This continuing series on the Analog Kid blog takes a look back at some of the best AOR songs from the ’70s and ’80s. All of these songs were radio favorites from my teenage years in Texas, but for some reason you just don’t seem to hear them very much any more. I hope to change that.
Texas Radio & The Big Beat: 1979
John Cougar: “I Need A Lover” (Mellencamp)
From the album John Cougar
Riva Records, 1979
“I Need A Lover” became John Cougar’s first Top 40 hit when it peaked at #28 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979. Forget the shortened single version– the extended intro is what makes the song a classic. Pat Benatar’s cover version also received a lot of airplay on Dallas classic rock stations when it was released later that year.
George Harrison: “Blow Away” (Harrison)
From the album George Harrison
Dark Horse Records, 1979
Raise your hand if you have somehow forgotten about “Blow Away.” Go ahead, it’s OK– I forgot about it for more than ten years back in the ’80s. It wasn’t until I bought a copy of George’s Best Of Dark Horse 1976-1989 compilation (in 1990, I believe) that the song came roaring back to me. Would you be shocked to learn that “Blow Away” was a Top 20 hit in the United States? Well, you shouldn’t be. It’s a gorgeous song, and for me it’s one of Harrison’s Top 5 solo tunes.
Rainbow: “Since You Been Gone” (Ballard)
From the album Down To Earth
Polydor Records, 1979
Speaking of songs I had somehow forgotten…
I bought a Rainbow best-of compilation about fifteen years ago, and popped the CD into my car stereo on the way home from the record store. The moment I heard the opening riff to “Since You Been Gone,” I was immediately teleported back to 1979. “Since You Been Gone” was written by former Argent guitarist Russ Ballard, and comes from Rainbow’s only album with vocalist Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz).
Night: “Hot Summer Nights” (Egan)
From the album Night
Planet Records, 1979
Vinyl rip courtesy of the Analog Kid
Night were an L.A.-based band made up mostly of top-notch session musicians. Do the names Robbie McIntosh, Nicky Hopkins, and Rick Marotta ring a bell? The band only recorded two albums together, and “Hot Summer Nights” was a Top 20 hit in the U.S. in 1979. Former Manfred Mann’s Earth Band vocalist Chris Thompson was also in the group, but the lead vocal on “Hot Summer Nights” came from Stevie Lange (the wife of soon-to-be huge producer Robert John “Mutt” Lange). McIntosh would go to join The Pretenders in 1982, and would also tour and record extensively with Paul McCartney in the late ’80s and early ’90s.
John Stewart: “Midnight Wind” (Stewart)
From the album Bombs Away Dream Babies
RSO Records, 1979
Vinyl rip courtesy of the Analog Kid
John Stewart was a member of the Kingston Trio and a respected songwriter (“Daydream Believer”), but it took a little help from the biggest group of the late ’70s to get him into the Top 10 as a solo artist. Lindsey Buckingham was a big fan of Stewart’s, and he produced Bombs Away Dream Babies and contributed some unmistakable guitar as well. Stevie Nicks added vocals to the Top 5 song “Gold,” and also sang on the follow-up single “Midnight Wind” (#28 on the Hot 100).
Note: Buckingham also plays guitar on two of today’s bonus tracks. One is “Gold,” and it shouldn’t be too difficult to figure out the other one!
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Bonus Tracks!
The first rule of The Analog Kid blog is that if you write about a song on the Analog Kid blog, you share the song on the Analog Kid blog.
Pat Benatar: “I Need A Lover” (Mellencamp)
From the album In The Heat Of The Night
Chrysalis Records, 1979
Russ Ballard: “Since You Been Gone” (Ballard)
From the album Winning
Epic Records, 1976
Walter Egan: “Hot Summer Nights” (Egan)
From the album Not Shy
Columbia Records, 1979
Vinyl rip courtesy of the Analog Kid
Manfred Mann’s Earth Band: “Blinded By The Light” (Springsteen)
From the album The Roaring Silence
Warner Brothers Records, 1976
The Pretenders: “Time The Avenger” (Hynde)
From the album Learning To Crawl
Sire Records, 1984
The Monkees: “Daydream Believer” (Stewart)
From the album The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees
Colgems Records, 1968
John Stewart: “Gold” (Stewart)
From the album Bombs Away Dream Babies
RSO Records, 1979
The Analog Kid 
Thanks … Brings back a lot of memories. Especially the great John Stewart … What a fine songwriter … Americana before Americana! Regards from Thom at the immortal jukebox (where JS will feature)
I remember looking at my brother’s copy of the Roaring Silence, thinking it was the coolest album cover I’d ever seen. And of course Blinded by the Light is a killer song.
I have to say, Blinded by the Light has to be one of the most brilliant re-working of a song that I have heard. Maybe you could do a post on reworked songs that were better than their originals….