Release Date: November 1978 Produced by Jeff Goldstein Genre: Country, Country Rock, Rock, Pop Label: MCA
Chart Positions: #54 (US), #52 (Canada), #2 (US Country, Canada Country) Certifications: Gold (US, Canada) Awards: Nominated for the “Best Female Rock Performance” Grammy Award (Donna Summer won the award that year)
Singles and Chart Positions: “Texas (When I Die)” #3 (Canada Country), #5 (US Country), “I’m The Singer, You’re The Song #6 (Canada Country), #18 (US Country), #25 (Canada Adult Contemporary) Singles Certifications: N/A Other Charting Tracks: “Not Fade Away” #70 (US) Best Tracks: “Not Fade Away,” “Lover Goodbye,” “Angel From Montgomery,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Bown Eyed Handsome Man,” “Texas (When I Die)”
“TNT” was Tanya Tucker’s 9th studio album and was her first to be certified Gold in both the US and Canada. The album also received a Grammy nomination in the category of "Best Female Rock Performance." This was Tanya's third of 10 Grammy nominations. She has yet to win a Grammy.
With “TNT” Tucker made a bold departure from her classic country music style to do a more rock-flavored album – but for good measure kept a slight hint of that country there for her longtime fans. The departure proved to be extremely successful for Tucker as the album is her second highest charting on the US Country chart and her highest charting on the Canadian Country chart. The album was also her highest charting on the US Billboard Top 200 albums chart reaching #54. Only 1991’s “What Do I Do With Me” and 1992’s “Can’t Run From Yourself” have charted higher reaching #48 and #51 respectively. IN Canada “TNT” is Tucker’s highest charting album on the pop charts reaching #52. It was also her first album to make it onto the Canadian Country charts.
Because of the success of “TNT” Tucker followed the album with 1979’s “Tear Me Apart,” another rock-influenced album but captured much less success and by 1980 returned to her country music roots.
Featuring a playful somewhat flirtatious exuberant attitude from Tanya, "TNT was in many ways her coming of age album. She had just turned 20 a month before it's release and was ready to prove she was more than just a cute country music sweetheart.
The album opens with Phil Everly’s synth drum rocker “Lover Goodbye” and sets the mood for the album. Her remake of John Prine’s “Angel From Montgomery” is a beautiful southern rock ballad. Prine wrote and recorded this song for his 1971 debut album “John Prine.” Seals and Crofts helped on backing vocals on the ballad “The River and The Wind.”
The album’s first single “Texas (When I Die)” was the only true country number on the album. The song peaked at #5 on the US country chart and with time has become one of Tucker’s signature songs.
Tucker’s rendition of Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away” is a real scorching treat. The song was released as the b-side to “Texas (When I Die).” Receiving a fair amount of radio airplay and fan requests it ended up charting on Billboard’s Top 100 Singles chart reaching #70, making it the third highest charting pop single of her career.
Not Fade Away (1978)
Easily one of the album highlights is her rockin’ rendition of Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel,” why they did not release this as a single is a mystery to me. Tucker puts in a flavorful rockabilly rendition of Chuck Berry’s “Brown Eyed Handsome Man.” The song was originally released on Chuck Berry’s 1957 debut album “After School Session” and was used as the b-side to his 1956 single “Too Much Monkey Business.”
Often "TNT" sounds as if Tanya's aim was to crack the AOR radio format and would have done well alongside the queens of AOR such as Pat Benatar, Linda Ronstadt and Anne & Nancy Wilson (Heart).
“Sanctuary” was J. Geils Band’s 8th studio album (10th album overall including live albums). It was their first to have 3 songs make it on to the US singles chart. After having achieved success with Atlantic Records, J. Geils Band switched over to EMI to produce their three most successful albums of their career.
“Sanctuary” was the band’s tightest sounding record in years. They produced a leaner and cleaner sound as they play up the keyboards more than in their past albums, giving the album an overall contemporary sound.
The first single release “One Last Kiss,” although not their highest charting hit, received a fair amount of airplay and put J. Geils Band in the minds of music listeners across the US. The hooky hit single was their first Top 40 since 1974’s “Must Of Got Lost.”
The second single “Take It Back” hints at what was to come in 1981 when J. Giles Band entered the realm of commercial pop and had their biggest hits with “Centerfold” and “Freeze Frame,” “Take It Back” was a very distant prototype for those songs.
