Showing posts with label Dude Looks Like a Lady. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dude Looks Like a Lady. Show all posts

Saturday, October 21, 2023

Desmond Child: Top 50 Songs

Desmond Child

Top 50 Songs

Songwriter Desmond Child was born John Carles Barrett on 10/28/1953 in Gainesville, Florida. He got his start with Desmond Child & Rouge in 1975, reaching #51 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Our Love Is Insane” in 1979. The group disbanded a year later.

Child has subsequently worked with multiple artists as a songwriter and producer, including Aerosmith, Clay Aiken, Jimmy Barnes, Michael Bolton, Bon Jovi, Cher, Chicago, Kelly Clarkson, Alice Cooper, Dream Theater, Hilary Duff, Selena Gomez, Hall & Oates, Hanson, INXS, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Jonas Brothers, Kiss, Cyndi Lauper, Ricky Martin, Jesse McCartney, Meat Loaf, Billie Myers, Allanah Myles, Katy Perry, Ratt, LeAnn Rimes, Roxette, Scorpions, Shakira, Billy Squier, Joss Stone, Barbra Streisand, Bonnie Tyler, Carrie Underwood, Steve Vai, John Waite, Weezer, Robbie Williams, Winger, Trisha Yearwood, and Zedd.

For a complete list of this act’s DMDB honors, check out the DMDB Music Maker Encyclopedia entry.

Click here to see other acts’ best-of lists.

Awards:


Top 50 Songs Written/Co-Written by Desmond Child


Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists, appearances on compilations and live albums by the featured act, and songs’ chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards.

DMDB Top 1%:

1. Bon Jovi “Livin’ on a Prayer” (1986)
2. Ricky Martin “Livin’ La Vida Loca” (1999)

DMDB Top 2%:

3. Bon Jovi “You Give Love a Bad Name” (1986)

DMDB Top 5%:

4. Aerosmith “Dude Looks Like a Lady” (1987)
5. Kiss “I Was Made for Lovin’ You” (1979)
6. Sisqó “Thong Song” (2000)
7. Bon Jovi “Bad Medicine” (1988)
8. Aerosmith “What It Takes” (1989)
9. Alice Cooper “Poison” (1989)
10. Ava Max “Kings & Queens” (2020)

DMDB Top 10%:

11. Aerosmith “Angel” (1987)
12. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts “I Hate Myself for Loving You” (1988)
13. Billie Myers “Kiss the Rain” (1997)
14. Katy Perry “Waking Up in Vegas” (2008)
15. Aerosmith “Crazy” (1993)
16. Kiss “Heaven’s on Fire” (1984)
17. Ricky Martin with Christina Aguilera “Nobody Wants to Be Lonely” (2001)

DMDB Top 20%:

18. Michael Bolton “How Can We Be Lovers” (1989)
19. Bon Jovi “Keep the Faith” (1992)
20. Ricky Martin “She Bangs” (2000)

21. Ricky Martin “The Cup of Life” (1998)
22. Aerosmith “Hole in My Soul” (1997)
23. Kiss “Reason to Live” (1987)
24. Bon Jovi “Born to Be My Baby” (1988)
25. Cher “Just Like Jesse James” (1989)
26. Bon Jovi “This Ain’t a Love Song” (1995)
27. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts “Little Liar” (1988)
28. Bon Jovi “You Want to Make a Memory” (2007)
29. Cher “We All Sleep Alone” (1987)
30. Cher “Save Up All Your Tears” (1991)
31. Kiss “Hide Your Heart” (1989)

Beyond the DMDB Top 20%:

32. Bon Jovi “Misunderstood” (2002)
33. Bon Jovi “Something for the Pain” (1995)
34. Alice Cooper “House of Fire” (1989)
35. Bon Jovi “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead” (1992)
36. Kiss “Let’s Put the X in Sex” (1988)
37. Clay Aiken “Invisible” (2003)
38. Ricky Martin “Shake Your Bon-Bon” (1999)
39. Bon Jovi “Real Life” (1999)
40. John Waite “These Times Are Hard for Lovers” (1987)

41. Hanson “Weird” (1997)
42. Desmond Child “Love on a Rooftop” (1991)
43. Desmond Child & Rouge “Our Love Is Insane” (1979)
44. Ratt “Lovin’ You’s a Dirty Job” (1990)
45. Desmond Child “Youre the Story of My Life” (1991)
46. Zedd with Jon Bellion “Beautiful Now” (2015)
47. Alice Cooper “Bed of Nails” (1989)
48. Bon Jovi “All About Lovin’ You” (2002)
49. INXS “Afterglow” (2005)
50. Aerosmith “F.I.N.E.” (1989)


Resources and Related Links:


First posted 10/21/2023.

