3 "Lost" Hits from... 1978

[Dawn]

Picking this feature up again...this time, let's look at a trio of forgotten singles from 30 years ago.

1. Easy to Love - Leo Sayer (Billboard #36)
This was the second single from Leo's Thunder in My Heart LP, and while technically released in 1977, it didn't appear on the Billboard Top 40 until early the following year. This song reminds me very much of Boz Scaggs' material from the same time period, a jazzy/pop blend with a touch of light R&B. Here is the entire song, on Youtube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=frVUBT3PWdk .

2. Got to Get You Into My Life - Earth, Wind & Fire (Billboard #9)
This single was included on the soundtrack to the film, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, which, though poorly executed and received, did spawn a number of interesting cover versions of Beatles classics. This track, with the dominant horns in the arrangement, was a natural choice for EWF to cover, and they put their own unique, soulful spin on it. Here's a clip from the movie, with the song: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBBN0T5PYXY .

3. Prisoner of Your Love - Player (Billboard #27)
Player is better remembered for their big hit Baby Come Back, and to a lesser extent, the follow-up This Time I'm In It for Love, but in late 1978, they made one last Billboard top 40 appearance with this track. I'm not sure why this wasn't more successful than it was, as it has the same great musicianship of the other two singles, unless it was due to lack of radio play; I don't remember hearing it much, if at all, back in '78 and wouldn't discover it until years later. Here's a clip of the song on Youtube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfehuM1c2NE .

[smittykins--70s pop RULES!]

I only know the second one. Incidentally, I read in a Rolling Stone article from the time that Chicago actually had first dibs on it(and they have done the song in concert), but James William Guercio put the kibosh on it.

On second thought, I do remember the Player song(it sounded familiar, and after I listened to it, I'm like "Oh yeah!" )

[H2IZCOOL]

Like Smitty, I'm only familiar with the EW&F song. Not an bad cover, but that particular song was never one of my Beatles faves to begin with.

I could definitely see Chicago doing it.

[55dodger]

The only song I really know is Got to Get You Into My Life. My son-in-law & I had a conversation about the Beatles this weekend, & something we talked about was, if a band is going to cover a Beatles song, they need to make it their own, not just cover it. Pretty much like EWF did with Got To Get You Into My Life. They Made it their own. For that I feel it is an outstanding EWF song, not just a Beatles cover.

[Ken]

1. Easy to Love - Leo Sayer (Billboard #36)
Not familiar with this one. Dawn, your comparison to Boz Scaggs was a great way to describe this track, it does have that same type of feel.

2.Got To Get You into My Life - Earth, Wind & Fire -
I have to admit that I didn't really like this cover when I first heard it back in '78. At the time, there were very few beatle covers I heard that I liked (Elton's cover of "Lucy in the Sky" was one of the exceptions). However over the years I have warmed up to their version and have to admit, that it was obviously a good choice for them to cover.

3.Prisoner of Your Love - Player (Billboard #27)
I wasn't familiar with this either, but it's very good and I also wonder why it wasn't a bigger hit?

[Dawn]

Apr 18, 2008 19:26:56 GMT -5 smittykins--70s pop RULES! said:

I only know the second one. Incidentally, I read in a Rolling Stone article from the time that Chicago actually had first dibs on it(and they have done the song in concert), but James William Guercio put the kibosh on it.

On second thought, I do remember the Player song(it sounded familiar, and after I listened to it, I'm like "Oh yeah!" )

That's interesting about Chicago having dibs - I hadn't known that. I imagine they would have done an amazing cover of the song.

[Dawn]

Apr 20, 2008 14:26:33 GMT -5 H2IZCOOL said:

Like Smitty, I'm only familiar with the EW&F song. Not an bad cover, but that particular song was never one of my Beatles faves to begin with.

I could definitely see Chicago doing it.

I remember the EWF song from back in the day, but the other two I didn't become familiar until the early-mid '90s. I'm guessing those must not have gotten much play in many of the radio markets.

[Dawn]

Apr 21, 2008 22:06:04 GMT -5 55dodger said:

The only song I really know is Got to Get You Into My Life. My son-in-law & I had a conversation about the Beatles this weekend, & something we talked about was, if a band is going to cover a Beatles song, they need to make it their own, not just cover it. Pretty much like EWF did with Got To Get You Into My Life. They Made it their own. For that I feel it is an outstanding EWF song, not just a Beatles cover.

I couldn't agree more, Woody. I think, had they copied the original Beatles arrangement more closely, it probably wouldn't have come out as well. As you said, their treatment of the song made it their own.

[Dawn]

Apr 21, 2008 22:37:16 GMT -5 Ken said:

1. Easy to Love - Leo Sayer (Billboard #36)
Not familiar with this one. Dawn, your comparison to Boz Scaggs was a great way to describe this track, it does have that same type of feel.

2.Got To Get You into My Life - Earth, Wind & Fire -
I have to admit that I didn't really like this cover when I first heard it back in '78. At the time, there were very few beatle covers I heard that I liked (Elton's cover of "Lucy in the Sky" was one of the exceptions). However over the years I have warmed up to their version and have to admit, that it was obviously a good choice for them to cover.

3.Prisoner of Your Love - Player (Billboard #27)
I wasn't familiar with this either, but it's very good and I also wonder why it wasn't a bigger hit?

Yes, something about the piano riff, the arrangement, even Leo's vocal tone and phrasing reminds me so much of Boz's stuff, especially Jo-Jo, which I've always loved.