Music

Average customer rating:

Supergroup, respectable album
more country-rock gone soft
Prelude to Demise
Sounds like a combination of Poco and Loggins and Messina
Skip the first two songs and you've got a Perfect Album

Trouble in Paradise
Shf Band
Manufacturer: Wounded Bird Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Souther Hillman Furay Band
Home By Dawn
Black Rose
John David Souther
You're Only Lonely

ASIN: B000068TKS
Release Date: 2002-06-18

Tracks:

Trouble In Paradise
Move Me Real Show
For Someone I Love
Mexico
Love And Satisfy
On The Line
Prisoner In Disguise
Follow Me Through
Somebody Must Be Wrong

Album Description

The Souther, Hillman, Furay Band was one of those supergroup creations of the 70's. Chris Hillman was an original member of The Byrds, Richie Furay was one of the founders of Poco and J.D. Souther worked with Glen Frey of the Eagles. In 1974 they formed this unique group and recorded two albums. Trouble In Paradise rose to # 39 and is making its worldwide CD debut. Wounded Bird Records. 2002.

Customer Reviews:

Supergroup, respectable album.......2007-07-02

I discovered Richie Furay and J.D. Souther purely by accident. I found the original S-H-F Band self-titled debut album in a bargin bin somewhere around 1979. I was familar with J.D.'s association with the Eagles but I had no idea who Richie and Chris Hillman were. After I threw down my $1, I've seeked out every recording from J.D. & Richie(sorry Chris) ever since. After reading the reviews here I felt compelled to respond.

I found this album to be more enjoyable than the first album. I thought the debut lacked direction and proved to be a bit uneven. But 'Trouble in Paradise' sounded more slick with good pop sensibilities. Now normally that would be considered an insult but after the spotty affair of the first album this was a welcome change. Yes this is in the same vain as Loggins & Messina/Poco/Eagles/Jackson Browne. But you can't dismiss the vocal and songwriting capabilities of J.D. Souther & Richie Furay. Thirty-two years later Richie's voice is still unwavering (check out 'The Heartbeat of Love'). I wish I could say the same about J.D. but we may never know since he hasn't recorded anything in 25 years.

If your considering this CD and have not purchased anything from Richie or J.D. start with their solo material(Richie: Heartbeat of Love, J.D: Home by Dawn or You're Only Lonely)and then revisit this.

more country-rock gone soft.......2006-06-04

Finding this album in store without having to order it online was a real treat and despite unenthusiastic reviews of it, I snatched it because it was available. I should have held out for SHF's first album, which is said to be better. JD Souther, Chris Hillman, and Richie Furay should have been the ultimate country-rock superstar band when put together, but this album does not demonstrate anything to that end. The vocal harmonies are as good as one would expect and the musicianship is proficient, but by 1975, the songs have lapsed into '70s California soft-rock lethargy. Certainly, such easy-listening music has its purpose, and I continue to listen to the record for purposes of chilling out, but it has none of the fire of the bands associated with S, H, and F: the Eagles, Flying Burrito Brothers, and Poco. The only song that recalls any of the members' country-rock backgrounds is "Prisoner In Disguise", a laid-back but soulful song with just the right touches of steel guitar, piano, and soaring vocal harmonies. On the title track, a poppy, jazzy number, the band seriously sounds like it's boring itself to sleep. If you're a big fan of any of the three stars, this affords one more opportunity to enjoy their work, especially that of Richie Furay, whose wonderfully twangy country vocals grace the front of just two tracks that aren't even country songs: "For Someone I Love" and "On the Line". One more notable song is "Mexico", a somewhat different song, with an agreeably warm south-of-the-border sound and vocals from JD Souther that are easy on the ears. Otherwise, though I can't yet speak for it, you might better spend your time and money on SHF's first album. See also my review of the "20th Century Masters" compilation of Poco songs.

