Going solo

From Nov. 18:
Bangles, "Walk Like an Egyptian", '86. I've done this one before. I'd say it was in the 1,800-2,000 range. If I find that I have significant differences in these when I hear them more than once, I'll average them out or certainly made adjustments toward the middle.
REO Speedwagon, "Keep on Loving You", I think it's '82; I forgot to look. I'm pretty sure I've rated this one. I'd say it was in the 2,100-2,200 range, definitely in the top half of the 5,000.
Sheila E., "The Glamorous Life" from '84. Not very good, 4,650. She opened for Prince the time Philip won concert tickets at the Carrier Dome when he was about 10. Apparently in those days, they let 10-year-olds (and Diana would have been about 13) go to concerts with everybody smoking pot and whatever. Just asked Philip. He said he was 9, but wasn't aware of pot smoking around him. He said he wasn't aware of pot until a short time later when Nancy Reagan began the "Just say no" campaign. Mary Beth took them because I had a commitment to the Rochester Press-Radio Club basketball team for a charity game in Brockport. It was good that I went because we had only five players.
Bon Jovi, "I'll Be There for You", '89. Those five words he'd say to her. The music itself was not really good, repetitive. 4,300.
Michael McDonald, "Sweet Freedom", '86. McDonald wasn't the only person who was much better with a supporting cast than as a solo act. I'll have to make a list of those. Even someone like Marilyn McCoo, who shone through for The 5th Dimension, had a difficult time going solo or even in a duo with her husband, Billy Davis, Jr. 4,400, comparing it to the Bon Jovi.
Katrina and the Waves, "Walking on Sunshine", '85. Even though Katrina sings it as "walkin' on sunshine" repeatedly. 2,550. It's right there around the midpoint, and could go either way.
A side note: I'm virtually stopped in traffic here on U.S. 75, headed toward Dallas, at about 6:30 p.m. It appears that a lot of tractor trailers have planned their trip so that they arrive in this area after the rush hour. In so doing, by taking up all of the lanes on the highway, they've created their own rush hour. Or it may be an accident holding us up.
How is Elton John like Katrina and the Waves? The last song I had was Elton John, "I'm Still Standing", '89, maybe. But he sings, "standin'," kind of like Katrina. I'll give this bouncy one 4,100.
Guns 'N' Roses, "Paradise City", '89, 2,250.
Howard Jones, "No One Is to Blame" from '86. When I was entering the list into my database, I noticed Howard's name a number of times. I did not remember him or his music. This is typical '80s, with keyboard, and I think his message is that we're all to blame, we're all at fault. I could be wrong; I didn't listen to it closely. 4,600.
Go West, "We Close Our Eyes", 1985. This is one of those that the longer I listened, the less I liked it. The lyrics are kind of dopey. It's filled with almost every '80s movie musical cliche. 4,800.
Phil Collins and Philip Bailey, "Easy Lover", '85. I'm not really sure who Philip Bailey is; I'll have to look him up. Just did; he was with Earth, Wind & Fire -- and had, possibly has, a four-octave range. Phil Collins is one guy who did well as a soloist after a successful career with Genesis. 2,700.
A-ha, "Take on Me", 1985. A lot about this screams 1980s. You've got the synthesizer, the '80s beat, techno elements. On the positive side, we've got an easily memorable group name. If A-ha had come around in Greek history, it might have been Eureka. I kind of like the low "TAKE ON ME" followed by the higher-pitched "take on me." It has a little variety in this period piece. 3,300.
Motley Crue, "Dr. Feelgood", '89. The singing includes a lot of yelling, and not the screaming artistry of Steven Tyler. 4,350.
I mentioned Philip and his Prince concert, and here comes Prince! "Let's Go Crazy" from 1984. 3,900.
Huey Lewis and the News, "Walking on a Thin Line", 1984. Huey sings it as "walkin'," even though he clearly enunciates, "ci-ty." The guitar is pretty nice in this. 4,400.
Belinda Carlisle, "Heaven Is a Place on Earth", 1987. Another person who did pretty well after going solo. 3,100.