 

Thursday, August 10, 2023

Aerosmith: Top 50 Songs

Aerosmith

Top 50 Songs

The rock band Aerosmith formed in Boston in 1970 with singer Steven Tyler, guitarists Joe Perry and Brad Whitford, bassist Tom Hamilton and drummer Joey Kramer.

With hits like “Dream On,” “Walk This Way,” and “Sweet Emotion” they became one of America’s biggest rock bands. After six albums together, the original lineup started to fracture because of in-fighting and drug abuse. They released the tepid Rock in a Hard Place in 1982 without Perry or Whitford and it looked like they might be done as a band.

However, they jumped from Columbia Records to Geffen and found new life. The originial lineup reunited for 1985’s Done with Mirrors. The muted reception suggested the band might be done, but then rap group Run-D.M.C. remade the band’s “Walk This Way” into a top-five pop hit and reignited interest in Aerosmith. The band’s next four studio albums were multi-platinum affairs which kept the classic rock faithful content while finding new fans with younger crowds.

The band’s 1980 Greatest Hits compilation has sold 14 million copies worldwide.

For a complete list of this act’s DMDB honors, check out the DMDB Music Maker Encyclopedia entry.

Click here to see other acts’ best-of lists.

Awards:


Top 50 Songs


Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists, appearances on compilations and live albums by the featured act, and songs’ chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards.

DMDB Top 1%:

1. I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing (1998)
2. Walk This Way (with Run-D.M.C., 1986)
3. Dream On (1973)

DMDB Top 2%:

4. Sweet Emotion (1975)
5. Walk This Way (1975)

DMDB Top 5%:

6. Janie’s Got a Gun (1989)
7. Dude Looks Like a Lady (1987)
8. Love in an Elevator (1989)
9. What It Takes (1989)
10. Cryin’ (1993)
11. Back in the Saddle (1976)

DMDB Top 10%:

12. Livin’ on the Edge (1993)
13. Angel (1987)
14. Come Together (1978)
15. Rag Doll (1987)
16. Jaded (2000)
17. Last Child (1976)
18. The Other Side (1989)
19. Crazy (1993)
20. Amazing (1993)

DMDB Top 20%:

21. Falling in Love Is Hard on the Knees (1997)
22. Pink (1997)
23. Same Old Song and Dance (1974)
24. Blind Man (1994)
25. Hole in My Soul (1997)
26. Mama Kin (1973)
27. Remember Walking in the Sand (1979)
28. Draw the Line (1977)
29. Big Ten Inch Record (1975)
30. Train Kept A-Rollin’ (1974)

31. Toys in the Attic (1975)
32. Chip Away the Stone (1979)
33. Eat the Rich (1993)
34. Deuces Are Wild (1993)

Beyond the DMDB Top 20%:

35. Kings and Queens (1977)
36. Home Tonight (1976)
37. Hangman Jury (1987)
38. Fly Away from Here (2001)
39. Let the Music Do the Talking (1985)
40. Walk on Water (1994)

41. Just Push Play (2001)
42. Fever (1993)
43. Girls of Summer (2002)
44. Baby Please Don’t Go (2004)
45. Helter Skelter (1975)
46. Shut Up and Dance (1993)
47. Sunshine (2001)
48. Love Me Two Times (1990)
49. Taste of India (1997)
50. Devil’s Got a New Disguise (2006)


Resources and Related Links:


First posted 8/10/2023.

Tuesday, August 18, 1987

Aerosmith roars back with Permanent Vacation

First posted 4/1/2008; updated 9/8/2020.

Permanent Vacation

Aerosmith


Buy Here:


Released: August 18, 1987


Peak: 11 US, 37 UK, 7 CN, 42 AU


Sales (in millions): 5.0 US, -- UK, 9.0 world (includes US and UK)


Genre: classic rock


Tracks:

Song Title (Writers) [time] (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to singles charts.

