8EEZ Playlist: Air Supply

G'day mates!

As much as my buddy Oates and I enjoy writing about the long crop of 1980s new wave rock artists and the darlings of MTV, we like to explore ALL aspects of music from the 1980s, which will indeed include artists that were still held-over from the late 1970s as the dynamic began to shift slowly, but strongly away from disco and punk, and briefly had a renaissance of the kind of music that was the mainstay of pop in the early-70's.

So...for today, we're dialing back the rock and focusing on an Australian soft-rock duo that made our hearts swell, even before MTV took over as the premiere music star-maker in the 1980s.

In the 70s, we had The Carpenters, Chicago, Carly Simon, Seals & Crofts, England Dan & John Ford Coley, Dan Fogelberg, and America to name a small, but important few. But the genre culminated as two friends from Melbourne, Australia became the love-dripping-romantic-Cupids of AM radio.

Graham Russell (an Englishman) and Russell Hitchcock (from Melbourne, Australia) formed in 1975; both were singer and stage actors who met during an Australian stage production of Jesus Christ Superstar. They went through several line-up changes before settling on the guys being the main faces and voices of the group. They gave themselves the rather unusual name: Air Supply.

Despite some success in their homeland, they were still living hand-to-mouth, until in 1979, their album Lost in Love caught the attention of Arista Records CEO Clive Davis and he signed them to his label. A more polished remix of the title song entered the charts in 1980 and became a staple on soft-rock AM stations. Their followup ballad "All Out of Love" did even better and signaled their arrival. In 1981, their followup album, The One That You Love also had the title track go all the way to the top (Number 1) — it was their ONLY Number 1 hit to date.

Hits were abundant for awhile, which included: "Sweet Dreams", "Here I Am", and "Making Love (Out of Nothing At All)." They were even the hosts of the hit music countdown show, Solid Gold — filling in for 70s superstar Andy Gibb's hosting duties in his absence.

As MTV began to showcase the hottest artists in FM rock stations and on the charts, Air Supply began to have their music dwindle as the mid-80s approached.

To this day, they're still together touring and recording albums. Their fan base may still be the 80s Baby Boomers, but to anyone who appreciates great music (even love songs), they are still able to attract new fans in the 21st Century.

Without further adieu, my buddy Oates' 'list.

Cherry's Picks

They covered the classic Jennifer Rush ballad (pronoun switch required) that would also become one of Celine Dion's smash hits — it would also become a hit for the late Laura Branigan.

Their US debut put them on the map. Sweet acoustic guitar and some dulcet harmonies, along with Hitchcock's strong vocals. On my list — but, how high?

Probably the fastest ballad they ever recorded. A feel-good hit that went Top 5.

Both Russell and Hitchcock co-sang this ballad gem. I feel it nearly alludes to the Commodores Number 1 smash ballad, "Three Times a Lady."

A superb rock/orchestral ballad and their only known collaboration with Meat Loaf songwriter Jim Steinman. Not on my list, sadly, but still a noteworthy pick.

My Picks

A sweet album cut that also made the Greatest Hits list. Plenty of strings toward the very end.

A nice, tender ballad. Their Number 1 smash — and noted that it did have the number (numerical) one in the title. Casey Kasem would be smiling now for remembering this fact!

Their most "rock" sounding ballad in their catalog. Known for Hitchcock's patented holding-the-note trademark.

One of their biggest smash hit ballads. Very orchestral and heart-swelling. Also, having a 16+ second note held by lead singer Hitchcock. He beat out lung champions Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer! Whew!

A very close call...

Their US debut is a charming, lilting ballad with great use of acoustic guitar, and very sexy Carpenters-style harmonies that bring out the joy in you.

That's all, folks — for today. Next up: A San-Fran band whose only goal is for you to have fun!