This is it — the Holy Grail of ‘80s music finally makes its appearance at Bottom Feeders. Enjoy another week of artists whose names begin with the letter M, as we continue looking at the bottom three-fifths of the Billboard Hot 100 chart during the Reagan years.
Peter McIan
“Solitaire” — 1980, #52 (download)
This is Peter McIan’s only hit song, off his album Playing Near the Edge. He’s better known as a producer for bands like Mr. Mister and Men at Work and has written a couple books about home recording.
Don McLean
“It’s Just the Sun” — 1981, #83 (download)
This was the last of three singles from McLean’s 1978 album Chain Lightning. The album actually wasn’t released in the U.S. until 1981 after it had experienced some success oversees. Oh, and I hate “American Pie.” Just had to mention that.
Gerard McMahon
“Count on Me” — 1983, #85 (download)
This was the only charting single from McMahon, off his excellent album No Looking Back. A few weeks ago we had the king of soundtracks, Kenny Loggins. This guy has to be the lost, long-distance fifth cousin of Loggins. He didn’t have any hits from soundtracks, but actually enjoyed making music for movies more than making full albums. He wrote and/or performed songs for Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Spring Break, All the Right Moves, and many more movies and TV shows throughout the years. His most well-known song, though, is probably “Cry Little Sister,” from The Lost Boys (where he’s credited as “Gerard McMann”).
Larry John McNally
“Just Like Paradise” — 1981, #86 (download)
This was Larry John McNally’s only charting single, the first song off his debut album. I think he’s more of a songwriter than a performer anyway, having written songs for artists like Rod Stewart and Bonnie Raitt. His crowning moment, though, has to be when Bruce Willis covered his song “Lose Myself” on the Return of Bruno album (1987). What a proud day that had to be.
