving something sweet, and she probably doesn't really mean candy, wink wink nudge nudge say no more. Well-performed, well-arranged, well done.
4 - "Virginia Plain," Roxy Music
Roxy's debut single was this arty rock song about travelling and doing cool stuff and meeting girls. It doesn't make sense, it just sounds great. Which is kind of Roxy at their best in a nutshell.
3 - "It's Four in the Morning," Faron Young
Not only did this Waltz about not being able to leave a lover give former "Hillbilly Heartthrob" Young his first country #1 in ten years, it was a surprise smash over here. And deservedly so. This is primo heartbreak balladry.
2 - "You Wear it Well," Rod Stewart
Moddy Roddy got his second #1 with a sweet ode to a first lost love. This is the stuff I try to think of whenergy I'm confronted with the "Love Touch"es of his catalogue.
And Britain's favourite 45 45 years ago was...
1 - "Mama Weer All Crazee Now," Slade
The Wolverhampton hit machine's third #1 was this raucous paean to booze. A raucous racket with all the sleaze and grime that made their name. Once again, the Quiet Riot cover only skimmed the surface.
More musical musings to come. Bye for now.
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