Phil Collins "We Said Hello...Goodbye"

On September 19, 2014, Growing Up Adult Contemporary joined the blogosphere. Together we've circled the world of Adult Contemporary music and uncovered numerous soft rock gems. Along the way, we've shared some memories of working in radio, of life, love, heartbreak and plenty of Peter Cetera stories. It's been a ride, but it's time to move on. Thank you for your support.

Whitney Houston "I Learned From the Best"

After stumbling upon a former colleague's website, I read this message: "Rob is retiring from radio." After years of traveling the country and holding down various radio jobs in Chicago as well as Las Vegas, he was hanging up his headphones and transitioning into web design. It was 1999 and everyone wanted a website, so Rob made the career decision to exit radio. His message included a zillion people he wished to thank including "Todd and Todd". Hoping I was one of the Todd's, I quickly found the "Contact Us" page and fired off an email. "I'm one of the Todds, I hope!"A couple days later, he confirmed that I was one of those he mentioned as being a "joy to work alongside" -- I was flattered. 

Will to Power "Baby, I Love Your Way / Freebird Medley"

That annoying dude at a concert who yells "Freebird!" whenever the band asks for requests...yeah, that dude. Don't be like him.

Tears for Fears "Shout"

Tears for Fears album Songs from the Big Chair gets its name from the made-for-TV movie Sybil. The movie starred Sally Field as a suffer of multiple personality disorder and actually won her an Emmy Award.

Tim McGraw "Tiny Dancer"

Tim McGraw choose the safe (and wise) route when remaking Elton John's signature "Tiny Dancer". His 2002 effort perfectly matched the original. In fact, the two performed the song together on the American Music Awards in celebration of the song's 30th birthday.

Bruce Hornsby & the Range "Lost Soul"

Before striking gold with "Sunny Came Home", Shawn Colvin turned up as a backup vocalist on "Lost Soul" from Bruce Hornsby & the Range. The mellow tune hit #16 on the Adult Contemporary Chart in 1990.

Blessid Union of Souls "Oh Virginia"

Also known as the French harp or mouth organ, Blessid Union of Souls featured what we call the harmonica in their 1996 song "Oh Virginia".

Roxette "The Look"

Don't mess with mom when she gives you "the look". 

Seals & Crofts "Summer Breeze"

My 5th grade health class came directly from a magazine from Sea Breeze -- a company specializing in facial washes and astringents. In other words, our Catholic school clearly didn't mind our health class being sponsored by corporate America. Our teacher would have us read about how to properly care for our skin but encouraged us to skip over the parts about how Sea Breeze could clear up those pesky zits.

Michelle Branch "Breathe"

So many superstitions are rooted in the explainable. Case in point: in the Sex & the City episode "The Catch", Charlotte is convinced her upcoming wedding day will be cursed after Harry accidentally saw her in her wedding dress. That aside, the episode also featured the pop song "Breathe" from Michelle Branch.

Chris Walker "Take Time"

A forgotten hit from 1992 is "Take Time" from Chris Walker. The song itself is a time capsule of what R&B/pop music sounded like at the time. The Texas native shows off his deep and powerful voice that sounds like it belongs in a Gospel group.

Julian Lennon "Say You're Wrong"

Saying you're wrong is not easy or even the preferred avenue. Admitting you're right is much more fun.

Real McCoy "Come and Get Your Love"

When the world wasn't focused on the O.J. Simpson trial during the summer of 1995, they sang and danced along to "Come and Get Your Love". Real McCoy put a techno-dance version of Leon Redbone's popular hit. Perhaps the Dancing Ito's got in on the action?

Rod Stewart "How Long"

Never one to shy from remaking a popular song, Rod Stewart scooped up Ace's signature tune "How Long" and took it for a test drive of his own in 1981. Rod's version went on to become more popular (on the Adult Contemporary Chart) as it peaked at #5 as compared to #24 for Ace.

James Ingram "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?"

"How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" came from the soundtrack to Best Friends -- a Burt Reynolds and Goldie Hawn rom-com from 1982. The film also co-starred Audra Lindley fresh off her four-year run as Mrs. Roper on Three's Company and later The Ropers.