Prelude to Demise.......2006-04-19

This second, and final, LP by the SHF Band reminds me of Buffalo Springfield's "Last Time Around"...it was good album, but you could almost feel it consisted of separate efforts by each band member, compiled together on one disc. Richie Furay's tunes clearly showed his leanings to Christianity, though they were well done; but only having 2 songs on the album spoke volumes of his interest and/or involvement. Souther, who made no effort to keep the group together, included a previously released song (Prisoner In Disguise) and uses the principals of the Eagles as background singers instead of Hillman and Furay on supporting vocals. Hillman's work stands out the best from my perspective, even though he has one less tune than Souther. The group also misses the work of drummer extraordinaire Jim Gordon, who was replaced after the first SHF album by Ron Grinel (Gordon eventually had some serious legal problems). Terrific sidemen Al Perkins and Paul Harris return, and the album is an easy listen--- great harmonies, country-rock beat and each tune was thematic in its own way. Still,it was clear this LP was the swan song for the group, which had failed to tour much to support its first album, due to an injury to Furay's hand. Furay and Hillman were much more compatible as bandmates, and Hillman has been quoted as saying he got tired of being the middle man between the exuberant goodness of Furay and the brooding, more moody Souther. Lost in the translation of all this was the potential for a great band, if not the supergroup that David Geffen had envisioned in the first place. By the time his hand healed, Furay was focusing on his family, personal life and his commitment to Christianity, and Hillman correctly surmised there was no way to effectively tour without him. All three---Souther, Hillman and Furay, released solo projects for Asylum with little fanfare and monetary success after the band broke up. Look for Souther's "Black Rose", Hillman's "Clear Sailin'" and "Slippin' Away" (what's in a title?) and Furay's triumvirate, "Richie Furay Band", "Dance A Little Light" and his best Asylum work, "I Still have Dreams". All were great in certain aspects, but Furay and Hillman's LPs were supported strongly by former bandmates from their past, somehow giving them more credibility than Souther, who continued to play his Eagle connection a bit too much.

Sounds like a combination of Poco and Loggins and Messina.......2006-01-05

This is a rather short CD, but isn't bad overall. The music sounds like a combination of Poco and Loggins and Messina. The first 2 songs sound especially like L & M. Of course, they would naturally sound somewhat like Poco because this is where Richie Furay came from. If you like pop/rock/country from the 70's you will enjoy this one!

Skip the first two songs and you've got a Perfect Album.......2005-06-29

Considering all the resurgence of attention paid to The Flying Burrito Brothers & Gram Parsons these days some 30 years after they made their 4 or 5 original albums, it's only appropriate that country-rock fans should also use amazon.com to link to the Souther-Hillman-Furay band, forgotten now but well worth the time to re-discover.

Their second outing, "Trouble in Paradise," is really nothing less than a flat-out 1970s country-rock classic if you just skip the first two mediocre tracks. Why they would open their album with the 2 weakest tracks is anybody's guess since most people would not even have the patience to listen beyond it. However if they did they would discover gems, 7 of them, back to back. Not every song is meant to be a hit, some are more meditative and build up their vibe slowly. However, "Mexico" "For Someone I Love" "On The Line" & "Prisoner in Disguise" could have been gigantic hits if given a little bit better production and frequent radio play or if a more widely known band like the Eagles happened to perform them. In their original versions sung by Souther & Furay, these songs are easily as soulful as anything the Eagles could have done with them in their prime.

These songs are the fruits of an easy-going laid-back, totally open-minded but still culturally American way of life, part-hippie, part-cowboy, part-adventurer, part-gentleman. There is subtle philosophy in this album happening all the time just like it did on the early Poco albums. These guys do have ideals they won't sell-out and so did the Eagles in the mid-'70s. Yeah, go ahead and laugh if you want but it's true, the Eagles "Hotel California" or Boston's first album, no matter how commerical they sound, how many million times they got played on AOR radio, do not have one ounce of compromise for the sake of popularity in them. Their highest expression of what they liked at the time just happened to be exactly what their audience liked best.

Conclusion: If you like the Flying Burrito Bros., Buffalo Springfield, Poco & the Eagles or authentic 1970s Country-Rock sounds in general, here's another classic you can add to your collection. Just skip the first two tracks and enter the perfect time warp for another one of those never-to-be-duplicated bygone-era mid '70s So-Cal sound country-rock albums. Because of the enormous success of the Eagles & the overplaying of their music to death, any style of music associated with them may not be hip to listen to anymore but it remains great, it's got quality, soul & class most of the newer artists of today only wish they had. And let's face it, if the Eagles hadn't hit the big time like they did, they would be being re-discovered now just like Parsons/Burrito Bros/Souther Hillman Furay BAnd. When you keep repeating these tracks over & over again because you can't get enough of them, don't say I didn't warn you!

Average customer rating:

Great, obscure old Berlin!

