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When in the now distant 1983 the album "Sports" reached the top spots of the American charts, achieving million sales within a few months, the name Huey Lewis & The News suddenly gained the popularity that the Californian musician and his colleagues had been chasing for at least four years.
Huey Lewis, in fact, had been on the scene for about ten years, first with the Clover, an energetic country rock group remembered for playing on records by Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds, and on the debut album of Elvis Costello, the marvelous "My Aim Is True," and then, indeed, with the News, a solid and cool band that included among others guitarists Chris Hayes, Johnny Colla, and bassist Mario Cipollina, brother of the famous guitarist from Quicksilver Messenger Service. The explosion of "Sports" did justice to Huey's tenacity, as well as his undeniable talent and his skill as a harmonica player. Moreover, the winning card for Lewis and his associates was being able to offer a rock and roll that was compelling, full of energy and power, particularly suited for live performances.
"Fore!," released in 1986, confirmed the band's success, although achieved with effort. This millionaire-selling album earned the group another six hits, the most sensational of which was the clever and very famous "The Power Of Love", the central theme of the movie "Back To The Future." Among other chart-toppers are the pleasant and innocent "Stuck With You", the carefree "Doing It All For My Baby", the decisive and driving "Hip To Be Square" and the beautiful "Jacob's Ladder", composed by friend Bruce Hornsby, all accompanied by charming videos. The entire album is enjoyed with pleasure thanks to the skill of the individual musicians and the easy-listening yet absolutely quality artistic offering. "I Know What I Like" and "I Never Walk Alone" are two energetic rock tracks while "Whole Lotta Lovin'" and the choral "Naturally" are two tributes to the fifties. However, despite the enormous fame achieved, Huey Lewis will not be able to replicate the extraordinary success of "Fore!" in terms of both critical acclaim and sales over the years.
The following "Small World" will not achieve exciting sales results despite the presence of an illustrious guest like jazz player Stan Getz and a slight shift towards a sound closer to roots rock. Not even the 1990 album "Hard At Play," with its vitaminized pop rock and a few discreet tracks, or the heartfelt and successful homage to R&B "Four Chords & Several Years Ago", comprising only covers, will artistically revive Huey Lewis's career, who, instead of continuing to repeat an already tired formula, will prefer to momentarily and gracefully pause his activity with the News. In the nineties, in fact, Lewis will mostly make appearances as a harmonica player alongside Dick Dale, Asleep At the Wheel, and Wayne Perkins, reappearing as a solo artist only on a couple of tribute albums.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Jacob's Ladder (03:34)
I met a fan dancer
Down in South Side Birmingham
She was running from a fat man
Selling salvation in his hand
Now he's trying to save me
When I'm doing all right
The best that I can
Just another fallen angel
Trying to get through the night
Step by step, one by one
Higher and higher
Step by step, rung by rung
Climbing Jacob's ladder
Coming over the airwaves
The man says I'm overdue
Sing along, send some money
Join the chosen few, hey
Mister, I'm not in a hurry
And I don't want to be like you
All I want from tomorrow
Is to get it better than today
Step by step, one by one
Higher and higher
Step by step, rung by rung
Climbing Jacob's ladder
All I want from tomorrow
Is to get it better than today
Step by step, one by one
Higher and higher
Step by step, rung by rung
Climbing and climbing
Step by step, one by one
Step by step, rung by rung
Step by step
And step by step
Step by step
02 Stuck With You (04:29)
We've had some fun, and yes we've had our ups and downs
Been down that rocky road, but here we are, still around
We thought about someone else, but neither one took the bait
We thought about breaking up, but now we know it's much too late
We are bound by all the rest
Like the same phone number
All the same friends
And the same address
Yes, it's true, (yes it's true) I am happy to be stuck with you
Yes, it's true, (yes it's true) I'm so happy to be stuck with you
'Cause I can see, (I can see) that you're happy to be stuck with me
We've had our doubts, we never took them seriously
And we've had our ins and outs, but that's the way it's supposed to be
We thought about giving up, but we could never stay away
Thought about breaking up, but now we know it's much too late
And it's no great mystery
If we change our minds
Eventually, it's back to you and me
Yes, it's true, (yes it's true) I am happy to be stuck with you
Yes, it's true, (yes it's true) I'm so happy to be stuck with you
'Cause I can see, (I can see) that you're happy to be stuck with me
We are bound by all the rest
Like the same phone number
All the same friends
And the same address
Yes, it's true, (yes it's true) I am happy to be stuck with you
Yes, it's true, (yes it's true) I'm so happy to be stuck with you
'Cause I can see, (I can see) that you're happy to be stuck with me
(yes it's true) I'm so happy to be stuck with you
I'm happy to be stuck with you
Happy to be stuck with you.
