Strawberry Switchblade - Since Yesterday

Although they had one of the coolest names in the music industry, Strawberry Switchblade was a one hit wonder in their native U.K., and didn't make a dent in the U.S. market at all.  This is a shame, as they were an odd and interesting duo whose one hit was really pretty good.

Strawberry Switchblade was formed in Scotland in 1981, and was comprised of Jill Bryson and Rose McDowall.  Their image of big bright dresses and bows fit nicely with the synth pop sound ... as long as you didn't listen to the lyrics (or pay attention to the goth makeup).  It turns out that the name was intentionally chosen, and the lyrics to their bright pop songs were often dark or disturbing.  "Since Yesterday," for instance, was written about the aftermath of a nuclear war.

The group gained traction in 1983, and released their first single, "Trees and Flowers."  This led to a recording contract and in late 1984, "Since Yesterday" was released.  The song slowly rose on the UK charts, eventually reaching #5.  Their self-titled debut LP followed in 1985, but they were not able to land another hit, and a combination of musical and personal disagreements led to a split by 1986.

I don't recall seeing the video on MTV, though it may have appeared on 120 Minutes.  However, the Tim Pope video is visually arresting, and does a solid job of conveying the band to the public. 

Eric B. & Rakim - Follow The Leader

Check out any list of the most influential hip hop artists ever and Eric B. & Rakim will be on it - probably near the top.  Their vintage sampling and laid back, complex rhyming showed the template for modern hip hop.  In fact, many critics view Eric B. & Rakim as the seminal act that helped create the transition from old school to new school rap.

Eric B. (Barrier) and Rakim (born as William Griffin, but changed his name upon his conversion to Islam) were part of the vibrant metro New York rap scene of the 1980s.  By 1986 they were working together, and that same year released their first single, "Eric B. Is President." The following year saw the release of the Paid in Full LP, often viewed as one of the most important and influential hip hop albums ever.   

In spite of their innovative approach to hip hop (from both a DJ and MC perspective), Eric B. & Rakim had only modest commercial success - the duo did not have a top 40 single or a top 20 album.  This was partly due to the duo's image - they were viewed as authentic rap artists, and made little effort to modify their image or their songs to become more commercially successful.

For the blog, we went with the timeless "Follow the Leader" video, off the 1988 album of the same name.  The song reached #16 on the R&B charts, but did not break the top 40.  The album hit #22 - their highest charting effort.

Starting in 1992, tensions over their recording contract and perhaps their master tapes led to an extended legal conflict.  As a result, Eric B. & Rakim broke up, although they remained in the industry as solo artists.  However, in 2017, they re-united for a tour and appear to be together as of this writing.

Vandenberg - Burning Heart

The Dutch band Vandenberg was one of a surprising number of acts from that country to flirt with international success.  For example, both Golden Earring and Shocking Blue have previously been featured on ERV.  Led by (and named after) lead guitarist Adrian Vandenberg, the group was known for its melodic hard rock sound and classical flourishes, especially on the guitar solos.

Vandenberg's 1982 debut LP did reasonable well, reaching #65 on the album charts, helped by the "Burning Heart" single, which reached #39. Note that Vandenberg's song is totally different from Survivor's "Burning Heart" (a #2 hit from 1985, from the from Rocky IV soundtrack).

A successful debut album, a hit single, and a melodic hard rock sound should have translated to further success, but Vandenberg's second and third albums did not do well, and the band broke up in 1986.  The following year, Adrian Vandenberg joined Whitesnake, and remained with them through the remainder of the decade.

Adrian Vandenberg remains active in the industry as of this writing - and is also a painter.

Red Rockers - China

Red Rockers was a fascinating band who never quite found their audience.  To be fair, this was at least partly due to their evolving musical style, which seemed to shift almost on a song-by-song basis.

The band formed in New Orleans in 1979 as a punk act, influenced by groups such as The Clash and The Dils.  In fact, Red Rockers (the band) is named after "Red Rockers" (the 1979 Dils' song).   However, after  their first LP (1981's Guns of Revolution), they swung wildly from punk to pop/new wave on 1983's Good as Gold album.  This resulted in a MTV hit with "China," and set off a series of internal conflicts within the band (not to mention alienating their early punk fans).

In spite of some serious MTV airplay, "China" peaked at #53, leaving Red Rockers one hit short of being a one hit wonder.  Internal conflicts and some personnel changes continued through 1985's Schizophrenic Circus, and the band broke up later that year.