Watch Your Step
Cast Recording
Manufacturer: Original Cast Record
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005QZM9
Release Date: 2002-03-12

Tracks:

Overture
Watch Your Step
What Is Love
Let's Go Round The Town
Come To The Land Of The Argentine
I Gotta Go Back To Texas
Bird Of Paradise
Lock Me In Your Harem
They Follow Me Around
I Love To Have The Boys Around Me
When I Discovered You
Show Us How To Do The Fox Trot
I'm A Dancing Teacher Now
Syncopated Walk
Lead Me To Love
I Hate You
Metropolitan Nights
Opera Medley
Homeward Bound
Move Over
Settle Down In A One Horse Town
Simple Melody - Old Fashioned Wedding - Your Just In Love
Encore - Simple Melody
Bonus Track

Customer Reviews:

Great, obscure old Berlin!.......2002-08-07

As a cast member on this album, I'm a little bit biased, but it's this is really a chance to get a listen to some really fabulous Berlin. This is Berlin's first Broadway show and has some great gems like "Have the Boys Around Me" and a bunch of great catchy tunes. It's a wide mix of Berlin and if you're a big fan, it's a great chance to hear him in still somewhat developmental stages. A couple songs from this show were later re-worked and put into other shows. It's also has a great feel for the period and shows the influences around the time he was writing: opera (Opera Melody), cowboys (I Gotta Go Back to Texas) and Hawaii (Honolulu Girls). It's a keeper!

Also on this CD is a great tribute to Berlin's counterpoint tunes. It's a mix of all three of the greats: Simple Melody, Old Fashioned Wedding, and Just in Love. Sung individually and then all three together! You won't get that anywhere else.

Average customer rating:

Ultimate Irving Berlin, Vol. 1
Irving Berlin
Manufacturer: Pearl
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005RKQR
Release Date: 2002-02-26

Tracks:

The Jolly Bachelors: That Beautiful Rag
Ziegfeld Follies Of 1911: Woodman, Spare That Tree
Everybody's Doing It: Everybody's Doing It Now
Hullo Ragtime: Hitchy Koo
Hullo Ragtime: Snooky Ookums
Hullo Ragtime: Alexander's Ragtime Band
Watch Your Step: I've Gotta Go Back To Texas
Watch Your Step: Settle Down In A One-Horse Town
Watch Your Step: The Syncopated Walk
Watch Your Step: My Bird Of Paradise
Watch Your Step: Show Us How To Do The Fox Trot
Watch Your Step: The Simple Melody
Watch Your Step: The Always Follow Me Around
Watch Your Step: Discoveries
Watch Your Step: The Minstrel Parade
Stop! Look! Listen! (Follow The Crowd): Beautiful Honolulu
Stop! Look! Listen! (Follow The Crowd): England Every Time For Me
Stop! Look! Listen! (Follow The Crowd): Teach Me To Love
Stop! Look! Listen! (Follow The Crowd): I Love To Dance
Stop! Look! Listen! (Follow The Crowd): The Girl On The Magazine
Stop! Look! Listen! (Follow The Crowd): I Love A Piano
Stop! Look! Listen! (Follow The Crowd): Until I Fell In Love With You
Stop! Look! Listen! (Follow The Crowd): Father Wanted Me To Learn A Trade
Stop! Look! Listen! (Follow The Crowd): Take Off A Little Bit

Average customer rating:

Bird of Paradise
Snowy White
Manufacturer: Smith & Co
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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White Flames
Snowy White

ASIN: B0000CG44S
Release Date: 2003-09-11

Tracks:

Bird of Paradise
Lucky Star
Journey
It's No Secret
Open Carefully
Lucky I've Got You
At the Crossroads
Answer
Don't Turn Back

Album Description

Subtitled - Snowy White An Anthology. 2003 compilation for the British-born blues/rock guitarist features 32 tracks recorded between 1983 & 1999. Smith & Co. 2003.

Album Details

32 Track Double CD Anthology of One of the Great Unsung Guitar Heroes of British Rock Music. This Multi-talented Songwriter and Musician Worked with Pink Floyd, Peter Green, Thin Lizzy and Roger Waters Before Launching a Solo Career with his Debut Album "White Flames" in 1983. Mixing Blues Rock Compositions with Pop-based Tracks, the Album Spawned a UK Top 10 Hit, "Bird of Paradise', Sounding Uncannily Like Peter Green, Both in Voice and Guitar Tone. Although White Continued to Issue Similarly Styled Solo Outings During the Next Few Years, Further Hit Singles Proved Elusive and He Formed a Strictly Blues-based Outfit, the Blues Agency. Afterwards, White Recruited Walter Latupeirissa (Bass) and Juan Van Emmerloot (Drums) to Form Another New Group, Snowy White and the White Flames, which Toured and Issued Albums on a Regular Basis Throughout the '90s.