Sheryl Crow "A Change Would Do You Good"

That moment when your husband calls out from the other room, "Honey, your old boss is here with a mattress." Let's back up a bit to explain. Imagine talking your way into a radio job with someone who really didn't want to hire you. If anything, he hired you because you wore him down. The two of you work together for a year or two and eventually he gets fired. You then assume your bosses old job and life carries on for both of you. A little while later, a sales person gets you an endorsement deal with one of the local bedding stores. The deal is simple: you record a bunch of commercials endorsing the bed and they'll pay you by giving you the bed you're endorsing. The client even arranged for a sleep expert to stop by your house and make sure the bed is to your liking. Guess who that sleep expert is? That's right -- your old boss. He's now standing in your bedroom with your husband to make sure your new bed is to your liking. Awkward? Yep.

The Cure "Just Like Heaven"

It's no wonder so many artists cover "Just Like Heaven" in concert. Robert Smith calls the upbeat ditty the best pop song and strongest work The Cure has ever done.

Simply Red "Home"

"Home is a place where I yearn to be loved." 

Terri Gibbs "Somebody's Knockin"

Plenty of Country music found its way onto the Adult Contemporary Chart in 1981. Juice Newton, Kenny Rogers, Eddie Rabbitt, Ronnie Milsap, and Rosanne Cash joined Terri Gibbs as successful crossover artists. "Somebody's Knockin" peaked at #3 that year. Later in the '80s, Gibbs turned to Christian music where she found additional success.

Natalie Merchant "Wonder"

The names and faces of some guest stars on The Wonder Years will surprise you. For example:

• Dustin Diamond (Screech from Saved by the Bell) was Kevin's classmate, but let's not forget Mark-Paul Gosselear (Zack Morris) also appeared as a classmate on the sitcom
• Juliette Lewis played Wayne's girlfriend Delores in the show's second season
• Punky Brewster herself, Soleil Moon Frye, turned up in one episode
• Kevin's sister Karen dated and later married David Schwimmer on the show, but couldn't return for the show's season finale in 1993 because he was working on a little project later known as Friends
• Before all those Aerosmith videos, Alicia Silverstone starred as Jessica -- a classmate Kevin fancied
• Seth Green played class clown Jimmy Donnelly
• Let's not forget that Grey's Anatomy Doctor McSteamy (Eric Dane) also appeared as a high school jock who dated the girl with the big nose

Poco "Call It Love"

Jim Messina and his Poco buddies reunited in 1989 for Legacy. The album turned out the hit "Call It Love" which featured Rusty Young on vocals and climbed all the way to #2 on the Adult Contemporary Chart.

Green Day "Wake Me Up When September Ends"

Happy September Eve! Wake up and prepare yourself for all the Green Day memes to begin.

Alanis Morissette "You Learn"

When you're a morning show producer and the host of the show asks you to get a guest, you better deliver. In the case of Bill Leff, he had an idea for a recurring segment back when we worked together at WNND-FM in Chicago. At the time, our radio station was playing all-Christmas music and Bill wanted to do an on-air Advent Calendar where each day we would turn to a celebrity to reveal what was on the calendar. His pick for the celebrity: Ed Asner. It was 2003 and I had no idea who Ed Asner was, so I went to IMDB and learned he was on Mary Tyler Moore and discovered he was going to be in the upcoming Will Ferrell film Elf. That could help me book him on the show -- or so I believed.

Many unanswered phone calls later, I suggested to Bill that we turn to Plan B. Asner's people weren't interested in doing some silly radio bit. We discussed using a Harry Caray impersonator or Edie McClurg (the secretary from Ferris Bueller's Day Off) or even Chicagoan Bill Kurtis...none of which scratched Bill's itch. Then, one afternoon, I got a voicemail from Asner's secretary who requested I phone her and go into more detail about the bit. I called her and she actually answered. I quickly explained what we wanted to do and then faxed some sample scripts to her. Again, I didn't hear anything. A few days later, she called and said that Ed agreed to do it. WHAT?!? I called Bill and shared the news. He was equally shocked and excited.

