How Ray Parker Jr. Got Cheated Out of a Grammy for a No. 1 Hit

They were in different years. Endless Love was #1 for 9 weeks in 1981, and Every Breath You Take was no. 1 for 8 weeks.

Even though EL was #2 for the year(behind Betty Davis Eyes) and EBYT was #1 in 1983 on the Billboard chart, on the Cash Box chart, EL was #1, and EBYT was #2. (Behind Flashdance... What a Feeling).

For the entire 80s, EL was #3, and EBYT was #5. For 1958-2018, EL was #18 and EBYT was #31.

Lest you think I'm unfair, I love the Police.

61 posted on 09/10/2020 9:38:16 PM PDT by nickcarraway

To: greenishness

Did you notice that's a sequel or answer to his earlier song, Jack and Jill? He even brings up Jack and Jill in this one. Adultery seems to be a them in his songs. (See: The Other Woman)

62 posted on 09/10/2020 9:43:39 PM PDT by nickcarraway

To: nickcarraway

Lest you think I'm unfair, I love the Police.

Not unfair, and I didn't say you were wrong, only that it was arguable. I didn't know Cashbox was still a force into the '80s. I thought they tracked jukebox sales or something.

Because Billboard uses multiple parameters, they can be weasels (can't they all?). I talked to someone at the GA Republican Convention who worked at Billboard. He confirmed my suspicions that the numbers can be massaged. So, when a record was released by someone whom I forget, called "18 with a Bullet", sure enough it moved quickly up the charts, to #18. This allowed Casey Kasem to state "18 With a Bullet" moving up 13 notches to "#18 with a Bullet". The fellow confirmed that was certainly done on purpose.

My only touch with the industry was my successful "Long Distance Dedication", in early April, 1983. I tried to see if I could get a song that barely made the Top 40. Elton John's "Don't You Want to Play This Game No More (Sartorial Eloquence)" made it to #39, and no higher, and Casey played it for me on behalf of some waitresses at a chain pizza place in my hometown. I am confident that no one ever got a lower charting record on the show, as most were at least Top 10.

63 posted on 09/10/2020 11:06:48 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana (There is no salvation in politics)

To: nickcarraway

FREEPERS sound like libs

Blame the white guy

Better yet blame Led Zepplin

64 posted on 09/11/2020 9:08:38 AM PDT by wardaddy (I applaud Jim Robinson for his comments on the Southern Monuments decision ...thank you run the tra)

To: nickcarraway

I don’t get how that is a disco song.

It isn’t, of course, but a lot of people lump disco, R&B, and danceable 70’s pop together mostly because they don’t appreciate the differences.

65 posted on 07/01/2022 9:59:23 PM PDT by fidelis (Ecce Crucem Domini! Fugite partes adversaet! Vicit Leo de tribu Juda, Radix David! Alleluia! )

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794