“Sanctuary,” the album’s third single just barely missed the Top 40 making it to #47 on the US chart. The song sports a Rolling Stone feel that is inescapable. This may have been a good direction to further explore.
Stand out track “Wild Man” continues with that Mick Jagger Rolling Stones vibe and begins with a dramatic keyboard opening. “Just Can’t Stop Me” brings in a glam feel with it’s “Rebel Rebel” sounding opening working into a rough jam band sound.
“Living in the USA” is the 9th studio album by American singer/songwriter/producer Linda Ronstadt (her 12th if you count the three albums she released with The Stone Poneys). The album was Ronstadt's third No. 1 on the Billboard album chart and was the first album in history to ship Double Platinum. As a measure of her impact on popular culture in this time period, the front cover photograph of a roller skating Linda in a satin exercise outfit was noted to have increased the popularity of skating in the United States at the time. As People Magazine put it, “Anyone who gave Linda Ronstadt her first pair of roller skates deserves a place in this decade’s social history.”
It was Ronstadt's record sixth consecutive million-selling Platinum album. It was certified by the RIAA for 2 million copies sold in the US alone and has estimated real sales of 3 million US units sold.
“Living in the USA” was a smash hit even before it arrived in stores on Sept. 19, 1978. Given Ronstadt’s incredible streak of five million-selling albums, retailers couldn’t wait to pre-order the new disc; as a result, it reached the shelves as the first album in history to earn double-platinum status prior to its official release. And unlike certain other high-profile records that benefited from advance buzz, only to end up in the cutout bin, “Living in the USA” went on to dominate radio as well as retail sales.
The first hint of anything from the album happened on April 3, 1978 when Linda made an appearance for the premiere of the film FM she did a live performance of Elvis Presley’s “Love Me Tender.” The song was not featured on the film’s soundtrack album but it did appear on Ronstadt’s upcoming album “Back In The USA.”
The album featured a mix of covers of proven hits and newer compositions by some of Ronstadt's favorite singers. Yet there were changes evident as well. For one, as the album's cover photo showed, Ronstadt had cut her trademark long hair and sported a short permed hairstyle. She also traded in her usual country-style dresses for hot pants, and her high heel shoes for roller skates.
In reference to the album cover Ronstadt said, "I remember I wanted to bring my roller skates into the studio. "My friend Nicolette Larson and I used to skate everywhere. She used to bring her skates into the studio because it was really big and she could skate around between takes. My studio wasn't that big. It had too much carpet, so I wanted them to take it out so I could skate."
While Ronstadt paid tribute to the King with a cover of "Love Me Tender," she also acknowledged the influence of the burgeoning British new wave movement by covering the other Elvis. "Allison" had first appeared on Elvis Costello's debut LP, My Aim Is True, and remains his best-known tune today. "I had a friend at the time and that song reminded me of her, so I sang it for her," Ronstadt says. "She was a really sweet girl, but kind of a party-girl type. I felt like she needed somebody to talk to her in a stern voice, because she was getting married and she would have to change." Ronstadt's version was released as a single in the U.K. but stalled at #66, and was dismissed in interviews by the acid-tongued Costello. Ronstadt commented, “I’ve never communicated with him directly, but I heard that someone asked him what he thought and he said he’d never heard it but that he’d be glad to get the money. So I sent him a message. ‘Send me some more songs, just keep thinking about the money.'” (Costello would ultimately end up contributing three songs to Ronstadt’s next album, 1980’s Mad Love.)
The album's first single, a remake of Chuck Berry's "Back in the U.S.A," climbed to US #16. "Back in the U.S.A" was afforded its greatest impact when Linda Ronstadt remade the song in 1978. Ronstadt had heard the Berry original while being driven around Los Angeles by Eagles member Glenn Frey who had once been in her band, the track being on a "home-made" cassette Frey had playing in his tape deck. When 'Back in the U.S.A. came on Ronstadt said, “Boy that would be a great song to sing. I think I'll do that one."
"Back In The USA (1978)
A take of Doris Troy's "Just One Look" stalled at US #44, but Ronstadt wasn't happy with the recorded version. "It took me years to learn how to really sing that, but I could nail it now," she says, 15 years later.