We phoned Ed to tape all the segments and he had some trepidation. The script seem off, he told us. "It seems to me that people should be nicer the closer we get to Christmas," he explained. Our script didn't reflect that. "We can do that! You want to do that?" Leff reassured him. The script called for Asner to became progressively angrier with each passing day. Things like "a candy cane" turned into "a ratty-looking elf with an overbite" as each day passed. There was even a day when Asner snarled, "I don't feel like doing one today," and then hung up the phone. We all laughed and sat in amazement that he was playing along. When we aired them back, listeners were confused. Was it really Ed Asner? Why was he so angry? Was he pretending to be so upset? Some folks even kept track of all the items on the Advent Calendar believing it would lead to cash and prizes (it didn't, but we were flattered). For Leff, it was comedy gold. For me, I felt validated for delivering to Leff exactly who and what he wanted.

Genesis "Invisible Touch"

When your girlfriend tells you that one of your friends made her feel uncomfortable at a concert the previous night, what do you do? This likely was my very first #MeToo moment, and I didn't know what to do or who to believe. My friend, "Russell", was one of the first friends who stood up for me in high school. While we weren't best of friends after college, we still kept in touch and would talk each year on MLB's Opening Day. Sometime in 2009, however, things got weird: his marriage was in a free fall. He moved out of his condo and back into his parent's house. That summer, he reached out to see if he could crash on my couch for a few days. Without hesitating, I offered the tiny condo my then-girlfriend and I shared. I was helping a friend in need...or so I thought. He arrived one afternoon carrying a suitcase and a giant trunk. Yes, a trunk...like the ones you'd see in cartoons. Without me saying a word, he immediately went on the defensive: "Don't worry, I'm not moving in. I know you're thinking it!" After expressing with words what my face clearly did not quite convey, we seemed to have an understanding.

Later, I learned Russell wasn't staying with us because he needed a break from his parent's couch. Instead he simply needed a place to sleep off his Lollapalooza high. Yes, in between seeing bands at Lolla, his vacation plans included drinking, smoking pot and breaking my toilet seat (that actually happened). This didn't sit well with me or my girlfriend (pun intended). After one day into his visit, my girlfriend wanted him out so I asked him to leave. At the time, he said he was trying to save his marriage and put his life back on track -- in reality, he was a mess. He was living like an irresponsible 19 year-old while he was 31 with a wife, mortgage and nonsecular job. His words said he was trying to right the wrongs, his actions disagreed. Our friendship changed following that fateful week and never rebounded.

That summer, my girlfriend said Russell would always text her to ask if she wanted to meet up for a drink. He sent the same texts to me -- only he seemed to target her whenever he knew I was working a weekend shift at the radio station. She saw his behavior as him flirting and/or trying to cozy up while I was not around. From my perspective, I saw a mess of a friend who wanted a drinking partner. My suspicion elevated a bit when I learned he was sleeping with another mutual friend. Things went from bad to worse when my girlfriend and Russell bumped into one another at a concert where she later claimed he touched her shoulders and made her feel uncomfortable. While I constantly reminded myself Russell was a friend in need who happened to be using up all the goodwill from his friends, I hit the eject button and wrote him off . I never heard from him on Opening Day 2010 and beyond.

The same day in 2011 when I kicked my then-girlfriend out of my condo (after I found her inappropriately texting a married man at a company she was interviewing), Russell broke the silence. He wrote me a short but emotional plea begging forgiveness for being a "recovering asshole" but added that he never said or did anything inappropriate to my now-ex. Faced with my own world falling down, I started numerous replies to his email -- but each reply ended up in my deleted folder. Weeks turned to months to years and we still have never spoken. While this story's "ending" doesn't quite fall under the "happy" category, I do know from mutual friends that he's officially divorced and now married to someone new. I'm also pleased to hear he worked tirelessly to turn his life around. 

