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In the '80s, Lionel Richie was hot, releasing Great Song after Great Song after Great Song.
I'll get around to highlighting them all eventually, but today, I'm looking at the song that proved he could do just about anything, including have a hit on the Country Chart!
The fourth single release from his hit-packed 1984 album, "Can't Slow Down" was "Stuck On You:" a ballad that, as you might have suspected at first listen, was destined to be a hit on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart--and you'd be right: it went to #1.
But it also was a hit on 3 other charts: #3 on the Hot 100, #8 on the Rhythm & Blues Chart, and yes, #24 on the Country Chart.
In Canada, it was a Triple Chart Hit with similar numbers: #1 AC,
It might have charted higher on the country charts, but many radio stations were very leery about playing a "Lionel Richie Song" if it was sung by Lionel himself. (He also wrote the song "Lady," which Kenny Rogers recorded and promptly took to #1).
That said, you might conclude that it was a racial thing--but I don't think so, and I'll tell you why:
Speaking as a former country music Program Director, I believe this was partly due to the fact that country music fans can be very particular about which artists crossing over from other genres are acceptable. (This is still true to a certain extent). They would complain LOUDLY if an they felt the artist was not really "country."
In the '70s, for example, John Denver and Olivia Newton-John fought an uphill battle for acceptance in country circles--which they finally earned because of their Great Songs.
On the other side of the coin, in the early '90s, when Garth Brooks started covering and performing Billy Joel songs ("Shameless" & "You May be Right"), some fans thought he crossed a line in the other direction.
Please note that I'm NOT criticizing here, I'm explaining. :-)
Country fans are passionate about their music--and that's fantastic. Every music fan should be passionate about their favorites!
But back to "Stuck on You" by Lionel Richie: When a song makes FOUR Billboard Charts from an artist who was quickly turning into a legend, I can't help but call it a Great Song of 1984! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48yfxU8MrAo
Tomorrow: 007 goes to #1
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