"Perfect World" released as the lead single from the album *Small World* in late June 1988, reached number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 48 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was penned by Alex Call, a former bandmate of Huey Lewis and Sean Hopper from the band Clover. The song is an optimistic reflection on human aspirations and the inherent imperfections of life. It encourages the listener to keep dreaming despite the realization that a perfect world will never exist.
Alex Call wrote the song in 1985, influenced by his experiences with his band at the time, which resembled Huey Lewis & the News with its setup including horns and singers. Initially playful in its creation with a ska-like feel, Call later found deeper meaning in its lyrics, which he scatted out unconsciously before contemplating their significance.
Alex Call expressed his admiration for "Perfect World," particularly highlighting the involvement of Tower of Power in playing the horn lines he wrote for the song. He cherished this collaboration with Tower of Power more than the prospect of having a hit single. Call recalled Huey Lewis's initial skepticism about the horn parts but was pleased when most of his arrangements were retained.
The music video for showcases the band performing energetically on a stage set amidst a garbage dump field. Throughout the video, various pieces of garbage are shown flying through the air, occasionally hitting members of the band as they play. Huey Lewis is featured dancing and strolling along a pathway, with scenes of garbage trucks operating behind him. The video concludes with the band posing near more garbage, emphasizing the setting's thematic connection to the song's message about the imperfections of life despite hopeful aspirations.
HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS - WALKING ON A THIN LINE
Released: October 9, 1984
Charted: US: #18
"Walking On a Thin Line" by Huey Lewis and the News, released in 1984, served as the fifth and final single from their album "Sports". Initially thought by some, including The Sacramento Bee, to be about post-war stress among veterans, the song actually delves into the thoughts and experiences of soldiers serving in Vietnam and veterans grappling with the realities of war.
"Walking On a Thin Line" tells the story of an American soldier who trained as a sniper during the Vietnam War and confronts the emotional and psychological challenges upon returning home. The song, penned by Andre Pessis and Kevin Wells is often regarded as one of the band's more serious compositions. Interestingly, Pessis had initially paid a young Huey Lewis $20 to record a demo of "Walking on a Thin Line" in the late '60s for a documentary of the same name about the Vietnam War. Although the song wasn't used in the film at that time, it eventually found its place and became a hit when Lewis recorded it for the "Sports" album.
Huey Lewis has a deep personal connection to "Walking On a Thin Line." Reflecting on the song, he shared with Billboard his empathy for friends who served in Vietnam. He highlighted the stark contrast in how veterans were treated upon their return during a time when the war was widely unpopular.
In live performances, Huey Lewis often dedicated "Walking On a Thin Line" to both the casualties of the Vietnam War and the veterans. On occasion, ESPN personality Chris Berman, a fan of the band, surprised audiences by joining them on stage to sing the song. Their friendship began at an ESPN anniversary party, and Berman occasionally referenced the song's chorus while describing football highlights on NFL Live.
TEARS FOR FEARS - HEAD OVER HEELS
Estrenada: 10 de juny de 1985
Llistes: Regne Unit: #12 EUA: #3
"Head over Heels" és una cançó de Tears for Fears del seu segon àlbum d'estudi, "Songs from the Big Chair". Llançada com a quart single de l'àlbum per Mercury Records, va ser el desè senzill de la banda al Regne Unit i va convertir-se en el seu vuitè èxit dins del top 40, arribant al número 12 de les llistes. Als Estats Units, va ser el tercer senzill de l'àlbum i va continuar el seu èxit, arribant al número tres del Billboard Hot 100. Per commemorar el llançament del senzill al Regne Unit, es va emetre un disc en forma de trèvol de quatre fulles com a edició limitada.
La cançó, escrita per Roland Orzabal i Curt Smith, expressa els sentiments intensos d'Orzabal per una noia i la seva súplica perquè no li trenqui el cor. La lletra combina poesia i patetisme, culminant en un moment emotiu on Orzabal canta: "It's hard to be a man when there's a gun in your hand, Oh, I feel so..." (es dur ser un home quan tens una pistola a les teves mans).