Kelly Clarkson "Already Gone"

Remember the great Feud of 2009? Of course you don't, but here's what you forgot didn't care about what happened during August 2009. Just before releasing "Already Gone", Kelly Clarkson wanted to shelve the ballad because she thought it sounded too similar to Beyonce's "Halo". Before joining Clarkson to co-write "Already Gone", Ryan Tedder worked with Beyonce on her I Am...Sasha Fierce album. One quick listen and you'd pick up notable similarities in "Halo" and "Already Gone": hand claps, mellow piano, and the drum rhythm. Clarkson didn't want to be accused of ripping off Miss Sasha Fierce and wanted to ditch the single. Her record company released it anyway and she blasted them and even ripped Tedder (who defended himself on Myspace -- remember that?). In the end, "Already Gone" went to #13 on the Hot 100 (#3 on Adult Contemporary) and finished #1 and #5 on the Adult Top 40 and Mainstream Top 40, respectfully. Tedder, you may recall, also went on to fame with One Republic. I think everything worked out just fine.

A Flock of Seagulls "I Ran (So Far Away)"

Asked to describe the feelings over his new album, David Hasselhoff called it, "The most surreal project I've ever been involved with and I didn't have to take acid...I felt like I was trippin' balls." Now you're intrigued at the thought of David Hasselhoff collaborating with A Flock of Seagulls on the Hoff's new album, aren't you?

Soraya "Suddenly"

The Columbian-Jersey girl named Soraya released "Suddenly" from her debut bilingual En Esta Noche / On Nights Like This album. Four years later, the 31 year-old was diagnosed with breast cancer. After fighting back and entering remission, Soraya became a breast cancer support advocate while maintaining her music career. By 2006, her cancer returned and ultimately took her life. Her departing words were:

"I know there are many questions without answers and that hope doesn't leave with me, and above all, that my mission does not end with my physical story."  

Pink "Who Knew"

Credit Pink for ripping Kanye West a new one during his infamous MTV Video Music Awards spectacle in 2009. I know, it's hard to believe it's been a decade since a drunken Kanye stole Taylor Swift's moment. Kanye allegedly carried a bottle of Hennessey on the red carpet and that didn't do him any favors a few hours later when Taylor won "Best Female Video". Kanye charged the stage, stole Taylor's moment and the audience gasped. Swift cried, Beyonce cried, Kanye was ejected from the awards show, and eventually the world moved on...but not before a visibly angry Pink got in Kanye's face and shared a few choice words. Later that evening, Pink tweeted out that "Kanye is the biggest piece of shit on earth." Have a great day.

Kenny G "My Heart Will Go On"

Not just Celine Dion profited from "My Heart Will Go On", Kenny G also released an instrumental version of the popular ballad in 1998. Adult Contemporary and Smooth Jazz radio stations couldn't contain themselves and spun both tunes. While Celine's more popular version will go down in history, Kenny G's didn't fare as well: peaking at #19 on the Adult Contemporary Chart.

Smokey Robinson "Everything You Touch"

An out-of-work radio pal of mine just finished checking his voicemail, shook his head and told me he was sure someone was pranking him. "How so?" I asked.

"I got a message from some guy named Smokey Rivers," he explained.

"Smokey Rivers?" I asked?

"Yep," my friend said. "A guy told me a Program Director friend of his was looking for a new morning guy and that he'd be contacting me. There's no way his name is Smokey Rivers."

Having seen the name in the trades, I assured him Smokey Rivers was real.

The two eventually connected on the phone but Smokey didn't hire my friend. To this date, he still thinks he was punked.

Modern English "I Melt With You"

What the heck happened to The Dove? Since my last visit in March, the soft rock radio station that always sounds locked in a closet dated "1990" has clearly done a music test. Radio stations often "test" hooks of songs and then develop their playlist based on the results. While not an exact science, the methodology continues at most radio stations today.

Clearly The Dove's music test included some participants who were former Disco Queens as I heard more than my requisite fill of Donna Summer, KC & the Sunshine Band and Bee Gees during my stay in Bradenton Beach. Heck, The Dove even added some upbeat '80s tunes like "I Melt With You" from Modern English. All that aside, no part of me is upset that I missed "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" which seemed to play daily last March.