The biggest hit from “Living in the USA” was Ronstadt's cover of Smokey Robinson's "Ooh Baby Baby," which climbed to US #7 and features alto sax by David Sanborn. "We used a live vocal from the rough mix," Ronstadt says. "We tried to go in and add things to it, but it never sounded as good as that live vocal."
Ronstadt is especially strong on her soulful cover of Little Feat’s “All That You Dream.” The song first appeared on Little Feat’s 1975 album titled “The Last Record Album.” Her soulful bluesy take of J.D Souther’s “White Rhythm and Blues” brings side one of the album to an inspiring close. Souther wrote this song for Ronstadt (he also wrote “Faithless Love” and “Heart Like A Wheel” for her). Souther later recorded “White Rhythm and Blues” for his 1979 hit album “You’re Only Lonely” as a duet with Phil Everly.
Although it was never released as a single, Linda Ronstadt's recording of "Love Me Tender" was edited together with the original by Elvis, creating a duet between the two that was played by many radio stations at the time. Elvis did the first verse alone, straight from his original recording, as Ronstadt didn't sing this verse on her version. It garnered enough airplay to chart at #59 on the US Country chart. Ray Quinn, program manager of radio station WCBM in Baltimore, dubbed together Elvis’s 1956 single and Ronstadt’s 1978 version. Although demand for the tape grew, no copies were made available to the public. A three-dollar bootleg single was made, however, on the Duet Label (Duet 101). The duet was inspired by the Barbra Streisand-Neil Diamond’s duet You Don’t Bring Me Flowers. Linda's version was in the same key as Elvis's record, and that would have made it easier for the record company to blend their voices together. There was some talk of recording additional instrumentation to smooth over the parts of the two recordings to give the impression it was just one recording. But that never came to be seen as RCA and Asylum could not agree on a contract for the release.
Billboard Magazine Review (September 1978)
Aside from being one of Linda Ronstadt's more perfect
albums, this collection of 10 songs ranging from Hammerstein/Romberg's
"When I Grow Too Old To Dream," to Elvis Costello's
"Alison" provides a unique display of her vocal charm. The
instrumentation, for the most part, is sparse, and it enables the special
qualities of Ronstadt's voice to shine through. There are many moods portrayed
here, including some husky ones that indicate maturity and a broadening taste,
although Ronstadt has always chosen material beyond the merely popular.
"All That You Dream" is a classic and could be her biggest song so
far. Best cuts: "All That You Dream," "Back In The USA,"
"Mohammed's Radio," "Just One Look," "Love Me Tender,"
"Alison."
“Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo?” by Devo (1978)
Release Date: August 28, 1978 Produced by Brian Eno, David Bowie (additional co-producer) Genre: New Wave, Electronic, Punk Rock Label: Warner Bros, Virgin
In 1977, David Bowie and Iggy Pop received a tape of Devo demonstration songs from the wife of Michael Aylward, guitarist in another Akron, Ohio band, Tin Huey. Both Iggy and Bowie, as well as Brian Eno and Robert Fripp, expressed interest in producing Devo's first release. At Devo's New York debut show in 1977, Bowie proclaimed that "this is the band of the future, I'm going to produce them in Tokyo this winter." Eventually, Eno was chosen to produce the album in Germany. Bowie was busy filming "Just a Gigolo," but helped Eno produce the record during weekends. Eno paid for the flights and studio cost for the band, confident that the band would be signed to a record contract. In return for his work on the album, Eno asked for a share of any subsequent deals.
Brain Eno envisioned many sides of Devo after he first heard their music, he stated, 'What I saw in them always happens when you encounter something new in art - you get a feeling of being slightly dislocated, and with that are emotional overtones that are slightly menacing as well as alluring. This induced a stiffening effect because with Devo you have something that makes your body move in a new way."
The album quickly became a cult sensation in part because of it's highly stylized visuals - videos, album art and costumes which made the band members look alike. The album was a touchstone in the development of American new wave. It was one of the first pop album to use the synthesizer as a prominent feature in their music. Devo was pivotal in the explosion of synth-pop that would soon follow.
Devo’s quirky version of The Rolling Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” was the second single from the album and chart debut and was originally from their “Be Stiff” EP released in 1977. Music History professor, Theo Cateforis had recognized that Devo's rendition of the Rolling Stones classic was a satirical contradiction of African American and Caribbean rhythms in a sense a parody of the nervous bodily awkward "whiteness" of the white male man machine torn between discipline and the urges of the flesh.