"Head over Heels" té dues versions: una més curta que acaba bruscament, i una versió més llarga anomenada la "versió del predicador". En la versió llarga, Roland Orzabal comença amb una recitació semblant a un sermó, fent servir frases de la cançó "I Believe". Aquesta pista sovint segueix o és seguida per "Broken" durant les actuacions en directe, ja que originalment es va compondre com a transició cap a "Broken" a l’àlbum.
El vídeo musical dirigit per Nigel Dick es va rodar a finals de maig i principis de juny de 1985 a la Biblioteca del Emmanuel College a Toronto, Canadà. És notablement més lleuger comparat amb els vídeos anteriors de Tears for Fears. La trama gira entorn dels esforços de Roland Orzabal per cridar l'atenció d'una bibliotecària interpretada per Joan Densmore. Al llarg del vídeo, apareixen diversos personatges, inclosos membres de la banda i fins i tot un ximpanzé amb una samarreta dels Red Sox. El vídeo acaba amb una escena que mostra Orzabal i la bibliotecària com una parella gran casada.
TEARS FOR FEARS - HEAD OVER HEELS
Released: June 10, 1985
Charted: UK: #12 US: #3
"Head over Heels" is a track from Tears for Fears’ second studio album, "Songs from the Big Chair". Released as the album's fourth single by Mercury Records, it marked the band's tenth single in the UK and became their eighth top 40 hit there, reaching number 12 on the charts. In the United States, it was the third single from the album and continued their success, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. To commemorate the single's release in the UK, a limited edition four-leaf-clover-shaped picture disc was issued.
The song, written by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith, expresses Orzabal's intense feelings for a girl and his plea for her not to break his heart. The lyrics blend poetry with pathos, culminating in a poignant moment where Orzabal sings: "It's hard to be a man when there's a gun in your hand, Oh, I feel so..."
"Head over Heels" has two versions: a shorter one that ends abruptly, and a longer one dubbed the "preacher version." In the longer version, Roland Orzabal begins with a recitation akin to delivering a sermon, using lyrics from their song "I Believe." This track often follows or is followed by "Broken" during live performances, as it was originally composed as a segue into "Broken."
The music video directed by Nigel Dick, was filmed in late May and early June 1985 at the Emmanuel College Library in Toronto, Canada. It's notably more lighthearted compared to Tears for Fears' previous videos. The plot revolves around Roland Orzabal's efforts to capture the attention of a librarian played by Joan Densmore. Throughout the video, various characters, including members of the band and even a chimpanzee in a Red Sox jersey, engage in antics within the library setting. The video concludes with a scene depicting Orzabal and the librarian as an older married couple.
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HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS - SOME OF MY LIES ARE TRUE (SOONER OR LATER)
Released: June 17, 1980
Album: Huey Lewis & the News
"Some of My Lies Are True (Sooner or Later)" served as the debut single for Huey Lewis & the News. The band originated in San Francisco when members of two existing bands, Clover and Soundhole, merged to form a new musical entity.
"Some of My Lies Are True (Sooner or Later)" showcases Huey Lewis & the News' signature upbeat rock style, well-suited for their energetic live performances at various clubs and small venues. In the song, Huey Lewis counters a deceptive and manipulative individual by confessing to telling lies, albeit some of which hold elements of truth.
This song played a crucial role in getting Huey Lewis & the News signed to Chrysalis Records. Although MTV wasn't yet on the air, the band collaborated with a local video production company called Videowest, which aired its work on a cable TV show. Videowest produced the video at no cost to showcase on their program, enabling Huey Lewis & the News to use it as a demo.
In the video Huey Lewis & the News found themselves on a sewage pier in Ocean Beach, San Francisco, where they danced around and goofed off. Huey Lewis explained that the concept behind the video was to place the band in an unusual setting, similar to the classic TV shows like Hullabaloo or Shindig!, where some artists would perform at unexpected locations such as the beach.