Billy Joel "Movin' Out"

Following a summer of firsts (first date, first heartache), Sophomore year of high school kicked off on Friday, August 21, 1992 with an unexpected request. My Dad asked my brother and I to be home immediately after our first day of school. Why? He needed our help moving his stuff to his new apartment because my parents were getting divorced. No matter how aware one is of their parents failing marriage, nothing prepares you for those words.

No Doubt "Just A Girl"

The word "just" could be severely misinterpreted. When you overhear someone saying, "I'm just going to homecoming with Todd...", it could mean:

1. I'm not very exciting about going to the dance with Todd, but he was available.
2. I was planning to go to the homecoming dance with a group of people but chose Todd.
3. I'm merely attending the homecoming dance with Todd and then going home.

Let's face it, #1 is the only real explanation, right? Unfortunately for my homecoming date (in 1993), my friend (we'll call him "Russell") overheard her and became upset with her. He sternly informed her that she wasn't "just going with Todd" -- instead she was very lucky to be going with Todd. This resulted in a flurry of phone calls from Russell and my date to explain what happened and why. Although we went to homecoming and another dance a few months later, the two of us never exited the dreaded "friend-zone". It hurt at the time, but it showed me how lucky I was to have friends stand up for me. Years later, things with Russell would take a turn...for the worse. I'll explain tomorrow.

Patti LaBelle & Bill Champlin "The Last Unbroken Heart"

Miami Vice only aired for five seasons, yet the crime drama spawned three separate soundtracks of music. Unlike most television shows that aired songs made for the program, Miami Vice paid nearly $10,000 to use popular music within the show. Miami Vice II contained the Patti LaBelle & Bill Champlin ballad "The Last Unbroken Heart" in 1987. 

Maxi Priest "Wild World"

Adding a little reggae to hit music worked for UB40, so why not Maxi Priest? The English singer took Cat Stevens signature tune and added some tropical flair in 1988. A couple years later, Mr. Big would also remake "Wild World". 

Sting "My Funny Friend and Me"

Disney's The Emperor's New Groove didn't exactly light up the box office, but it did make them plenty of cash. Its soundtrack also produced the Sting ballad "My Funny Friend and Me". Much like the movie itself, the song wasn't a huge hit (reaching #24 on the Adult Contemporary Chart).

Kool & the Gang "Special Way"

Kool & the Gang last charted on the Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary Charts in 1987 with their ballad "Special Way".

Amy Grant "I Will Be Your Friend"

There's a strange connection between TOMS Shoes and Amy Grant. Back in 1999, Blake Mycoskie convinced the city of Nashville to allow his company (Mycoskie Media) to put billboards up around the city. Mycoskie convinced local politicians that these new billboards would not be billboards, per se, and wouldn't be advertising. Instead, Mycoskie sought to put album art from musicians on the sides of buildings. He successfully convinced the Nashville city council that the "ads" would contain no call-to-action, so therefore it was more art than advertising. Guy Raz artfully covers this in his podcast interview with Mycoskie on How I Built This. Mycoskie Media's first client: Amy Grant. After selling his billboard company to radio behemoth Clear Channel, Mycoskie later appeared on The Amazing Race and eventually launched TOMS Shoes. 

Toad the Wet Sprocket "Walk on the Ocean"

A visit to Bradenton, Florida means another chance to listen to Tampa's WDUV-FM "The Dove". With its no-hype delivery and playlist that rarely exceeds the year 1989, The Dove is a time capsule of Adult Contemporary radio from yesteryear. As per usual, I'll be cruising around Florida in my dad's Buick LeSabre with The Dove riding shotgun. 

Waterfront "Cry"

Even with a million plays on the radio in 1989, I somehow missed "Cry" from the British duo Waterfront. The song hit #10 hit on the Hot 100 and #2 on the Adult Contemporary Charts, but I feel like I've never heard it until today. "Cry" proved to be the band's high-water moment.

Hootie & the Blowfish "I Go Blind"

Some popular '90s phenomenons that I somehow avoided:

• AOL Chat Rooms
• Overalls and flannel shirts
• Melrose Place, Seinfeld & Friends
• Hootie & the Blowfish, Nirvana & the Grunge movement

I hopped on the Seinfeld wagon in the 2000s but never really embraced anything else on this list especially Friends. Someone once described the show as a bunch of wimpy dudes who managed to date hot girls in an over-sized New York apartment. No arguments here. 

