Popdose: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 23 | Popdose
Jeff
· 1 year ago
I actually think that 'High on Emotion' is the lesser of the two Chris DeBurgh songs. But then again, I was a pretty big DeBurgh fan, even before 'The Lady in Red' flooded the 80's airwaves (and consequently, the muzak at my local grocery store).
I've never actually listened to a Del Fuegos song before, but I've purchased two of Dan Zanes' children's music CDs for my son, and I found them to be quite enjoyable, especially 'Sea Music'. And the single 'Catch That Train' is a great song all around.
Eric S.
· 1 year ago
Wait a minute, we're through the whole Chris DeBurgh post and one comment and nobody's referenced "Don't Pay The Ferryman"?! I thought that was the song that put him on the map in the U.S. and opened the door for "Lady in Red". I remember hearing it on radio and seeing the video on MTV - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvHhngeD2K8
WHarrisBullzEye
· 1 year ago
Dude, I LOVE "Don't Pay the Ferryman." Even after a zillion and a half spins of "Lady in Red," it's still "Ferryman" that I hear in my head when I hear the name "Chris DeBurgh."
Elaine
· 1 year ago
I'm with both of you: "Ferryman" = Chris DeBurgh for me. Oddly enough, "The Lady in Red" makes me think of Gene Wilder for some reason.
I'm astonished that "I Still Want You" charted, but that "Don't Run Wild" - which had heavy MTV exposure, and was to my ears a much better song to boot - did not. Funny old world.
Then again, I grew up in the Boston area, so no doubt hometown pride led us all to believe that the 'Fuegos were a lot bigger than they really were.
David_E
· 1 year ago
After the monster that was "Pyromania," and the accident, and the lost arm, and the waiting, and the loss of Mutt Lange, and then Mutt Lange coming back into the fold, and the waiting ... I remember hopes being woefully high for "Hysteria."
Then I remember hearing "Women."
Then I remember thinking "Uh-oh."
Then the DJ played another newish song at the time: GnR's "Paradise City."
Then I remember thinking, "Uh-oh again."
Mike
· 1 year ago
Hmmm...where to begin?
How about the fact that Pete Burns scared me then and scares me even more now. Is he still a transvestite or did he go ahead and have the operation? I remember seeing some clip of him on a reality show on one of those VH-1 "I Love the 80s" specials, and his speaking voice is still pretty deep, so his singing voice is most likely still the same.
I'm surprised L.A. Reid & Babyface don't file some sort of injunction to get those Deele albums banned, or at least get the covers changed. They've got Prince-style hairdos and tons of makeup on. If I was an artist and L.A. Reid was my boss, I'd hold up one of those album covers and say "LOOK AT THIS!!" every time he told me to do something I didn't want to do.
“Hey, anyone know who the five members of DeBarge were?”
Yup! So there's at least one other person who would've been able to recite the entire DeBarge lineup prior to your post. Those guys need a TV movie or something. They make The Jacksons look like angels by comparison.
steed
· 1 year ago
You know - I was looking up Pete to see if he had the operation - and if he did I can't find evidence of it. Though I could have sworn a while back I did read that he went through with it.
Another person that could name the members of DeBarge! Their story is amazing - you'd never think they could be such hoodlums just by looking at them.
$Bill
· 1 year ago
Agree with you on "Eat My Shorts" being horribly unfunny. However, are you sure this is the Rick Dees version? Sounds more like Mondo Fax (the co-author -- how proud he must be!) a.k.a. The Singing Judge. I only heard a part of the Dees version once (living in L.A. in '84) and I seem to remember it being more spoken-word-y. I could be mistaken with cloudy memories, etc. but at first blush I didn't think it sounded like Dees.
steed
· 1 year ago
I'll have to check it out when I get home tonight - I have the 45 - so i'll pop it on and compare it to the mp3 here - this is the only version I ever remember hearing and I've listened to the record before. Thanks for the heads up though - I'll check it out.
jonathan
· 1 year ago
Yeah, I don't think it's the Dees version either. If memory serves, it was glossier, with back-up singers, and Dees' voice is unmistakable. And unfunny. But hey, I had "I'm Not Crazy" on vinyl, so what do I know?
steed
· 1 year ago
Both of you are totally right. I stand corrected. The Rick Dees version isn't more spoken word-y but it is glossy with backup singers. However, I still stand by my statement - it's still unfunny and unlistenable, now just for a different reason.
$Bill
· 1 year ago
Thanks for checking, and thanks for this blog, it's awesome. Any possibility of posting the "real" Rick Dees version? It would plug a hole (tiny flyspeck but still a hole) in my collection.
