Seems like there are always short stories to tell about many of the songs/artists that didn't gain enough steam to merit a slot on American Top 40. Here are six of 'em from the tail end of a fun year in music.
90. Faith Band, "Dancin' Shoes"
Group out of Indy who were gaining traction just as Nigel Olsson released his version of one of their tunes--Olsson is also debuting on this chart, at #79. The arrangements are virtually identical. One wonders if having the two records out simultaneously didn't cannibalize each other's sales. The Faith Band's version would reach only #54; I felt at the time that Nigel's take stalled out at #18 somewhat suddenly.
The comments for the video in the embed below are fun. One is about getting the Faith Band to play a prom in '78. Another tells about being an elementary school classmate of vocalist/songwriter Carl Storie's son and getting to hear Storie play some tunes at the school.
89. Marshall Hain, "Dancing in the City"
This is a duo out of Britain, not a solo artist, featuring the talents of keyboardist Julian Marshall and singer Kit Hain. Tasteful, understated piece on its way to a #43 peak (though it made #3 in the UK). Didn't know about it in real time, but I've become a fan.
I thought Marshall's name sounded familiar, and I quickly confirmed he was half of another pair, Eye to Eye, that hit the Top 40 in the summer of '82 with long-time fave "Nice Girls." And Wikipedia was kind enough to inform me that Hain co-wrote the wonderful "Rip in Heaven" with Aimee Mann for 'Til Tuesday's third and final album.
70. Jefferson Starship, "Light the Sky on Fire"
The Star Wars Holiday Special had been broadcast in mid-November. I missed out on seeing it, which from what I can tell was no great loss. But it also means I didn't get to witness Marty Balin singing into a mini-light sabre as the Starship contrived to insert a performance vid during goings-on on Kashyyyk. Balin would go solo immediately after this topped out at #66; I regret to say he did not depart on a high note. The clip includes a bit of leaden acting from the great Art Carney.
65. Fotomaker, "Miles Away"
A couple of former Rascals (Gene Cornish and Dino Danelli) teamed up with an ex-Raspberry (Wally Bryson) and a couple other guys to try to storm the charts with their brand of power pop. "Miles Away" was one of two Hot 100 hits for Fotomaker, and the more successful--it would reach its peak, two slots higher, the following week. It's got some nice hooks and maybe could have been a bigger hit with a bit more spit-and-polish.
61. Gene Simmons, "Radioactive"
47. Paul Stanley, "Hold Me, Touch Me"
"New York Groove" is already in its third week on AT40 at #25, while two of Ace's bandmates from KISS languish in the Bottom 60 with their shots at solo glory. I don't think I'd ever listened to "Hold Me, Touch Me" before prepping this post, so it came as a surprise to discover it's a sappy ballad. It would climb just one spot higher.
Maybe you're amused to learn that I have the "Radioactive" 45, though its presence in my collection wasn't quite voluntary. My sister and I were each handed a copy upon arrival at a Cincinnati Stingers hockey game sometime in those final weeks of 1978, during what turned out to be the final season of the World Hockey Association's existence. The promotion, which I assume was going on in other, similar venues, couldn't propel Simmons's song any higher than #47. (Side question: Why is being radioactive an attractive feature for the woman Gene has his eye on?)
Bonus material: Here's the one WKRQ sheet I have proving that "Radioactive" was getting active radio play in Cincinnati at the time. Wishing one and all a happy 2026--your ongoing patronage is much appreciated.
No comments:
Post a Comment