The Bitter Truth is Huey Lewis & The News hit filled album "Sports" is now 30 years old. Jesus. The album, That's right I said ALBUM. Not CD. Not Digital Download. Album. Record. LP was one I bought with my own money at age 15. I traveled on my bike to the record store inside the Harbor Mall in Fall River, Mass to get it. Carefully tucking it under my arm for the drive home. The album was different from the rest of the stuff I was listening to at the time. I was very big into English New Wave (Duran Duran, Talk Talk, The Fixx etc.) But there was no denying the hit power and massive airplay. I was always a sucker for an over played tune. And "Sports" was being played on all the Rock and Pop stations in Rhode Island.
This LP had no less than 5 hits on it "Heart Of Rock N Roll", "I Want A New Drug", "Heart & Soul", "Bad Is Bad" and "If This Is It." The songs were catchy and anyone could sound good singing along to them, regardless of musical talent. (Hootie and The Blowfish used that trick in the 90s.) Huey Lewis and his band of un-rock looking white dudes ruled the charts and were on top of the world. Now it's 30 years later. The album has been re-released with a bunch of bonus tracks (mostly live takes on the hits) and that makes me official old. That and the fact that I have to dye my gray hair. Once very 6 weeks or so. Hell even my chest hair is now going gray! Do they make a dye for that? Since I don't ever appear shirtless (See Abercrombie & Fat Post) I guess I shouldn't care.
Thirty years have passed since I took that bike ride from the mall to my grandparents house. Lots has changed. My grandparents have both died. As have some of my childhood friends. The Harbor Mall is still there but the record store is long gone. They do have a Wall-Mart though. Progress? Maybe not. They say vinyl is making a comeback but not on the level it once sold. Kids don't care about Album artwork and production credits. And they don't care about "Sports."
Huey Lewis and The News still tour and release records. Although the band is mostly non original members. Apart form Huey (who was great on "Hot In Cleveland" and the nerdy sax guy I believe the rest of the band is new. The creepy bass player is long gone. And the songs sound a bit dated today next to all the wub wub wub of EDM and Dubstep. But that's a good thing. Huey Lewis and The News were never hip. (Remember "Hip To Be Square"?) but they were a great American rock band. And "Sports" remains an important rock record. Even thought it's old. Like me. And that's The Bitter Truth.
This LP had no less than 5 hits on it "Heart Of Rock N Roll", "I Want A New Drug", "Heart & Soul", "Bad Is Bad" and "If This Is It." The songs were catchy and anyone could sound good singing along to them, regardless of musical talent. (Hootie and The Blowfish used that trick in the 90s.) Huey Lewis and his band of un-rock looking white dudes ruled the charts and were on top of the world. Now it's 30 years later. The album has been re-released with a bunch of bonus tracks (mostly live takes on the hits) and that makes me official old. That and the fact that I have to dye my gray hair. Once very 6 weeks or so. Hell even my chest hair is now going gray! Do they make a dye for that? Since I don't ever appear shirtless (See Abercrombie & Fat Post) I guess I shouldn't care.
Thirty years have passed since I took that bike ride from the mall to my grandparents house. Lots has changed. My grandparents have both died. As have some of my childhood friends. The Harbor Mall is still there but the record store is long gone. They do have a Wall-Mart though. Progress? Maybe not. They say vinyl is making a comeback but not on the level it once sold. Kids don't care about Album artwork and production credits. And they don't care about "Sports."
Huey Lewis and The News still tour and release records. Although the band is mostly non original members. Apart form Huey (who was great on "Hot In Cleveland" and the nerdy sax guy I believe the rest of the band is new. The creepy bass player is long gone. And the songs sound a bit dated today next to all the wub wub wub of EDM and Dubstep. But that's a good thing. Huey Lewis and The News were never hip. (Remember "Hip To Be Square"?) but they were a great American rock band. And "Sports" remains an important rock record. Even thought it's old. Like me. And that's The Bitter Truth.
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