Cliff Richard "A Little in Love"

Originally billed as a "rebellious" rock 'n roller in the late-'50s, U.K. singer Harry Rodger Webb later changed his name to Cliff Richard to match his new image in 1980. His catchy "A Little in Love" charted a year after his popular duet "Suddenly" with Olivia Newton-John. Unlike the UK where his music is beloved, he has only found moderate success in the US. One could poorly joke that the US is just a little in love with his music...

Backstreet Boys "I Want It That Way"

You can tour all of Europe without paying lots of money if you take a cue from a recent college grad named Anthony. Instead of booking hotels throughout eight countries and 22 cities, Anthony "Tinder Surfed". What is "Tinder Surfing"? Instead of using Tinder to look for someone to sleep with, Andrew looked for a place to sleep. He'd then link to his YouTube page where videos told the ladies what he was doing and even then people opened their homes to him. Anthony not only found places to stay, but he even hooked up with a some of the ladies. Not everyone accepted Anthony's overtures -- he got told "Sounds fun, but that's not for me". It certainly helped that he's an attractive and multilingual person, but wouldn't you feel like the whole time he stayed with you that he was on his phone looking for his next place to stay?

Keith Urban "You'll Think of Me"

Picture that person at the airport dragging a carry-on bag, a large over-stuffed duffel bag, a purse, and a grande Starbucks cup in their one "free" hand. That image sums up the proverbial baggage we collect as we walk through this thing called life. We all deny we have it, but the truth is we have all that baggage plus the two "free" bags we checked at the curb.

Bee Gees "Still Waters (Run Deep)"

The last time The Bee Gees turned up on the Hot 100 Chart happened in 1997. Their single "Still Waters (Run Deep)" peaked at #57 that fall. Take a listen. By today's standards, the song sounds pretty good!

U2 "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"

In his thank you card to me following his high school graduation party, my friend Pat expressed hope that I could one day launch his dream radio station: WUII. The station he dreamed up was an all-U2 radio station that played nothing but music from U2 and Bono (duh!). Sorry, Pat. That dream remains unfulfilled.

Kenny Loggins "This Is It"

SIGN OF THE TIMES:

"This Is It" from Kenny Loggins charted on the Hot Soul Singles Chart in 1979. The chart has been renamed several times since then but, next time you think Soul music, try to remember the smooth Yacht Rock sounds of Loggins and Michael McDonald.

Mariah Carey "Make It Happen"

My Golden Rule: You can't complain about something if you're not doing anything to change it.

Rod Stewart "I Can't Deny It"

Wisdom teeth extraction sometimes results in crazy talk. Severe crazy talk! In the case of my friend Matt, I stopped by his house one afternoon during Christmas break in college. I didn't know at the time that Matt was fresh out of oral surgery after having his wisdom teeth removed. The moment I walked into his house, the expression on Matt's mother's face said it all. She looked shocked and horrified -- yet I didn't pick up on her social cues and decided to stay. After about 15 minutes of Matt writing notes to me on a piece of paper, I decided to leave. Matt later told me that while on the drive home from the dentist's office, he informed his very conservative mother that he had "Babies. Babies, babies babies alllllll over the country!" This tidbit freaked out his mother to the point that she didn't believe it was the laughing gas talking, but rather Matt's conscience. Spoiler alert: Matt didn't have babies, babies, babies all across the country. He now has three beautiful children, but that happened long after college.

Celine Dion "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman"

Canadian music radio stations have to play at least 35% of Canadian-born artists between the hours of 6am and 6pm. It's true. It might also explain why certain Canadian crooners released songs that might be considered "deep cuts". In the case of Celine Dion, I'd include her 1995 take on Aretha Franklin's "A Natural Woman". Even though the song never matched the success of the the many predecessors who've belted out the R&B standard, Celine was merely warming up for 1997 when the Titanic Soundtrack would make her a household name -- plus it gave Canadian radio stations another song to hit their 35% quota.