Billboard Songbird Returns

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

If you look closely, four eyes are staring at you on the back cover of his 1983 album.

1983…Twelve years after Future Games. He went from completely unknown to respected musician to up and comer to getting his due respect to becoming a hard to watch has been.

People love to prey to the commercial gods. When he saw FM EXPLODE, I'm sure he wondered if he'd held them back, or what. Now it was his turn to try for the big deal. Rug and all. He didn't have the it factor to make it happen. Life's tough...

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

People love to prey to the commercial gods. When he saw FM EXPLODE, I'm sure he wondered if he'd held them back, or what. Now it was his turn to try for the big deal. Rug and all. He didn't have the it factor to make it happen. Life's tough...

He did, if he would have stuck to French Kiss like material. He just kept getting bland or really left of Welch center.

She's Changing Me could have been a hit under later 70's circumstances.

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

People love to prey to the commercial gods. When he saw FM EXPLODE, I'm sure he wondered if he'd held them back, or what. Now it was his turn to try for the big deal. Rug and all. He didn't have the it factor to make it happen. Life's tough...

This is a very accurate summation of his post FM career. He had talent, was creative, original, capable, but he lacked visual charisma and his whole image was, well, more cerebral than anything else. I like the first three solo albums a lot, especially the second one. But even they are an acquired taste. He was best at being himself, and his music, no matter how he tried, could never sustain immense popularity. I prefer him when he indulges in the tastefully weird.

For what it’s worth, mainstream success is a hard mistress. Even the handsome and wildly-talented Lindsey has struggled for recognition outside of FM.