05 Hip to Be Square (04:05)
I used to be a renegade, I used to fool around
But I couldn't take the punishment, and had to settle down
Now I'm playing it real straight, and yes I cut my hair
You might think I'm crazy, but I don't even care
Because I can tell what's going on
It's hip to be a square
it’s hip to be a square
I like my bands in business suits, I watch them on TV
I'm working out most everyday and watching what I eat
They tell me that it's good for me, but I don't even care
I know that it's crazy
I know that it's nowhere
But there is no denying that
It's hip to be a square
it’s hip to be a square
It’s hip to be a square
So hip to be a square
It's not too hard to figure out, you see it everyday
And those that were the farthest out have gone the other way
You see them on the freeway, It don't look like a lot of fun
But don't you try to fight it; "An idea who's time has come."
Don't tell me that I'm crazy
don’t tell me I'm nowhere
Take it from me
It's hip to be a square
It’s hip to be a square
It’s hip to be a square
So hip to be a square
Here, There, and everywhere!
Hip, Hip, so hip to be a square!
Here, There, and everywhere!
Hip, Hip,
Here, There, and everywhere!
Hip, Hip, so hip to be a square!
Here, There, and everywhere!
Hip, Hip,
Here, There, and everywhere!
Hip, Hip, so hip to be a square!
Here, There, and everywhere!
Hip, Hip,
Here, There, and everywhere!
Hip, Hip, so hip to be a square!
Here, There, and everywhere!
Hip, Hip,
08 The Power of Love (04:22)
The power of love is a curious thing
make a one man weep, make another man sing
Change a hawk to a little white dove
more than a feeling, that's the power of love
Tougher than diamonds, rich like cream
Stronger and harder than a bad girl's dream
make a bad one good make a wrong one right
power of love that keeps you home at night
Chorus 1 :
You don't need money, don't take fame
Don't need no credit card to ride this train
It's strong and it's sudden and it's cruel sometimes
but it might just save your life
That's the power of love
That's the power of love
First time you feel it, it might make you sad
Next time you feel it it might make you mad
But you'll be glad baby when you've found
that's the power makes the world go'round
Chorus 2 :
And it don't take money, don't take fame
don't need no credit card to ride this train
It's strong and it's sudden it can be cruel sometimes
but it might just save your life
They say that all in love is fair
yeah, but you don't care
But you know what to do
when it gets hold of you
and with a little help from above
you feel the power of love
you feel the power of love
Can you feel it ?
Hmmm
Chorus 3 :
It don't take money and it don't take fame
don't need no credit card to ride this train
Tougher than diamonds and stronger than steel
you won't feel nothin' till you feel
you feel the power, just FEEL the power of love
That's the power, that's the power of love
You feel the power of love
you feel the power of love
feel the power of love
09 Forest for the Trees (03:28)
When you're a young man, down and out
You really need someone to help you out
It looks like life or death is your only choice
It's really hard to see
The forest for the trees
The forest for the trees
And when you get angry and everything's black or white
You should know that it isn't that simple, no one's always right
You know that youre life it worth living
You gotta start taking if no one else is giving
And if you're not afraid to open your eyes
You may be pleasantly surprised
Thigs are never as bad as they seem
You just gotta learn to see
The forest for the trees
So if you need somebody, tell them please
If you want someone, get up off your knees
You know that your life is worth living
You gotta start taking if no-one else is giving
And if you're not afraid to open your eyes
You may be pleasantly surprised
Things are never as bad as they seem
You just gotta learn to see
The forest for the trees
Forest for the trees
You just gotta learn to see
You just gotta learn to see
10 Naturally (02:52)
All the birds have been blue
They don't know what to do
Ever since you said goodbye to me
And the flowers in their gloom, have just refused to bloom
Cause we all want you back, you see mmm, naturally
All the birds have been blue
They don't know what to do
Ever since you said goodbye to me
And the flowers in their gloom, have just refused to bloom
Cause we all want you back, you see
And even mister moon
Is left without a tune
And his shadow's lost the harmony
So don't waste any time
Come back and change your mind
Everything will work out
Naturally
You know that love is a struggle
And only the strong survive
So it's up to me and you
To do what we've got to do
To keep our love alive
And now bees have been gone
And they know that something's wrong
Because they don't feel like buzzing at all
And the starts up in the sky, all they do it cry
And that's why the rain must fall
And the early morning sun
He knows that you're the one
And we both miss your company
So don't waste any time
Come back and change your mind
You know that love is a struggle
And only the strong survive
So it's up to me and you
To do what we've got to do
To keep our love alive
So don't waste any time
Come back and change your mind
We'll be singing harmonies
With the birds and bees
If only you'll be mine
Things will work out fine,
mm, Naturally
11 Simple as That (04:27)
You go to work, work hard all day
At the end of the week, you collect your pay
That's just where it's at
It's as simple as that
You pay your bills the best that you can
But the rising cost sure hurts a family man
While the rich man gets fat
it's as simple as that
And the money goes so fast it ain't funny
Your mind's made up to get that house on the hill
But you just don't know if you ever will
Because you can't get the cash
It's as simple as that
Cause the man from the bank, he won't give you a loan
Without putting a morgage on all that you own
A tit for a tat
It's a simple as that
And the money goes so fast it ain't funny
Before you know it the kids are all grown
And married off with kids of their own
And it's all in the past
It's as simple as that
You've reached the autumn of your life
And all that's left is you and your wife
And a dog and a cat
It's as simple as that
And the money goes so fast it ain't funny
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