"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (1978)
Their first single from the album was “Mongoloid” also from the “Be Stiff” EP.
"Jocko Homo," one of the album's several highlights was written in an unnerving and unusual 7/8 time which keeps the rhythm quirky on a level that outstrips any sort of quirky rhythms delivered by The Talking Heads or XTC.
Mark Mothersbaugh was a student at Kent State when he received a religious pamphlet from afraid titled "Jocko Homo" in which it debunked the theory of evolution. This was right after the students had been killed on campus at Kent State. The song was written based on a series of discussions Mothersbaugh and his bandmates had. They decided that what was happening to the planet and what they were seeing in the news was not evolution but more appropriately de-evolution. Hence the name Devo (which is short for de-evolution).
Trivia: Cheryl Lynn started her career in music was in 1976 as a backup vocalist in the national touring company of the musical “The Wiz.” But her real start was in early 1976, shortly before her role in “The Wiz,” when she appeared on an episode of the Gong Show (which was not aired until many months later in 1976). She was scored a perfect 30 and tied with a Juggling Clown. In an audience applause tiebreaker it was the juggler that won the show but it is Cheryl Lynn that moved on to national and international success when record producers shopped her for a record contract. With in months she had a Top 10 hit with the classic disco track “Got To Be Real.”
Lynn’s self-titled debut album contains the two disco hits “Got To Be Real” and “Star Love” but is mostly an album filled with soulful ballads, which is the direction Lynn would take with the remainder of her career. Indicative of this direction is how she started as she did a soulful rendition of Joe Cocker’s ballad “You Are So Beautiful To Me” on the Gong Show.”
Despite the fact that Cheryl Lynn's "Got To Be Real" received massive amounts of airplay both on radio and in dance clubs the song only reached #12 on the US charts (although it did stay at #12 for three weeks). The song has gone on to become a dance music classic and was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame in 2005. To this day the song still continues to get a decent amount of play in clubs, radio, streaming sites and youtube.
Ray Parker (of "Ghostbusters fame) played the guitar on "Got To Be Real" and several other tracks on the album. Parker also co-wrote the disco track "Give My Love To you" a song which could have easily been a hit for Cheryl. Cheryl wrote the vocal melody and lyrics for "Got To Be Real," while David Paich and soon to become well known songwriter David Foster composed the music. David Foster had his own hot with "Love Theme from St Elmo's Fire" in 1985 as well as winning 16 Grammy Awards for his work as a producer and songwriter.
The album includes a soulful and rhythmic jazz influenced rendition of the Carole Bayer Sager and Melissa Manchester penned "Come In From The Rain." Several recording artists have recorded the song including Captain & Tennille, Shirley Bassey, Diana Ross, Rosemary Clooney, Carole Bayer Sager and others.
"Got To Be Real" (1978)
With it's cosmic lyrics and Cheryl out of the world powerful lead vocals "Star Love" became another disco classic the minute it was released. Though the song was not a huge hit on the charts (only #62 on the US Billboard singles chart) it did get a ton of airplay in dance clubs and on dance oriented radio stations. Upon it's release it looked as if the song was going to follow "Got To Be Real" into the Top 15. Radio programmers were keyed up for another big hit.
IN reviewing "Star Love" billboard magazine wrote the following in their February 3, 1979 issue: "Lynn follows her infectious hit "Got To Be Real" with an equally sizzling track. Repetitive synthesizer, strong horns and good vocals make this cut stand out."
Lynn’s album was co-produced by song and father David and Marty Paich. David is best known for being a member of the popular pop-rock band Toto who had hits such as “Hold The Line,” “Africa” and “Rosanna” all of which were written by Paich.
Trivia: “Obscure Alternative” is the second album release by Japan and was promoted toward US and European audiences. The album bombed in the US and made a very small dent on Europe where it charted in the Netherlands at #41. However the album found success in Japan having made it to #21 on the Japanese album charts where Japan and lead singer David Sylvian continued success for the next 15 years.
