In 1982, Huey Lewis And The News was not yet the multi-platinum band it would become, nor a household name. Instead, they were a struggling band, still trying to find a foothold in mainstream rock. With the failure of the debut, the band needed a hit, and got one, they did.
The "Mutt" Lange produced, Do You Believe In Love, would single handedly push the album up the Billboard 200 charts, where it peaked at number thirteen. In total, Picture This spent thirty-five weeks on the charts. Follow-up singles, Hope You Love Me Like You Say You Do, and Workin' for a Livin' wouldn't fare as well, only finding mild success.
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The sound that I associate with the band would definitely start to emerge with Picture This. Part rock, part crooner, even a little funk at time. As a whole, it was far superior to their debut, and certainly more enjoyable as a result.
Unlike its predecessor, which yielded no satisfying tracks for me, this one brought several: Tell Me A Little Lie, Hope You Love Me Like You Say You Do, Workin' For A Living, Do You Believe In Love, and The Only One. As I've said before, Huey Lewis And The News was never one of my favorite bands from the 80's, but this album changes my mind. This I can back. This gets me excited to hear more.
The band was starting to get exposure, and things were certainly on an upward turn, with the album going gold. But if superstardom was what they wanted, it wouldn't come overnight. Instead, they'd have to gruelingly work for it.
Chrysalis would delay their 1983 album, Sports, and the effects of this would result in the band hitting the road in a bus to tour and perform in small clubs. The series of shows would become known as the "Workin' For A Living Tour".
Upon its release, Sports would initially reach number six on the Billboard 200 and slowly climb to number one by 1984. All of this was pushed by the band themselves, who continued to tour non-stop in support of the album, as well as continue to record promotional music videos, which aired frequently on MTV. The album would finally go platinum in 1985.
Singles, Heart and Soul, I Want a New Drug, The Heart of Rock & Roll, and If This Is It, would all reach the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100, eventually pushing the album to over ten-million-unit sales in the USA alone.
Huey Lewis And The News were now a household name. They'd go on to produce the massive single, The Power Of Love, for 1985's Back To The Future, which would also include the less popular single, Back In Time. I've already touched on Sports in a Retro Spin, as well as the soundtrack to the film. So, at this point, I don't have anything else to add to them. Instead, my next stop is 1986's Fore! I'll see you tomorrow for that.
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