After a disappointing start with their debut album, Huey Lewis & the News faced uncertainty with Chrysalis Records. They took matters into their own hands for their next album, “Picture This”, self-producing and seeking a hit. In defiance of initial reluctance, they recorded "Do You Believe in Love?", penned by Mutt Lange, who had worked with Lewis in Clover, their earlier band. The band refined the song, emphasizing its chorus and polishing its production for radio appeal. Released as the lead single in 1982, it became their breakthrough hit. This success propelled them forward, leading to their highly successful album “Sports”.
HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS - DOING IT ALL FOR MY BABY
Released: June 29, 1987
Charted: UK: #93 US: #6
"Doing It All for My Baby", released in 1987 from the album Fore!, achieved significant chart success by peaking at number six on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 on September 19, 1987. This accomplishment made the band the first group to have five top-ten singles from a single album on the Hot 100 chart.
"Doing It All for My Baby," a retro-soul track, was co-written by Michael Duke and Philip Cody. Duke, previously a member of The Outlaws and known for writing "Hope You Love Me Like You Say You Do," collaborated with Cody, who had penned lyrics for Neil Sedaka and The Carpenters. Reflecting on their collaboration for this song, Cody described it as a seamless process driven by shared musical aspirations. The lyrics, inspired by Cody's joyful experiences with his then-girlfriend (later wife), Barbara, capture the essence of dedicating oneself completely to a loved one.
Cody and Duke wrote "Doing It All for My Baby" while working for Lawrence Welk's publishing company, where they initially struggled to find interest in the song. Michael Duke recorded a demo, but the company couldn't place it. Later, Duke performed the song during gigs in Mississippi, where members of Huey Lewis & the News heard it and were impressed. They brought the song to Huey Lewis, who eventually recorded it three years after it was written.
Emilio Castillo of Tower of Power discussed their collaboration with Huey Lewis & the News on this track. They worked closely with the band in the 1980s, finding common ground in musicality, songwriting, vocals, and dynamic live performances. According to Castillo, the Tower of Power horn section contributed significantly to the song's sound, blending seamlessly into the soul shuffle style. He highlighted their signature horn riff at the beginning and the baritone saxophone solos by Doc Kupka towards the song's conclusion, which added a distinctive touch to the track.
The music video was a comedic homage to monster movies and featured elaborate makeup and roles for the band members. Huey Lewis appeared as himself, Dr. Frankenstein, and the singing monster. Mario Cippolina portrayed Dracula and other characters, while other band members and guests took on roles such as Igor and the Bride of Frankenstein's monster. The video was shot in Los Angeles over three days and included special effects and makeup that Lewis found burdensome, making it one of his least favorite videos to film.
HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS - HOPE YOU LOVE ME LIKE YOU SAY YOU DO
Released: May 4, 1982
Charted: US: #36
"Hope You Love Me Like You Say You Do" marked a significant moment for Huey Lewis and the News, released as the second single from their album “Picture This” in 1982. Featuring the influential band Tower of Power, the song became the band's second top 40 hit, peaking at number 36 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. The music video was filmed in May 1982 in New York City. It features the band performing the song in a studio setting.
"Hope You Love Me Like You Say You Do," written by Mike Duke, showcases themes of romantic tension and the complexities of relationships, balancing desires for independence with the necessity of compromise. Recorded in San Francisco, the song was later followed by other notable compositions for Huey Lewis and the News, including "Doing It All for My Baby" in 1986 and "Let Her Go and Start Over" in 2001.
The recording of "Hope You Love Me Like You Say You Do" marked the beginning of a friendship between Huey Lewis and the News and the band Tower of Power. During a break in recording the song, Huey Lewis encountered Tower of Power in the hallway of the studio where they were working on their own album in a separate studio. Lewis invited them to contribute to "Hope You Love Me Like You Say You Do," which they agreed to, establishing a collaboration that continued on future projects between the two bands.
