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Michael Jackson – “Off The Wall”
The transition from verse to chorus is swift, sudden, and transportive—like stepping onto the dance floor, or entering Oz.
Richard Challen
Jul 31, 20209 min read
1,038 views
4 comments
Bonnie Pointer – “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)”
Bonnie made four albums with her siblings, and then, in 1977, she went solo—just as the remaining Sisters went nuclear.
Richard Challen
Jul 27, 20209 min read
705 views
7 comments
Nicolette Larson with Michael McDonald – “Let Me Go, Love”
Nicolette Larson had talent. She had connections. She was in the right place at the right time. Sometimes, all of that isn’t quite enough.
Richard Challen
Jul 24, 20209 min read
1,712 views
9 comments
Ray, Goodman & Brown – “Special Lady”
Ray, Goodman & Brown reached the Top 5 with a song practically lifted from an earlier era—and a name lifted from an accounting firm.
Richard Challen
Jul 20, 20209 min read
816 views
11 comments
Chuck Mangione – “Give It All You Got”
“Give It All You Got” might be the only official Olympic song that makes more sense playing over the opening credits of a ’70s cop show.
Richard Challen
Jul 17, 202010 min read
1,255 views
6 comments
Pat Benatar – “Heartbreaker”
“Heartbreaker” is easily the heaviest song of Benatar’s whole career. I’m not sure another comes close.
Richard Challen
Jul 13, 202011 min read
1,750 views
21 comments
Toto – “99”
“99” is adult-rock at its most immaculate and expensive. Everyone plays with a light touch; even the syncopations sound like laughter.
Richard Challen
Jul 10, 20209 min read
2,159 views
9 comments
Rupert Holmes – “Him”
It’s all in service of an absurdist character study, presenting a portrait of a man not nearly as clever as he thinks he is.
Richard Challen
Jul 6, 20205 min read
1,030 views
6 comments
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