“Obscure Alternatives” is more rock orientated fuzz guitar driven than Japan’s previous album funk tinged “Adolescent Sex”, with the exception of "The Tenant"; the first of Sylvian's Satie inspired piano pieces. Other standout tracks are "Love Is Infectious" with it's punchy guitar, stuttering time signatures and Sylvian's raucous vocal interpretation remains a fan favorite "...Rhodesia", a live favorite which remained in the set until 1981, and "Suburban Berlin", a song about jaded city life in Berlin. "Suburban Berlin" hinted at the group's David Bowie influence as Bowie has recently released his album, "Low" the second release of Bowie's Berlin Trilogy and "The Tenant" was an ambient instrumental suite very similar to the Brian Eno/David Bowie ambient collaborations which appeared on "Heroes" and "Low."
Japan(mostly David Sylvian) considered that this album would have been better for their debut release, as for the first time they were able to assert themselves in the studio. This is evident - many features of the classic Japan sound are here: Richard Barbieri's synths are more experimental, using sound and the stereo sound field to create a mood, Mick Karn begins to use fretless bass, and Sylvian's vocals are getting deeper and less cockney sounding.
"Sometimes I Feel So Low" is easily the most upbeat song on the album. David Sylvian and Rob Dean's brilliant guitar work move the song into new rock territory while the drums and percussion give it a groove and rhythm that is right in line with the upcoming new wave sound which dominated the late 70s and early 80s. The song is deceptively upbeat overshadowing it's downcast and dark lyrics. If there was to be a hit single from this album it is "Sometimes I Feel So Low" unfortunately Japan was not quite yet in the public eye.
"Sometimes I Feel So Low" (1978)
The suggestive lyrics in "Automatic Gun" were somewhat a shocker hinting that one may find solace in an automatic weapon that could kill many in a matter of seconds. Was this rage over a broken love or a broken government? Japan combined elements of punk rock and alt-rock in this tune which worked well to convey their message of rebellion and angst.
"Obscure Alternatives" may not be Japan's finest work though it represents a shift in style that soon evolved into the classic Japan sound of the early 80s. Obscure Alternatives" is more solid than it is filler and it is definitely a good starting point for anyone that wishes to further their knowledge of Japan's music.
Singles: “Heaven” #24 (Germany), “It’s A Heartache” #1 (Sweden, Norway, Canada, Australia, France, Brazil), #2 (Germany, Belgium, South Africa), #3 (US, Switzerland, Austria, Ireland), #4 (New Zealand, UK), #5 (Netherlands), #10 (US Adult Contemporary Chart, US Country), “Here Am I” #4 (Norway), #18 (Germany), #99 (Australia), “Hey Love (It’s A Feelin’”) N/A, “If I Sing You A Love Song” #8 (France,) #24 (Canada), #103 (US) Singles Certifications: “It’s A Heartache” Platinum (France), Gold (US, UK, Canada) Other Charting Tracks: N/A Best Tracks: “It’s A Heartache,” “If I Sing You A Love Song,” “Living for The City”
Trivia: “Natural Force” is the second studio album by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler, released in May 1978 by RCA Records. In the United States, the album was titled “It's a Heartache.” As with her debut her producers, Ronnie Scott and Steve Wolfe wrote most of the tracks on the album. Other songs include covers of American artists Stevie Wonder (Living For The City) and Carole King (You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman). Five singles were released from Natural Force. The second single, "It's a Heartache", is among the best-selling singles of all time, with sales of over 6 million copies worldwide. It became Tyler's first charting single in the United States, where it was certified gold by the RIAA. The album was a huge commercial success for Tyler. In the United States, it reached #2 on the Top Country Albums chart, and #16 on the Billboard 200. The album includes a sizzling hot recording of Stevie Wonder’s “Living For The City” which was strong enough to have been released as the album's fifth single.
