b/w Restless
| Released: June, 1981 (Epic) Written by: B. Randolph, B. Keith, K. Davis, M. Hamilton, B. Gruen, R. Burns Produced by: Bill Ham Album: American Exce$$ |
Note: when I label a song a "Lost AT40 Single," I'm only speaking for myself. Your mileage may vary.
So I'm listening to a rerun of a fairly lackluster American Top 40 broadcast from September 5, 1981 and Casey Kasem introduced this song thus:
This would be Point Blank's last week ever to appear on Casey's show. The single only spent 2 weeks in the Top 40 and was the group's only Top 40 hit. Overall, it stayed in the Hot 100 for a respectable 14 weeks. It also peaked at #20 on the Mainstream Rock chart. It's the only Point Blank song I've ever heard, but I'm glad to reconnect with it here.
So I'm listening to a rerun of a fairly lackluster American Top 40 broadcast from September 5, 1981 and Casey Kasem introduced this song thus:
Eight years ago in Dallas, six men formed a band and called it Point Blank. They're still based in Texas and last week their first chart single debuted in the countdown at number 40. Up a notch this week to 39, Point Blank with "Nicole."Partly because of the Texas connection and partly because it sounds like a poor man's ZZ Top single, "Nicole" was a huge regional hit in the Houston market (at the time, I was mainly listening to KILT-AM, KLOL-FM, and KSRR-FM). The verse is a forgettable blues-based shuffle, but the the chorus is an organ-drenched taste of southern rock with a melody that will stick in your head for days and reappear whenever you hear the name Nicole. The song's also got a nice bridge that raises it's rating a full letter grade.
This would be Point Blank's last week ever to appear on Casey's show. The single only spent 2 weeks in the Top 40 and was the group's only Top 40 hit. Overall, it stayed in the Hot 100 for a respectable 14 weeks. It also peaked at #20 on the Mainstream Rock chart. It's the only Point Blank song I've ever heard, but I'm glad to reconnect with it here.
Holy guacamole!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of those series of moments that reminds me how amazing life can be.
A week ago, I was listening to My Top Tracks 1981 playlist which features "Nicole", a favorite since the first time I heard it.
Later that same day, my friend Brandon posted another one of his "lost" K-tel albums which featured "Nicole" as the last song on the album. (It's a great album by the way - the too good to be true tracklist gives it away though.)
Then you write up this post. Had no idea it was Top 40. Thanks for the knowledge.