Category: 1987

Pink Floyd – Learning To Fly

Music Video: Pink Floyd – Learning To Fly

“Learning to Fly” is the second song on Pink Floyd’s album A Momentary Lapse of Reason. The first single released from the album, it reached number 70 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 1 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart in September, 1987, remaining three consecutive weeks at the top position in the autumn of the same year. Meanwhile, the song failed to chart on the official U.K. top 40 singles charts.

The song was primarily written by David Gilmour, who developed the music from a 1986 demo by Jon Carin. The notable rhythm pattern at the beginning of the song was already present in the demo, and Carin stated that it was influenced by Steve Jansen or Yukihiro Takahashi.

The lyrics describe Gilmour’s thoughts on flying, for which he has a passion (being a licensed pilot with multiple ratings), though it has also been interpreted as a metaphor for beginning something new, experiencing a radical change in life, or, more specifically, Gilmour’s feelings about striking out as the new leader of Pink Floyd after the departure of Roger Waters. Gilmour confirmed the latter interpretation on the Pink Floyd 25th Anniversary Special in May 1992. Also an avid pilot, drummer Nick Mason’s voice can be heard at around the middle of the song. “Learning to Fly” was included on Pink Floyd’s greatest hits collection Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd.

Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_to_Fly_(Pink_Floyd_song)

Bee Gees – You Win Again

“You Win Again” is a 1987 song written by Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb and performed by the Bee Gees. Released as a single in late 1987, it marked the start of the group’s comeback, becoming a number one hit in many European countries, including the UK – their first to do so in over eight years, and made them the first group to score a UK number-one hit in each of three decades: the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. As songwriters, the Gibb brothers received the 1987 British Academy’s Ivor Novello award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically. In a UK television special on ITV in December 2011, it was voted second (behind “How Deep Is Your Love”) in “The Nation’s Favourite Bee Gees Song”.

KISS – Crazy Crazy Nights

“Crazy Crazy Nights” is a song by the American hard rock band Kiss. It was originally released on the outfit’s 1987 album Crazy Nights. The song was a regular staple at the group’s concerts, up until Eric Carr’s passing in November 1991. However, due to constant requests from fans, the song returned to the set-list on the 2010 Sonic Boom Over Europe Tour.

Sandra – Everlasting Love

Music track: Sandra – Everlasting Love (Remastered 1992)

In late 1987 and early 1988 “Everlasting Love” was a hit in several European territories as rendered by German singer Sandra. Born in 1962, Sandra was familiar with the song via the 1968 Love Affair version; she’d say of the song: “I have always loved it…Even as a little child I heard that song and I said that I would like to sing it sometime.” The video shot for Sandra’s version featured the singer and Austrian model Rupert Weber playing lovers at different points in history beginning with Adam and Eve.

Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everlasting_Love#Sandra_version

Joe Cocker – Unchain My Heart

“Unchain My Heart” is a song written by Bobby Sharp (1924-2013) and recorded first in 1961 by Ray Charles and in 1963 by Trini Lopez and later by many others. Sharp, a drug addict at the time, sold the song to Teddy Powell for $50. Powell demanded half the songwriting credit. Sharp later successfully fought for the rights to his song. In 1987, he was also able to renew the copyright for his publishing company, B. Sharp Music. The song was a hit for Charles when released as a single in late 1961. Accompanied by his Raelettes, Charles sang about wanting to be free from a woman “who won’t let (him) go”. It was also accompanied by his longtime saxophonist, David “Fathead” Newman and other members of Charles’ band. The song reached number nine on the pop singles chart and number one on the R&B singles chart and was the working title of Charles’ 2004 biopic Ray.