1981 - October: Loverboy “Get Lucky”

What the Riff?!?

After doing well with their 1980 self-titled album, Canadian rock band Loverboy would head into the stratosphere with their second studio album entitled Get Lucky. Benefiting from a photogenic lead singer (Mike Reno) clad in read leather pants, Loverboy would ride the MTV wave to the top of the rock and pop charts. Loverboy was founded in 1979 by front man Mike Reno and guitarist Paul Dean, who met when Reno was working at a steakhouse and heard Dean playing guitar in a bus station behind the restaurant. Success came quickly, with hits like "Turn Me Loose” and "The Kid is Hot Tonite” from their first album.

The name Loverboy came from Paul Dean's dream inspired by the Cover Girl fashion magazine. “Cover Boy” then became “Loverboy,” and the name stuck.

Loverboy is still out performing, and Reno still wears the headband. While it made a fashion statement at the time, he claims it was to keep the sweat from getting in his eyes. The band is the same in its entirety today, except for Scott Smith, their original bass player, who was lost at sea when a rogue wave hit his sailboat. He was replaced by bassist Ken "Spider" Sinnaeve in 2001.

Grab your red leather pants and sing along with this hit album.

When It's Over
This their second single, and the second track on the album. It made it to number 26 on the charts. It tells the story of a guy waiting for the failure of a bad relationship so he can get the girl.

Working for the Weekend
You will recognize this track from the starting cowbell if you ever heard 96 Rock's “5 O'Clock Whistle” back in the day. This is the lead single from the album, and went to number 29. Paul Dean was walking on the beach on a Wednesday afternoon, thinking about how everyone was busy at work, waiting for the weekend. With the band’s feedback, the line "waiting for the weekend" became "working for the weekend."

Lucky Ones
A hopeful track, this song gives the album its name. “Don't ask me how, but guess who hit the big time?”

Take Me To the Top
A deeper cut - though still a hit single on a single-heavy album. The synthesizer intro is distinctive. This track was actually a demo that made it right onto the album without a studio version.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

Theme from the Motion Picture “Halloween II”
You have to have a creepy theme from a spooky movie if your profiling music from October, right? Villain Michael Myers also debuted on television for the first time in October 1981, as the original "Halloween" appeared on the networks - heavily edited.

STAFF PICKS:

“Talk Dirty” by John Entwistle
Wayne's staff pick brings us a solo outing from “The Ox,” John Entwistle, bassist from The Who. This song was a minor hit at the time, when members of The Who were engaged in solo projects. Joe Walsh takes lead guitar duties on this one.

“Destroyer” by The Kinks
Bruce features a hit off their 19th album that was incredibly popular for a rock song at the time. The Kinks make reference to two previous songs, "Lola" and "All Day and All of the Night." Stop! Hold on! Stay in control...

“Tryin' to Live My Life Without You” by Bob Segar
Brian's staff pick is a live rendition of a song originally written by Larry Williams and released by Otis Clay in late 1972. Segar's version went to number 5, so it was much more popular than the original.

“In Your Letter” by REO Speedwagon
Rob features a do-wop song from REO Speedwagon's hit album “Hi Infidelity.” Despite the 60's sound, this song is not a cover. Keyboardist Gary Richrath wrote this song after finding a letter from his ex-wife indicating that his wife had left him...for their drug dealer.

INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

Theme from the Television Show “Hill Street Blues” by Mike Post
This instrumental theme was on the charts at the time.

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