Laura Branigan - Gloria

Long time ERV readers will know that we love to feature covers, especially when the remake is a big hit.  For instance, we have previously posted "Bette Davis Eyes," "I Love Rock 'n' Roll, " and "Mickey" - and a bunch more.  Yep, they're all covers (readers can use the Covers label to the right to see all of the videos in this category.)

"Gloria" is another song that fits - it was the single that launched Laura Branigan's career, and was her biggest hit as well.  Plus, we bet that most English-speaking readers have no idea that it is a cover of an Umberto Tozzi song.  In a bit of good fortune, the co-producer of Branigan's first LP, Greg Mathieson, was the keyboard player on the original version, and suggested a remake.

Laura Branigan would go on to become a pretty big pop star in the 1980s - all five of her albums released in that decade broke the top 100.  In addition, her first three LPs all reached #34 or higher, and she had seven top 40 singles, led by "Gloria," which peaked at #2 for three weeks in late 1982. Interestingly, (to me, at least) "Gloria" was kept out of the top spot by two different songs - Lionel Richie's "Truly" and the previously mentioned "Mickey," covered by Toni Basil.

The video for "Gloria" ... well, let's just say that the label did not spend a ton of money on it.  It's Branigan on a modestly decorated soundstage, lip-singing away.  Not surprisingly, we don't recall seeing the clip back in the day, although the song was all over the radio for a time.

Laura Branigan would remain active in the industry until her untimely death (from a brain aneurysm) in 2004.

The Umberto Tozzi version came out in 1979, and was a top 10 hit across several countries in Europe.

Fastway - Say What You Will

"Fast" Eddie Clarke rose to fame as Motörhead's guitarist, and can be seen on the "Ace of Spades" video, which was posted on ERV in November 2013.  However, a dispute during the band's 1982 U.S. tour resulting in him leaving the group - and he quickly set about forming a new one.

Around the same time, bassist Pete Way left UFO, and with Clarke formed a band, which they called ... Fastway.  Singer Dave King and drummer Jerry Shirley rounded out the lineup.  Unfortunately a legal dispute with Chrysalis prevented Way from recording with his new band; as a result he left the group prior to their first LP.  (Bass is uncredited on the album but seems to have been Mick Feat.)

Fastway's self-titled album came out in 1983, and represented a solid bluesy hard rock effort.  The album was a modest success, reaching #31 on the charts, though the "Say What You Will" single did not chart.  However, Fastway was not able to build a following, though they released several subsequent LPs, and even played on the Trick or Treat soundtrack (now who remembers that movie).  Clarke tried several lineup changes in the late 1980s, to no avail, and finally broke up the group in the early 1990s.

The video for "Say What You Will" did receive a bit of airplay back in the day, but eventually faded from view ... until now.

"Fast" Eddie Clarke remained in the industry until his death in 2018.

Elliot Easton - (Wearing Down) Like a Wheel

As we've mentioned before, The Cars appeared to be running out of steam by the mid-1980s, which led to three of the five member releasing solo albums.  ERV has previously featured work by guitarist/singer Ric Ocasek ("Emotion in Motion") and by bassist/singer Ben Orr ("Stay the Night") both of which came out in 1986.  However, The Cars' lead guitarist, Elliot Easton released his only solo album the prior year.

Easton's solo album was titled Change No Change and was co-written with Jules Shear.  If Shear's name sounds familiar, it's because he wrote Cyndi Lauper's "All Through the Night" and The Bangles' "If She Knew What She Wants."

The resulting record was neither a commercial nor a critical success.  While Easton is undoubtedly a gifted guitarist, the songs don't highlight this, and there was criticism of his voice, as well.  The album peaked at #99, and while "(Wearing Down) Like a Wheel" picked up a modicum of airplay, it did not chart.  It is a solid, if unspectacular song, and a nice rare video too.

In addition to the videos linked above, Ric Ocasek's earlier (and excellent) "Something to Grab For" was featured on ERV early on, in September 2011.  We also posted The Cars "Since You're Gone" in May 2014. [Yes, The Cars are well-represented on ERV.]

Cool trivia fact: Elliot Easton's given name was Elliot Steinberg.

Blue Murder - Jelly Roll

While many readers may not know who John Sykes is, most will have heard his music.  In fact, Sykes' story is another somewhat sad rock and roll tale.

Sykes got his big break in 1982, when he joined Thin Lizzy just before the recording of their last studio LP, 1983's Thunder and Lightning.  Sykes even co-wrote one of the tracks for the LP - "Cold Sweat." In 1984, as Thin Lizzy was winding up, Sykes joined Whitesnake.

ERV readers will recall that David Coverdale ran Whitesnake - full stop. (Note that "Slow An' Easy" and "Love Ain't No Stranger" have been previously featured on the blog.) Sykes joined the band in time to re-record some guitar parts for the U.S. release of the Slide It In LP, and toured in support of the album.  He and Coverdale then co-wrote all of the songs on what became the 1987 self-titled album, with the exception of two older Whitesnake songs that the band re-recorded.

Unfortunately, the Whitesnake story then became difficult.  Coverdale developed a sinus infection that required surgery and there was some doubt as to whether he would be able to continue singing. After being out of action for most of 1986, Coverdale returned to the studio and put the vocal tracks over the music. However, the delays and health issues strained Coverdale's relationship with the rest of the band; as a result, he fired everyone prior to the album's release.

Sykes would go on to form Blue Murder with Tony Franklin on bass and Carmine Appice on drums.  Their 1989 album was quite solid, but did not become a huge hit.  Sykes would later speculate that the label (Geffen) did not properly promote the group, perhaps due to being on the same label as Whitesnake.

Blue Murder would release a second album (Nothin' but Trouble) in 1993, but sales were disappointing.  The group broke up in 1995.

Cool trivia fact: the actress in the video is Meg Register.