Matt
· 1 year ago
Damn. I was so hopeful that I had just gotten an MP3 of Dees' Eat My Shorts, which as a Rick Dees fiend, I actually liked as a kid.......I didn't even know there was another version!
steed
· 1 year ago
If I can dig one up - I absolutely will but seems like this might be the only MP3 of the series that I don't have. I'll let you know if I can dig it up.
DavidMedsker
· 1 year ago
Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know still gets semi-regular play at my house. That guitarist could shred!
I never liked that remix of "Bringing on the Heartbreak." Love the original, but those keyboards were too much. And yes, "Women" was a very inauspicious way to introduce Hysteria to the world.
DwDunphy
· 1 year ago
I could be wrong, but I recall Hysteria doing pretty badly for almost a year. The Pyromania backlash was pretty grim. Then "Pour Some Sugar On Me" came out and every single had a second chance...
steed
· 1 year ago
"Women" was released in August of '87 - then in Ocotber "Animal" went to #19 and in January of '88 Hysteria hit #10 - "Pour Some Sugar on Me" was actually the 4th single from the album. None of the first three had the impact of Sugar - but top 10 hit isn't too shabby. So in terms of the chart - they seemed to do pretty well. Maybe the public turned around once they heard Sugar? (I wonder how many people didn't buy the album until Pour Some Sugar on me hit the airwaves?)
Matt
· 1 year ago
I remember buying Hysteria on cassette in Ketchikan, Alaska (home of Sarah Palin's Bridge to Nowhere) the day it came out.
JonCummings
· 1 year ago
Matt, you should TOTALLY offer up some comments about the Bridge to Nowhere on one of our Elephant Walk posts. How many bloggers can boast a reader from Ketchikan? We need you, man!
Matt
· 1 year ago
I'm not from Ketchikan, I was just there on vacation. Nice place, though. And only somebody with no clue of the geography of the region would seriously call it the "Bridge to Nowhere"!
Christian Kennedy
· 1 year ago
Thank you. DeBarge is my life. Can't wait till Dennis DeYoung!
Ray
· 1 year ago
Some great stuff here! I remember "High On Emotion" got quite a bit of airplay on the Top 40 stations in Chicago as well as the AOR stations (peaking somewhere in the mid-20s on the weekly WLS chart). And who could forget El DeBarge performing "You Wear It Well" as a guest star on The Facts of Life???!!!
John
· 1 year ago
Steed- Love the song "Someone" by El Debarge. Tried to download from iTunes or Amazon-not available. Googled it, got your site. Tried to download-got error. What can I do to get this mp3 from your site???
Elin Carlson
· 1 year ago
Oh, I hope you can help... I'm looking for an mp3 of "Someone" by El Debarge - the file is missing from this page... how can I get it from you? It's not available to buy online anywhere..... thanks
All Comments
I've never actually listened to a Del Fuegos song before, but I've purchased two of Dan Zanes' children's music CDs for my son, and I found them to be quite enjoyable, especially 'Sea Music'. And the single 'Catch That Train' is a great song all around.
Then again, I grew up in the Boston area, so no doubt hometown pride led us all to believe that the 'Fuegos were a lot bigger than they really were.
Then I remember hearing "Women."
Then I remember thinking "Uh-oh."
Then the DJ played another newish song at the time: GnR's "Paradise City."
Then I remember thinking, "Uh-oh again."
How about the fact that Pete Burns scared me then and scares me even more now. Is he still a transvestite or did he go ahead and have the operation? I remember seeing some clip of him on a reality show on one of those VH-1 "I Love the 80s" specials, and his speaking voice is still pretty deep, so his singing voice is most likely still the same.
I'm surprised L.A. Reid & Babyface don't file some sort of injunction to get those Deele albums banned, or at least get the covers changed. They've got Prince-style hairdos and tons of makeup on. If I was an artist and L.A. Reid was my boss, I'd hold up one of those album covers and say "LOOK AT THIS!!" every time he told me to do something I didn't want to do.
“Hey, anyone know who the five members of DeBarge were?”
Yup! So there's at least one other person who would've been able to recite the entire DeBarge lineup prior to your post. Those guys need a TV movie or something. They make The Jacksons look like angels by comparison.
Another person that could name the members of DeBarge! Their story is amazing - you'd never think they could be such hoodlums just by looking at them.
I never liked that remix of "Bringing on the Heartbreak." Love the original, but those keyboards were too much. And yes, "Women" was a very inauspicious way to introduce Hysteria to the world.
Love the song "Someone" by El Debarge. Tried to download from iTunes or Amazon-not available. Googled it, got your site. Tried to download-got error. What can I do to get this mp3 from your site???