Release Date: February 17, 1978 Produced by Andrew Powell Genre: Art-Rock, Art-Pop, Baroque Pop Label: EMI (UK), Harvest (US and Canada) Chart Positions: #1 (Netherlands), #2 (New Zealand, Belgium), #3 (UK, Australia, France), #4 (Norway), #8 (Sweden), #21 (Germany), #37 (Japan), #95 (Canada) Certifications: 3xPlatinum (Canada), Platinum (UK, Netherlands, Australia), Gold (New Zealand)
Singles: “Wuthering Heights” #1 (New Zealand, UK, France, Italy, Ireland, Australia, Holland), #3 (Netherlands, South Africa, Brazil), #4 (Belgium), #6 (Sweden), #7 (Norway, Poland), #8 (Switzerland), #11 (Germany), #17 (Austria), #108 (US), “The Man With The Child In His Eyes” #1 (France), #3 (Ireland), #6 (UK), #22 (Australia), #23 (Netherlands), #36 (New Zealand), #85 (US) Singles Certifications: "Wuthering Heights" Platinum (New Zealand), Gold (UK, Australia)
While attending a Catholic girls' school in South East London, in the mid-1970s, Kate’s family produced a demo tape with over 50 of her compositions, which was turned down by record labels. David Gilmour of Pink Floyd received the demo from Ricky Hopper, a mutual friend of Gilmour and the Bush family. Impressed with what he heard, Gilmour helped the sixteen-year-old Bush get a more professional-sounding demo tape recorded that would be more saleable to the record companies. Three tracks in total were recorded and paid for by Gilmour. The tape was produced by Gilmour's friend Andrew Powell (who would go on to produce Bush's first two albums) and sound engineer Geoff Emerick. The tape was sent to EMI executive Terry Slater. Slater was impressed by the tape and signed her.
Bush released her debut album, “The Kick Inside,” on February 17, 1978 when she was 19 years old, but some of the songs had been written when she was as young as 13. The production included efforts by several progressive rock veterans, including Duncan Mackay, Ian Bairnson, David Paton, Andrew Powell, and Stuart Elliott both of The Alan Parsons Project, and David Gilmour of Pink Floyd.
Six different varieties of the album's cover are known and is Bush's only album to have a different cover in the UK, the U.S., Canada, Yugoslavia, Japan and Uruguay (the Uruguay cover being the rarest and most expensive - an example sold on eBay for over $400).
The Kick Inside Original British Album Cover
“The Kick Inside” was an immediate hit throughout the world reaching the Top 10 in several countries in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, including #1 in Netherlands and #2 in New Zealand. Despite this success the album failed to chart in the US.
The album's second single, "The Man with the Child in His Eyes", was released and reached number six in the UK charts. Though not quite as big a hit as “Wuthering Heights,” the song was fairly successful making it to #1 in France and #3 in Ireland. The song tells of a relationship between a young girl and an older man. She sees him as an all-consuming figure; he's wise yet retains a certain innocent quality. He's a very real character to the girl, but nobody else knows if he really exists. Kate wrote the song because of a quality she saw in most of the men that she knew, how they are all little boys inside and how wonderful it is that they managed to retain this magic. Although the song was first released on her debut album The Kick Inside, it was actually recorded in 1975 when Kate was only 16 years old. It was recorded at David Gilmour's expense at London's Air Studios. The song was Kate’s first to make it into the Billboard’s US Top 100 reaching #85. Along with this song David Gilmour was also listed as the Executive Producer of "The Saxophone Song."
Three other singles were released over the world during next two years: "Them Heavy People", "Moving" (which reached number one in Japan) and "Strange Phenomena." “Them Heavy People” was released as a single in only the UK and Japan (under the title “Rolling the Ball” and reached #3 in Japan). “Moving” was released only in Japan while “Strange Phenomena” released only in Brazil.
“Kite” one of the most popular tracks from the album was used as the b-side to “Wuthering Heights.”
Fan favorite, “Oh To Be In Love” opens gently but soon gives way to diverse style which manages to blend sixties Britpop, robotic Japanese and the British brass band feel into the musical accompaniment as Kate delivers sublime vocal melodies and exquisite displays of range and tone. Kate's brother Paddy Bush played mandolin on this song as well as doing backing vocals on "Them Heavy People."
Album Certifications: Platinum (US), Gold (Canada), Silver (UK)
Singles: “Talking In Your Sleep” #11 (UK, Canada), #18 (US), #1 (US Country, Canada Country), #3 (US Adult Contemporary, Canada Adult Contemporary), “Why Have You Left The One You Left Me For” #1 (US Country, Canada Country), #16 (Canada Adult Contemporary), #22 (US Adult Contemporary), “When I Dream” #84 (US), #3 (US Country), #20 (US Adult Contemporary), “Heart Mender” #58 (US Country), “Hello I Love You” #4 (South Africa)
Singles Certification: “Talking In Your Sleep” (UK Silver)
Best Tracks: ALL TRACKS – Solid from start to finish
When I Dream is the fifth studio album by American country and pop music singer Crystal Gayle. It was released on June 2, 1978, at the height of her career. It was her second consecutive album to reach #2 on the US Billboard Country Music charts. Two singles from the album reached #1 on the Country Singles chart: "Talking in Your Sleep" (also a Top 20 Pop hit) and "Why Have You Left the One You Left Me For".
