Tuesday, April 16, 2019

MFD Not-So-Random Five #14


In which I select five songs from 1976-1985 based on an arbitrary theme. (Not to be confused with this blog's Random Five feature, a different exercise in arbitrariness). Today's theme: one-hit wonders of 1979.


  1. "Music Box Dancer" by Frank Mills (1979, Polydor)
    #3 Pop, #4 Adult Contemporary. My sister bought the 8-track of that Frank Mills album and I was forbidden to touch it. Turns out she was doing me a favor.

  2. "Please Don't Leave" by Lauren Wood (1979, Warner Bros.)
    #24 Pop, #5 Adult Contemporary. This is a smooth little West Coast ditty and just as you're thinking "this sounds like it could be a Doobie Brothers song," here comes Michael McDonald with some vocals to seal the deal. Doobies producer Ted Templeman also produced this track with members of Toto in the backing band. Dig!

  3. "Such a Woman" by Tycoon (1979, Arista)
    #26 Pop. Proof that producer Mutt Lange didn't always have the Midas touch. I can't believe this one broke the Top 40.

  4. "Oh Well" by The Rockets (1979, RSO)
    #30 Pop. I didn't recognize the band name or the song title, but there's no mistaking that bluesy guitar riff on this cover of an early Fleetwood Mac tune. A Michigan band channeling ZZ Top. Good stuff.

  5. "If You Want It" by Niteflyte (1979, Ariola)
    #37 Pop, #21 R&B. Too R&B for yacht, too yacht for R&B, but so dadgum smooth. The only thing I'd change would be the addition of a Jerry Hey horn arrangement.


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