Day 193: Patti Austin & James Ingram - Baby Come To Me
When originally released as a single in early 1982, the song only had modest success, only reaching #73 on the Billboard charts despite featuring two proven vocalists and having been produced by Quincy Jones. Enter General Hospital. When used during that season as a love theme for Luke Spencer, ABC received so much interest in the song that Warner Brothers re-released it and it went to #1 on the Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary Charts in early 1983. Oh, and who’s ubiquitous warbling is that on the chorus? You betcha…Michael McDonald
After a string of hits in the 70’s, Canadian singer Gino Vannelli started the 80’s off smooth with this ode to lost love. After it hit #6 on the Billboard Top 100, Vannelli was spoofed on SCTV by Eugene Levy that same year. Watch the video and see if you could find a way to have fun with that hair. In addition to all his smooth music, Gino is notable for being just the second Caucasian performer on Soul Train way back in 1975. Get out your hair brush and sing along in the bathroom mirror…
Day 191: Huey Lewis & the News - Do You Believe in Love
Written by legendary producer Robert John “Mutt” Lange for their second album Picture This, the News had their breakout hit with this single in May of 1982. Hitting #7 on the Billboard Hot 100, the video received heavy rotation in the early days of MTV, giving both the band and the song a boost in popularity.
Day 190: England Dan & John Ford Coley - I’d Really Like to See You Tonight
Native Texans Dan Seals (Little brother of Jim Seals of Seals and Crofts) and John Coley hit gold with this 1976 single that reached #2 on the pop charts and #1 on the Adult Contemporary Chart. The song was written by Mississippi songsmith Parker McGee, which the guys used a demo of to secure their first record deal with A&M. Seals would go on to have a string of 11 #1’s on the country charts during the 1980’s.
Day 189: Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band - You’ll Accomp’ny me
Detroit rocker Bob Seger smoothed things out on this 1980 hit from his twelfth album, Against The Wind. The song reached #14 on the US pop charts and #17 on the adult contemporary charts. The song was produced by frequent collaborator Punch Andrews and features Bill Payne of Little Feat on keys. The album, which also featured contributions from the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and numerous member of the Eagles, would be Seger’s first and only record to reach #1 on the charts.
The Souther California band’s debut single hit #17 on the US pop charts in 1975. ”Holdin’ on to Yesterday” was the lead single from their self-titled debut album produced by Freddie Piro and engineered by the great Alan Parsons, both of whom would continue to work with the band into the future. Band members David Pack and Joe Puerta penned the tune.
Taken from their 1981 album of the same name, Exile only had minor success with their rendition of “Heart and Soul,” peaking at #102 on the US pop charts. The song was written by MIke Chapman and Nicky Chinn, who wrote songs for a number of British pop bands including Sweet, Suzi Quatro and Mud. The song was again recorded in 1982 by The Bus Boys, and then again, with a great deal of chart success, in 1983 by Huey Lewis & The News. Chapman also produced Exile’s version of the tune.
Los Angeles rock band Player broke into the top 10 for a second time when this 1977 single hit #10 on the US pop charts. The song is taken from their self-titled debut album, which was produced by the duo of Brian Potter and Dennis Lambert who together produced records for The Four Tops, Tavares and Glen Campbell. The song was written by Larry Keith and Steve Pippin, who also wrote songs for Kenny Rogers, Dr. Hook and B.J. Thomas.
Nicolette Larson’s debut single, “Lotta Love,” went all the way to #8 on the US pop charts and #1 on the adult contemporary charts in 1978. The song is a cover of a Neil Young composition. Larson sang back up vocals for Young before going solo and brought a demo version of her singing the song to Young, who told her the song was hers if she wanted it. Doobies producer Ted Templeman produced Nicolette, the album the song would become a part of.
In 1982, Jackson Browne stumbled on the biggest hit of his career when his contribution to the soundtrack for the film Fast Times at Ridgemont Highhit #7 on the US pop charts. The song was written by Browne and guitarist Danny Kortchmar, who also wrote songs for James Taylor, Carly Simon and Don Henley. This song would be the last top ten hit for Browne, who also produced the track.
2
