After three years of grueling tours, producing music videos, and essentially non-stop self promoting, 1983 Sports, finally reaching number one on the Billboard 200 in 1984, and by 1985 had become a platinum album. It would eventually reach 7X platinum in the USA, Diamond in Canada, and gold in the UK, making it their bestselling album of all time.
Their success only ballooned more in 1985 when the band contributed tracks to the film, Back To The Future, which Huey Lewis would also have a cameo in, but also for joining USA For Africa to be part of We Are The World. However, the band would come under scrutiny, when in that same year, they backed out just two-weeks prior to performing on the Philadelphia side of Live Aid. Their concerns that the money raised for the show wouldn't actually be used to benefit Etheopian famine would ironically also be alleged by Spin Magazine a year later, who suggested it had indeed been misspent.
In between 1983 and 1985, Huey Lewis also took time off to sue Ray Parker Jr. over allegations of copyright infringement for Parker's theme to Ghostbusters. Candidly, this aspect alone is actually what drives the most of my "hate" for Huey Lewis and his band.
The theme to Ghostbusters is awesome, far superior to I Want A New Drug, and personally, I think Huey's just jealous of that fact. If you would have played the guitar riff for any school kid in 1984, I guarantee you they'd say, "That's Ghostbusters." Huey Lewis And The News wouldn't even have crossed their minds, mainly because that was the band their parents liked, which only adds more to why kids (in my circle) didn't like them. I dare say if you played that riff today for children of the 80's, they'd still call out Ghostbusters before I Want A New Drug.
Regardless of whether it was plagiarized or not, an accusation which to this day Parker denies (me too frankly), I prefer the film's hit over their single, or frankly any of their music. Huey Lewis And The News was music for old people, and now that I'm one of them, I suppose that's why I can appreciate them more, but always, and never more, than the Ghostbuster's theme.
Well, that got derailed fast. I suppose we can sum up this post by saying, Huey Lewis And The News...Eh...But Ghostbusters theme, rad!
Oh...right...I still have to listen to Fore!...I'd rather go listen to Ghostbusters. Ugh...
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Okay, I actually really like the opening track, Jacob's Ladder. But that's it! Well...I mean, maybe Stuck With You...and Doing It All For My Baby. But that's it, no more...Oh now Hip To Be Square's On, and then I Know What I Like.
Look, it's not a good album, okay! It can't be! It's Huey Lewis And The News! I mean, look at the album cover. That's just a bunch of dads hanging out on a sidewalk. That's not cool! Dads don't make good albums!
Yeah, it's a good album. It has quite a few hits. Another rare thing I'm all in on with this one is the original European release versus the USA version. Much like Madonna's Like A Virgin, I'm all about this release because it contains an additional track. In the case of Fore!, it's The Power Of Love. Yes, I know that the soundtrack to Back To The Future is not only easy to get, but also really cheap, but I like the novelty of it being included officially on a studio album.
The remaining tracks on the album are okay, but noticeably weaker than the hits. They're okay, but don't have that polished "remember me" feel. At least not for me.
Despite also reaching number one on the Billboard 200, Fore! wouldn't perform as well as its predecessor sales wise. Whereas Sports received the above noted sales certifications, Fore! would "only" achieve 3x platinum in the USA, and 3x platinum in Canada. It would, though, fare better in the UK than Sports, surpassing its gold sales to reach 2x platinum. It would also reach gold in Germany. Successful, yes most definitely, but still underperforming in comparison. This, unfortunately, would be the beginning of a steady decline in sales and popularity the boys.
They'd record and release one final album for Chrysalis Records, 1988's Small World. However, upon completion of their contract, sought out a new label, eventually signing with EMI USA. But now I'm getting ahead of myself. First, I need to wrap up their 80's discography, which concludes tomorrow with their 1988 album.
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