[Signs of 40] -- Forty years ago last month (sorry, the best we can get for a release date is either "July 1984" or simply "1984"), Billy Squier released his fourth studio album: Signs of Life. He was coming off of two successful albums, Emotions in Motion (July 23, 1982) and Don't Say No (April 13, 1981), both of which had peaked at #5 in the Billboard 200.
For this new album, Squier still had some his usual guitar work front and center, but the disc was also sprinkled with synthesizers and production effects. Listen to the opening of the lead track, "All Night Long," and you'll hear sound effects, a tape loop from part of the chorus, and swirling synths for about 35 seconds. And then, finally, the guitar lick really kicks off the tune, helping you to identify it as a Billy Squier song. Whereas on "Eye On You," the synth effects are combined with the opening guitar lick. And the almost obligatory ballad, "Fall For Love," also marries keyboards and slick production such that they pretty much dominate the token guitar in this song.
And then there's the hit single: "Rock Me Tonite." Again, keyboards and synths dominate the opening such that we have to wait until the 30 second mark for drums and guitar to join the mix. And we have to discuss the official music video for "Rock Me Tonite." For much of this video, the erstwhile guitar hero of "The Stroke" and "Everybody Wants You" dances and preens around a set that is meant to be studio apartment, or at least the hint of one. He finally picks up a guitar and joins a band (in the adjoining room?) around the 3:30 mark, well over halfway through the song. Much has been written about the video for "Rock Me Tonite," most of critical and declaring it as one of the very worst videos in MTV's history. In fact, there is a whole chapter dedicated to "Rock Me Tonite" in the 2011 book, I Want My MTV: The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution.
Still, the song was very popular. "Rock Me Tonite" peaked at #15 on the Billboard Hot 100, #10 on the Cash Box singles chart, and even #1 on the Top Rock Tracks chart. And the album reached #11 on the Billboard 200 while becoming Squier's third platinum-selling record.
There are standouts on this record. Songs that, in my opinion, are more straight-ahead rockers with minimal production schlock. They include "Take a Look Behind Ya," "Can't Get Next to You," and "Hand-Me-Downs."
Flashback: Signs of Life (July, 1984)
And 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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