By now it was evident that Crystal Gayle was a powerhouse all of her own. She did not need to ride on the coattails of her sister, the legendary Loretta Lynn. Crystal had the talent and the style to make even if she did not come from country music royalty.
The album achieved a gold disc the year it was released but was certified platinum by the RIAA in 1982. It was also Gayle's second album to chart in the UK, where it reached #25, and was awarded a silver disc by the BPI. In Canada, the album was a huge hit being certified Gold and made it to #1 on Canada’s country music album chart. The album was #2 on the US country music chart.
As a result of the album’s success Crystal Gayle in January 1979 Crystal was given an American Music Award for Favorite Country Female Artist and the Top Female Vocalist Award by the Academy of Country Music. She also received two Grammy Award nominations for the song “Talking in Your Sleep” in the Best Country and Western Vocal Performance by a Female. As well she received two Country Music Association (CMA) Awards nominations for Entertainer of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year and the song “Talking In Your Sleep” received a nomination for Song of the Year by the CMA.
The lead single “Talking In Your Sleep” was written by Bobby Woods and British songwriter Roger Cook. Roger Cook had been well known in the UK as one of the lead vocalists with the group Blue Mink who achieved four Top Ten hits in the UK. Cook also co-wrote “Hello I Love You,” “Let Your Feelings Flow,” “Hollywood,” “Livin’ In These Troubled Times” and “Tennessee” all of which were recorded by Crystal Gayle. Roger Cook was a renowned songwriter that co-wrote the million-selling hits “You Got Your Troubles” (The Fortunes), “I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing” (The Hillside Singers, The New Seekers) and “Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress (The Hollies). Songwriter Bobby Woods co-wrote hits for country music artists Billy “Crash” Craddock and Billie Jo Spears. One of his best-known compositions is “What’s Your Name, What's Your Number” which was a 1977 hit for the Andrea True Connection. Cook also co-wrote the songs “Half The Way” and “He Is Beautiful To Me” both recorded by Crystal. The teams of Bobby Woods and Roger Cook wrote the song “Keepin’ Power” which showed up on Crystal’s 1981 album “Hollywood Tennessee.”
The song “Talking In Your Sleep” was a huge hit shortly after “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue.” It was a sophisticated pop ballad sung beautifully by Crystal. It made it to #18 in the US and #11 in both the UK and Canada. On the country music charts, it was #1 in both the US and Canada and reached #3 on the Adult Contemporary charts in both the US and Canada. It was awarded a Silver certification in the UK for sales of more than 200,000 copies.
"Talking In Your Sleep" (1978)
The handclapping “Why Have You Left The One You Left Me For” was the album’s second single. The song did not make it to the pop charts but continued Crystal Gayle’s run of #1 hits on the country music charts reaching the top in the UK and Canada. The upbeat song adorned with a great session of handclaps and electric guitar chords received a fair amount of play in country and western bars across the US throughout the later 70s and 80s.
The third single “When I Dream” brought Crystal back to the lower reaches of the pop charts peaking at #84 on the US Billboard chart. It also made it to #3 on both the US and Canadian country music charts. This song is considered a classic amongst Crystal Gayle fans.
The fourth and last single “Heart Mender” made it to #58 on the US country music chart.
Crystal’s rendition of the classic torch song “Cry Me A River” (a hit in 1955 for Julie London) is an album highlight and was used as the b-side for the single “Why Have You Left The One You Left me For.” Many fans have felt the song could have been a great a-side single for Crystal.
“The Wayward Wind” a hit in 1956 for Gogi Grant (in the US) and Tex Ritter (in the UK). Crystal took the song and gave it her own twist an album highlight popular with fans.
“Paintin’ This Old Town Blue” a blues jazz-influenced tune stands out on the album.
The album closes with Crystal’s intimate recording of Johnny Cash’s “I Still Miss Someone.” Johnny first recorded this song back in 1958 with his nephew Roy Cash, Jr. Crystal Gayle’s tender rendition features a glistening doubled tracking of her lead vocals.
Crystal Gayle (When I Dream open album gatefold cover) 1978
Crystal Gayle July 1978 Billboard Magazine Article
