Rhythm of the Night – DeBarge

Chart Position: 3

Released Feb 1985

• #32 bestseller for 1985
• From the film The Last Dragon
• Written by Dianne Warren
• Lead vocals: El DeBarge
• Backing vocals: James, Randy, Mark and Bunny DeBarge
• Keyboards: Jeff Lorber, Steve Mitchell, Howie Rice
• Guitar: Dan Huff, Paul Jackson Jr.
• Produced by Richard Perry
• Recorded in Los Angeles CA
• This is DeBarge’s biggest hit single
• Later recorded by Kids & Kids Incorporated (1985), Mini Pops (1985), Springbok (1985), Sacha Distal (1985), 911 (1997), Carmen (1997), Valeria (2001), Liz Menezes (2013), BYU Vocal Point (2014), Grey Chapters (2014), Vocaldente (2019), The Distance (2020) and Zoe McLaughlin (2021)

Piece by Piece – Tubes

Chart Position: NR

Released Feb 1985

• Written by The Tubes and Todd Rundgren
• Lead vocals: Fee Waybill
• Guitar: Bill Spooner, Roger Steen
• Keyboards: Michael Cotten
• Backing vocals: Bill Spooner, Roger Steen
• Produced by Todd Rundgren
• This is Tubes final hit single
• The Tubes disbanded in 1985

This is Not America – David Bowie and Pat Methany Group

Chart Position: 32

Released Feb 1985

• Written by David Bowie, Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays
• Lead vocals: David Bowie
• Guitar: Pat Metheny
• Keyboards: Lyle Mays
• Produced by David Bowie and Pat Metheny

Why Can’t I Have You – Cars

Chart Position: 33

Released Jan 1985

• Written by Ric Ocasek
• Lead vocals: Ric Ocasek
• Backing vocals: Benjamin Orr, Greg Hawkes, Elliot Easton
• Keyboards: Greg Hawkes
• Guitar: Elliot Easton
• Recorded in Boston MA
• Later recorded by Chris Delmhorst (2011), Erratic Retaliator Strategy (2019) and Keith Marshall (2018)

Follow Your Heart – Triumph

Chart Position: NR

Released Dec 1984

• Written by Gil Moore, Mike Levine and Rik Emmett
• Lead vocals: Rik Emmett
• Guitar: Rik Emmett
• Keyboards: Michael Levine, Rik Emmett
• Produced by Eddie Kramer and Triumph

Please Come to Boston – Dave Loggins

Chart Position: 5

Released Apr 1974

• Written by Dave Loggins
• Originally recorded by B.W. Stevenson (1974)
• Guitar: Dave Loggins, Steve Gibson
• Keyboards: Shane Keister, David Briggs
• Produced by Jerry Crutchfield
• Recorded in Nashville TN and Los Angeles CA
• This is Dave Loggins’ biggest hit single
• Dave Loggins is from Mountain City TN
• Dave Loggins is a cousin of singer Kenny Loggins
• Later recorded by Bobby Harden (1974), Tammy Wynette (1974), Rod McKuen (1974), Mike Lunsford (1975), Seekers (1975), Piet Veerman (1975), Floyd Cramer (1975), David Allen Coe (1976), Jack Hudson (1976), Joan Baez (1976), 50 Guitars (1976), Midnight Strings Orchestra (1980), Glen Campbell (1981), Jeff Rea (1982), Willie Nelson (1984), Billy Joe Royal (1988), Jackopierce (1990), Reba McEntire (1995), Ted Hawkins (2001), Kenny Chesney (2004), Confederate Railroad (2007), Kenny ‘Babyface’ Edmonds (2007), Bill Keale (2008), Chris Foster (2009), Shelli Coe (2010), Bluegrass Soul Pickers (2010), NewFound Road (2011), Rita Wilson (2012), Pat Surface (2012), C.C. Grace (2018), Nancy Girard (2019), Jimmy Winchell (2021) and many others

Tell Me That I’m Wrong – Blood, Sweat and Tears

Chart Position: NR

Released Jul 1974

• Written by Patricia Cosby
• Lead vocals: Jerry Fisher
• Keyboards: Larry Willis, Robert Mason
• Guitar: George Wadenius
• Saxophone: Jerry LaCroix, Bill Tillman
• Produced by Henry Cosby
• Recorded in New York City NY
• Drummer Bobby Colomby was the only founding member of Blood, Sweat and Tears to still be a member in 1974

Sure as I’m Sittin’ Here – Three Dog Night

Chart Position: 16

Released Jun 1974

• Written and originally recorded by John Hiatt (1974)
• Lead vocals: Cory Wells
• Backing vocals: Chuck Negron, Danny Hutton
• Keyboards: Jimmy Witherspoon, Skip Konte
• Guitar: Michael Allsup
• Recorded in Los Angeles CA
• Produced by Jimmy Ienner
• Cory Wells died Oct 2015

The Night Chicago Died – Paper Lace

Chart Position: 1

Released Jun 1974

• Written and produced by Mitch Murray and Peter Callander
• Lead vocals: Philip Wright
• Guitar: Chris Morris, Mick Vaughan
• Recorded in the U.K.
• Paper Lace is from the U.K.
• This is Paper Lace’s only U.S. #1 single
• The events in the song about an Al Capone mob shootout with the Chicago police are fictional
• Despite a reference to the “east side of Chicago” there is no actual east side of Chicago as the downtown is bordered on the east by Lake Michigan
• Later recorded by Top of the Pops (194), Springbok (1974), Kings Road (1974), No Empathy (1991), Recliers (2003), Yo La Tengo (2006) and Skruffy Group (2024)

It’s Better to Have (And Don’t Need) – Don Covay

Chart Position: NR

Released May 1974

• Written by Erskine Watts and Don Covay
• Guitar: Billy Cadieux
• Keyboards: Rodney Beytham
• Produced by Don Covay
• Later recorded by Freddie King (1975), Jaggerz (1975), Paul Young (1983), Inmates (1991), Huey Lewis & the News (1994) and Angel (2005)