Average customer rating:

superb
Undeniably Delightful Djavan
Djavan is DaMan
beautiful
Typically Djavan

Bird of Paradise
Djavan
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Brazil | South & Central America | International | Styles | Music

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Samba | Latin Music | International | Styles | Music

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Lilas

ASIN: B0000026K4
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Carnaval In Rio (Carnaval No Rio)
Bird Of Paradise
Apple (Maca)
Real
Madness (Doidice)
Stephen's Kingdom
Bouquet
Take Me (Me Leve)
I Will, I Won't (Dou-Nao-Dou)
Miss Susanna

Customer Reviews:

superb.......2006-03-23

Djavan is an exceptional artist. I have read reviews of his work....some classify his work as jazz...I do not have the knowledge to classify...all I can say is "excellent".

I like to listen to good music, and good transcends classifications. This CD did.

Oh, and I should say that I heard it before I bought it, and then bought it for myself and as a gift for a friend.

So...If I bought two copies, obviously I liked it. Sorry to all who read this review...I'm not an expert, I just loved this CD Oh, and I edited this review a bit....the dvd "Au Vivo" (hope I spelled it right) is wonderful, literally......Chris

Undeniably Delightful Djavan.......2005-10-26

I have been looking for this disc while in Brazil and in the United States. My persistence paid off, as this recording was worth the wait. I have played the entire disc several times each day, but my favorites are 1. Carnival in Rio; 2. Bird of Paradise; and 3. Miss Susanna. Each time I listen to this disc, I am taken back to the land of sand and samba-my beautiful Brazil. Bravo, Djavan, for taking me there!

Djavan is DaMan.......2004-07-24

I discovered Djavan's enticing & entransing music while listening to Jazz living & growing up in Southern Calif. & attending college. This CD is definitely a smart choice for lovers of Brazilian music & world jazz. Djavan is a perfect diamond found among a region of lush beauty & mystery. Tania Maria is another favorite, but let's not get me started going on about her too. I hope you'll be as extremely satisfied with Bird of Paradise as I was when I bought it years ago. I also recommend 'A Twist of Jobime' from the Verve label - they've done a wonderful job there too. Enjoy & Ciao!

beautiful.......2000-02-24

Ah, the music of Brazil! I can't imagine anyone finding this review who isn't in on the secret. This is a fine album, just as the other reviewers said. Also try Ivan Lins or Rosa Passos (if you're lucky enough to find her.)Another great album is Kenny Rankin's Brazilian CD entitled Here In My Heart.

Typically Djavan.......2000-01-30

If anyone wants to get to know Djavan and his music this is the album to get, I got mine almost 10 years back and when I still listen to this album today it is still as refreshing as when I had first bought it. Other recommended albums include 'Malasia', 'Novena', 'Coisa de Acender', 'Bicho Solto XIII'.

Average customer rating:

Along the Road of Dreams

Manufacturer: Asv Living Era
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Music of Sigmund Romberg
Love Walked In

ASIN: B000058TI2
Release Date: 2001-02-27

Tracks:

The Vagabond King: Only A Rose - Webster Booth/Anne Ziegler
Along The Road Of Dreams - Webster Booth
Heavenly Night - Webster Booth
The Maid Of The Mountains: A Paradise For Two - Webster Booth/Anne Ziegler
In Old Madrid - Webster Booth
A Brown Bird Singing - Webster Booth
The Bing Boys Are Here: If You Were The Only Girl In The World - Webster Booth/Anne Ziegler
Pale Moon - Webster Booth
Robber Symphony: Serenata - Webster Booth
The Second Minuet - Webster Booth/Anne Ziegler
Strange Harmony Of Contrasts (Recondita Armonia) - Webster Booth
Love's Old Sweet Song - Webster Booth/Anne Ziegler
Merrie England: The English Rose - Webster Booth
Ideale (My Life's Ideal) - Webster Booth
Bitter Sweet: I'll See You Again - Webster Booth/Anne Ziegler
Indian Summer - Webster Booth
The Geisha: Star Of My Soul - Webster Booth/Anne Ziegler
The New Moon: Lover, Come Back To Me - Webster Booth
Song Of Songs - Webster Booth
Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes - Webster Booth
Naughty Marietta: Ah, Sweet Mystery Of Life - Webster Booth/Anne Ziegler
The Bells Of St. Mary's - Webster Booth
Break Of Day - Webster Booth
Perchance To Dream: We'll Gather Lilacs - Webster Booth/Anne Ziegler

