[Good ol' Sports] -- By December 1982, Huey Lewis and the News had released their first two albums with Chrysalis Records: Huey Lewis and the News (1980), which stiffed, and Picture This (1982), which broke even. So, at this time, the band is maybe or almost a moderate success, and they even have a top ten hit to their credit (1982's "Do You Believe in Love"). But that was a hit song, not a hit record. And Huey Lewis knew time was running out for him and his band. They had one more chance to make that hit record, and then their three-record deal with Chrysalis Records would be over.
No pressure, right? Well, forty years ago today – on September 15, 1983 – Huey Lewis and the News released that third album, Sports, and entered into realm of pop superstars.
Sports had five top 20 hits, four of which were top ten on the Billboard Hot 100: "Heart and Soul" (#8), "I Want A New Drug" (#6), "The Heart of Rock & Roll" (#6), and "If This Is it" (#6). And while it was never released as a radio single, "Bad is Bad" became something of a hit video. So, at least five, or maybe six, of the album's nine tracks were all hits. Sports soared up the Billboard 200 and reached the #1 spot in June 1984. The album also earned Grammy nominations and performed well internationally, charting in the top 40 of many countries outside the US.
Huey Lewis and the News would have on and off success over their next several albums, but they would never again reach the commercial and critical highs of Sports.
Flashback Sports (September 15, 1983)
That's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.
I'll see you in seven!
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