On this day in music history: March 31, 1984 - Footloose by Kenny Loggins hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 3 weeks. Written by Kenny Loggins and Dean Pitchford, it is the first chart topping single for the singer, songwriter and musician from Everett, WA. The idea for what will become the hit film and song Footloose will come Dean Pitchford, the Academy Award winning songwriter for title song to the 1980 film Fame. Pitchford will write the screenplay about a small rural town where dancing and rock music are banned by the local townspeople. Pitchford will contact his friend, musician Kenny Loggins about collaborating on some songs for the project. Though Loggins is initially skeptical about the film getting off of the ground, hell sign on anyway. Loggins and Pitchford will write the songs Footloose and Im Free (Heaven Help The Man) together over a four day period while Loggins is recovering from an accident having fallen off of a stage, breaking several ribs, and while Pitchford is ill with strep throat. The track features musicians such as Nathan East (bass), Tris Imboden (drums), Paulinho da Costa (percussion), Buzz Feiten (guitar), Michael Boddicker (synthesizer bass & percussion), Neil Larsen and Steve Wood (keyboards). Issued as the first single from the Footloose - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack in January of 1984, it will be an immediate hit. Entering the Hot 100 at #56 on January 28, 1984, it will climb to the top of the chart nine weeks later. Loggins and Pitchford will receive an Academy Award nomination for Footloose in 1985, but will lose to Stevie Wonders I Just Called To Say I Love You. The songs popularity will endure over the years, becoming one of the most popular and closely associated with the pop culture of the 1980s. Footloose is certified Platinum in the US by the RIAA.
Posted on: Tue, 01 Apr 2014 00:05:13 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015