The self-titled debut album from Huey Lewis and the News drew little attention when it was released in 1980. But lack of interest and poor sales did not kill the San Francisco Bay area’s band will to keep on keeping on.
Remaining active on the live circuit, Huey Lewis and the News honed their craft and vision to radio-ready perfection when the time arrived to prepare their second album, Picture This for Chrysalis Records.
With Lewis on lead vocals and harmonica, the other members of the band included lead guitarist Chris Hayes, rhythm guitarist and saxophonist Johnny Colla, bassist Mario Cipollina, keyboardist Sean Hopper and drummer Bill Gibson. As a perk, Tower of Power was brought on board for the Picture This sessions.
The rootsy soulful tenor of Lewis, matched by the band’s energetic and emphatic execution, formulated a universally appealing sound crossing basic rock ‘n’ roll instincts with ginormous pop hooks.
Picture This produced a trio of hit singles, beginning with the harmony-laden “Do You Believe In Love,” which reached No. 7 in the spring of 1982. Comprised of a strolling beat and whistle-worthy melodies, “Hope You Love Me Like You Say You Do” peaked at No. 36 that summer, trailed by the frenzied-footed blue collar commentary of “Workin’ For a Livin'” that was streaked with wild harmonica trills and grasped the No. 41 spot on the charts.
A bright and meaty arrangement anchors “Change of Heart,” and the moody “Telling Me Lies” is dotted with stuttering reggae rhythms. A rather dark tone envelopes “The Only One,” which fires off a round of wicked guitar moves, and last but certainly not least, there’s a cool cover of the jumping-and-jiving big band swing of “Buzz Buzz Buzz,” which the Hollywood Flames scored a hit with in 1958.
Flawless by any standards, Picture This simply foreshadowed the mega-success that Huey Lewis and the News would experience. Chalking up hit after hit, the band become one of the biggest acts of the ’80s and early ’90s.
Not bowing to fads, Huey Lewis and the News continued to make the kind of music that motivated them to do what they did in the first place, proving there will always be a hunger for traditional rock ‘n’ roll.
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