SOTD

Song Of The Day: Sam Brown – Stop!

Posted on by Brights

Today’s SOTD has something in common with our previous SOTD like Sheriff’s “When I’m With You” English Singer-Songwriter Sam Brown’s “Stop!” found greater success on its re-release.
Initially released in 1988 “Stop!” Is the title track from Brown’s debut studio album. At that time, it managed a respectable if underwhelming number 52 on the UK Singles Chart
However, following its re-release in 1989, the song peaked at number four in the UK becoming Brown’s highest-charting single to date, spending 12 weeks on the chart. Global success followed.
“Stop!” topped the charts in Belgium, Iceland, the Netherlands and Norway, while reaching the top five in Australia, Austria, Finland, France, Ireland and Switzerland.

Chart (1988–1989)Peak position
Australia (ARIA)4
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)3
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)1
Canada Top Singles (RPM)13
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles)7
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)2
France (SNEP)2
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 10)1
Ireland (IRMA)4
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)1
Netherlands (Single Top 100)2
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)16
Norway (VG-lista)1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)11
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)5
UK Singles (OCC)4
US Billboard Hot 10065
US Cash Box Top 10070
West Germany (Official German Charts)7

This delightful slab of Blue-Eyed Soul even managed to make an appearance on the US Billboard Hot 100 where it peaked at No. 65

Sam’s continues to record but she hasn’t been able to match the global chart success of her debut single.

Song Of The Day: Sheriff – When I’m With You

Posted on by Brights

Today’s Song of the Day also qualifies as a true one hit wonder with a twist.

Canadian rock band Sheriff released their only album, the self-titled Sheriff in 1982. Nestled amongst the ten tracks was the charming power ballad “When I’m With You”. When the song was originally released back in 1982 they scored a Top 10 in their native Canada but only managed to get to No. 61 in the US in 1983. In 1989 after being championed by a Las Vegas DJ “When I’m with You” the single was re-released by Capitol Records and became an unexpected No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1989.

By then the band had already disbanded citing internal friction in the band.

If that wasn’t enough who could forget lead singer Freddy Curci’s high note at the end of the song. Reputedly the longest note held in rock history.

Today’s SOTD is “When I’m With You” by Sheriff

Song Of The Day: Change ‎– The Glow Of Love

Posted on by Brights

Glow of Love is a 1980 single and the title track from the debut album of Italian-American group R&B/dance group Change. The band’s sound was heavily influenced by Chic. Glow of Love features vocals from then newcomer Luther Vandross. Together with Lover’s Holiday and Searching, which also featured lead vocals by Vandross, the song spent nine weeks atop the Billboard US Dance Club Songs charts and a total of 13 weeks on the charts. Vandross’ sizzling vocal star turn on the single remains exciting and essential listening.

If you are unfamiliar with the song you might recognise it as the song sampled by Janet Jackson for her 2001 Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs number one “All For You” which introduced the song to a new generation of music lover.

A true post disco classic with a scintillating vocal performance by Luther Vandross. What’s not to like?

Check out the 12″ Long Version of Glow of Love from the recently released Everything and More: The Complete Collection (1980-2019).

 

Song Of The Day: Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 In D Minor, Op. 125 “Choral” – 4. Presto – “O Freunde, Nichit Diese Tone” (Ode To Joy)

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When I started this blog my main aim was to share my love of music. Not just Pop Music, Rock Music, R&B, Grind-core, New Wave, Country or whatever other genre. I have always been drawn to music without much consideration as to its genre. After all good music is good music regardless of any genre label that might attach to it. In keeping with that ethos the SOTD is one of the most famous pieces of Classical music. One that is both exhilarating and invigorating.

Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ode to Joy is the fourth movement of his 9th Symphony. Its the choral finale of the Symphony and the longest movement of the Symphony clocking in at approximately 25 minutes. It also is the the final complete symphony by Beethoven. One could argue that the perfection he achieved here could not have been bettered. As someone once described it Ode To Joy is like a burst of sunlight. One that stirs up a sense of hope that makes it one of the most enduring pieces of music no matter the genre.

The melodies in this movement are sublime and the cellos at the beginning of the theme are a thing of aural beauty.

This performance of the Ode To Joy is by the Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by André Cluytens as part of the first Stereo recordings of the complete Beethoven Symphonies between 1957-1960.

In these challenging times and as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth I can think of no better piece of music to be my Song of the Day.