  1. Heart’s Done Time (Joe Perry, Desmond Child) [4:42]
  2. Magic Touch (Steven, Tyler, Perry, Jim Vallance) [4:37] (5/21/88, 42 AR)
  3. Rag Doll (Tyler, Perry, Vallance, Holly Knight) [4:25] (9/12/87, 17 US, 12 AR, 42 UK, 23 CN)
  4. Simoriah (Tyler, Perry, Vallance) [4:25]
  5. Dude Looks Like a Lady (Tyler, Perry, Child) [4:25] (8/29/87, 14 US, 4 AR, 20 UK, 22 CN, 95 AU)
  6. St. John (Tyler) [4:10]
  7. Hangman Jury (Tyler, Perry, Vallance) [5:33] (11/14/87, 14 AR)
  8. Girl Keeps Coming Apart (Tyler, Perry) [4:13]
  9. Angel (Tyler, Child) [5:08] (1/30/88, 3 US, 2 AR, 69 UK, 14 CN)
  10. Permanent Vacation (Tyler, Brad Whitford) [4:49]
  11. I’m Down (John Lennon, Paul, McCartney) [2:20]
  12. The Movie (instrumental) (Tyler, Perry, Whitford, Tom Hamilton, Joey Kramer) [4:00]


Total Running Time: 51:38


The Players:

  • Steven Tyler (vocals, keyboards, harmonica, percussion)
  • Joe Perry (guitar)
  • Brad Whitford (rhythm guitar)
  • Tom Hamilton (bass)
  • Joey Kramer (drums, percussion)

Rating:

3.792 out of 5.00 (average of 12 ratings)


Awards:

About the Album:

Aerosmith looked like they might be finished as a band after 1979’s Night in the Ruts. Guitarist Joe Perry left the band during the making of the album, the band members were fighting, and substance abuse was taking its toll. Three years later, the band released Rock in a Hard Place but without Perry and Brad Whitford, who left during recording, the band wasn’t the same.

The original lineup returned for 1985’s Done with Mirrors, but the album was met with a tepid reception. Then rap group Run-D.M.C. came to the rescue. Their #4 remake of Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way” featured Tyler and Perry and brought the band back into the limelight. Suddenly, during the height of ‘80s hair bands, Permanent Vacation proved “the crucial catalyst in reintroducing Aerosmith to the masses.” AMG It was the group’s most successful album in a decade and found themselves at the top of the heap, reinvented “as ‘80s and ‘90s superstars.” AMG

Credit goes to John Kalodner, the A&R executive who pushed the band to work with “knob-twiddler extraordinaire Bruce Fairbairn and career-revitalizing song doctors Desmond Child and Jim Vallance.” AMG Fairbairn had previously produced three Loverboy albums and, most notably, Bon Jovi’ monstrous 1986 smash, Slippery When Wet. After Permanent Vacation, he also produced Aerosmith’s next two albums – which were even bigger successes.

Desmond Child had also worked on Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet, co-writing the #1 hits “You Give Love a Bad Name” and “Livin’ on a Prayer.” While “Child’s pedantic writing often compromises the timeliness of even the best material,” AMG Dude Looks Like a Lady, co-written with Tyler and Perry, proved a perfect song for the ‘80s. It offered a tongue-in-cheek nod to the contradictory nature of hair bands (a movement which Aerosmith was now part of) looking affeminate while promoting themselves as hyper-masculine. The band also managed to give the song enough pop sensibility to make it a hit without abandoning their rock cred.

Jim Vallance co-wrote all the songs on Bryan Adams’ 1984 smash album Reckless, which included the #1 “Heaven” and top-five hit “Summer of ’69.” He co-wrote Rag Doll with Holly Knight as well as Tyler and Perry. The song gave Aerosmith its second top-20 hit from the Permanent Vacation album.

After those two straightforward rock songs, the album’s third single “showcases the band at the peak of its power ballad cheese.” AMG “The crowd-pleasing schmaltz of Angel” AMG ended up the band’s biggest hit to date, soaring all the way to #3 on the pop charts.

The album’s “pre-fab radio gems…remain largely unassailable from a ‘delivering the goods’ perspective” AMG and “the mostly stellar songwriting…makes it a strong effort overall.” AMG There are also “a guaranteed number of incredible tracks for any time and place. These include the earthy voodoo blues of St. John and the excellent hobo-harmonica fable of Hangman Jury.” AMG

Still, “some of the album’s nooks and crannies haven’t aged all that well because of Fairbairn's overwrought production, featuring an exaggerated sleekness typical of most mid-‘80s pop-metal albums.” AMG There are cuts that “lean to the filler side,” AMG but “the awkwardly Caribbean title track and the cover of the Beatles’ I’m Down are well executed.” AMG

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