On this episode, take a tour with us - to the early 80’s - to Scandal, as we drop into the short history of the band that released an EP that was a scattering blast of five songs - including “Goodbye To You” and “Love Has Got A Line”. At the time, it was the best-selling EP in the history of Columbia Records. But did I ever really listen to, back in 1982 or 84 or 87 or whenever, all the five songs? Maybe.
Around this time, in 1982, Pat Benatar was coming towards the end of her best run. Scandal had that vibe - rock and roll crunch with a new wave-ish bite. Early 80’s production and the couple hits were all about the chorus making your hips move and your head nod.
Scandal threw five variations of their sound out there to see what's stuck. And did it with 80's killer keyboard playing, guitars-and-drums of the time, and a powerhouse singer out front.
Patty Smyth went solo in 1987 with her debut album. The first of two hits on it, "Never Enough" (the album's title track), was written by The Hooters’ Rob Hyman and Eric Bazilian (there are a surprising amount of Hooters connections to other artist's music of the era).
Rick Chertoff, who produced both The Hooters and Cyndi Lauper's debut megasmash album is involved too. Baby Grand, a pre-Hooters lineup, recorded an earlier version of "Never Enough".
Smyth said the album "was never supposed to be a solo record; it was meant to be a record by 'Scandal Featuring Patty Smyth'.”
So we listen to the EP. Let's dig into “The Warrior” album, and hear some of what we like - and don’t so much - with Smyth’s solo records. Still, at the essence of it all is a great rock and roll voice, some drops of rock and pop candy, and a whole bunch more to like than what was heard just on the radio.
***
Read Rob's current and archived writing at rockforwardmusic.com
WEBSITE: rockpopandroll.com
EMAIL: rockpoprollpodcast@gmail.com
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Ep. 43: The "Play Me 5" Game - Bob Seger
Ep 42: Why the J. Geils Band Matters
Ep. 41: Underrated Rockers: John Waite
Ep. 39: The Rock and Roll Gospel of Henry Lee Summer
Ep. 38: 80’s Roots Rock and Roll - What We Were Hearing
Ep. 37: Who Is Truth And Salvage Co. and Why Their New/Old Album Rocks
Ep. 36: 80s Rock Radio Hit Songs That Top 40 Missed (Mostly)
Ep. 35: Muscle Shoals, Bob Seger, and the Odd Story of Old Time Rock and Roll
Ep 34: Why Am I Just Now Discovering Pat Todd and The Rankoutsiders?
Ep. 33: Remembering the Brilliance - and the Chaos - of Jerry Lee Lewis
Ep. 32: More of the Minneapolis Sound (part 3) - Soul Asylum, Gear Daddies, Husker Du, and More
Ep. 31: The Other Minneapolis Sound (part 2) - Americana, Pop Punk, and Rock and Roll
Ep. 30: Mixing Prince and Heartland Rock and Roll in Minnesota
Ep. 29: The Greatness of Joan Jett and Why She Rocks Us
Ep. 28: The Continuing Echo of Tom Petty Lives Through Mike Campbell - and Many Others
Ep. 27: Taylor Hawkins and the Foo Fighters - Only Rock and Roll?
Ep. 26: Georgia Satellites - The Loud Crunch of Lost Rock and Roll
Ep. 25: Huey Lewis and The News - After the 80’s
Ep. 24: Jackson Browne and the 80’s - Rating his Singles and his Decade
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