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Originally Posted by drzubritsky
Hmmm, I don't know. I'm trying to put myself into a 1980 frame of mind and thinking about what would be radio-friendly at that time. I don't think anything from the list above would have had hit potential at that time...they all lack strong enough hooks for Top 40 ("Angel" probably comes the closest but the chorus doesn't quite achieve a hit-level hook).
I really don't hear any hit singles on Tusk, apart from the first three that all made the Top 40. That's not to say there aren't numerous top-notch tracks, just not many with hit single potential.
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Your comments are always so spot on, drzubritsky.
Look at some of the big hits that year:
"Rock With You" Michael Jackson
"Escape" Rupert Holmes
"Ride Like the Wind" Christopher Cross (who opened for Fleetwood Mac)
"The Long Run" & "Heartache Tonight" the Eagles
"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" Queen
"Longer" Dan Fogelberg
"Call Me" Blondie
"Don't Fall in Love With a Dreamer" Kenny Rogers & Kim Carnes
"Another Brick in the Wall" Pink Floyd
"Against the Wind" Bob Seger
You had the first wave of British synth pop on American charts by Gary Numan ("Cars") & Devo.
And you had a whole lot of syrup from people like Air Supply, Robbie Dupree, Olivia Newton-John, Christopher Cross, Kenny Rogers, Captain & Tennille, Cliff Richard, Diana Ross, Dan Fogelberg, Ambrosia, Stephanie Mills, Leo Sayer, ad nauseam.
In my high school, they were listening to Devo, Pat Benatar, Pink Floyd, & the usual slew of headbangers.
I'm surprised that Fleetwood Mac's "Sara" captured the attention it did. But there wasn't anything else on "Tusk" that was going to do that.