Average customer rating:

Hallelujah Train
Mr. B & Bird Of Paradise Orchestra
Manufacturer: Schoolkids Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Blues | Styles | Music

Piano | Blues | Styles | Music

Boogie-Woogie | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0000012R7
Release Date: 1995-09-19

Tracks:

Hallelujah Train [Live]
Brauny [Live]
One Room Country Shack [Live]
My Sunday Best [Live]
Little Brother [Live]
Down the Road Apiece [Live]
Mardi Gras in New Orleans [Live]
Air Mail Special [Live]
Bailarina [Live]
Deep Excavation [Live]
B's Boogie Woogie

Average customer rating:

Orchestral Gems: Visions of England

Manufacturer: Metronome
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00008HAUI
Release Date: 2002-01-01

Tracks:

Popular Song (Facade Suite) - London Philharmonic Orchestra
Sad Doll (Nursery Suite, No. 4) - The London Symphony Orchestra
Merry Doll (Nursery Suite, No. 6) - The London Symphony Orchestra
Runaway Rocking Horse - Queen's Hall Light Orchestra
Voice of London - Queen's Hall Light Orchestra
Street Corner - Overture - The Philharmonia Orchestra
Coronation Scot - Queen's Hall Light Orchestra
Spitfire Prelude - Halle Orchestra
Spitfire Fugue - Halle Orchestra
London Fantasia - Sidney Torch & His Orchestra
Fantasia on Greensleeves
On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
May Song - The New Symphony Orchestra of London
Barwick Green - Queen's Hall Light Orchestra
Quiet Countryside - Queen's Hall Light Orchestra
Birdsongs at Eventide - The New Symphony Orchestra of London
Pictures in the Fire - Queen's Hall Light Orchestra
Hymn-Tune Prelude (Eventide)
Walk to the Paradise Garden - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Average customer rating:

Bird of Paradise

Manufacturer: Jazz Time
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

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Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0002C7Z1S

Product Description

Track listing 1. Billie's Bounce 2. Yardbird Suite ('What Price Love') 3. Moose the Mooche ('I got Rhythm') 4. Bebop 5. Bird's Nest 6. Cheers 7. Relaxin' At Camarillo 8. Chasin' the Bird ('I Got Rhythm') 9. Bird of Paradise ('All the Things You Are') 10.My Old Flame 11.Lester Leaps In 12.Star Eyes

Average customer rating:

Songs like old friends

Paradise Bird

Manufacturer: Rock
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000BKCBW4

Product Description

A collection of covers (plus one original) by the Taiwanese singer. Tracks: Only Love, Paradise Bird, Gypsy, Graveyard Angel, Tonight, It Was Love, Islands, Joan of Arc, Broken Heroes.

Customer Reviews:

Songs like old friends.......2007-05-21

I was very surprised that no one had said anything about "Paradise Bird" by Chyi Yu here on Amazon. Maybe it was because the album was an import from Taiwan, but then, maybe it was because it first came out back in 1988. It was Chyi's third English language album. It wasn't her best, but it was good, really good.

Chyi Yu began singing commercially in the 1970s. She came up through the Taiwanese folk song movement, and her powerful, expressive voice moved her into more mainstream Chinese music. She recorded her signature song, "The Olive Tree", in 1979 and continues to sing that popular standard. Chyi sings in both English and Mandarin Chinese. She's had many hits over the years. Her younger brother, Chyi Chin, has also recorded many successful albums.

The Amazon review for "Paradise Bird" does not mention that the CD case comes with a lyric sheet booklet (in English). The review also says that there is one original song on this album. That is not the case. All of the songs are covers; however, the arrangements of these songs is fresh and personalized.

I really like the "Islands", "Graveyard Angel", "Gypsy", and title track "Paradise Bird". The rest of the songs are good ones too. I hope that you will like them too.

1. Only Love (cover. Nana Mouskouri recorded this song as a theme for a British television program in 1985. Over the next two years it went on to be a hit for Nana in English, French and Spanish. Does Chyi's arrangement of this song with the pop sensibility, lilting vocals and driving piano remind anyone else of ABBA?)
2. Paradise Bird (cover. from Amii Stewart's 1979 album of the same name. The shakuhachi flute that accents the intro and new age/jazz arrangement of this song has a nice contemporary Keiko Matsui feel.)
3. Gypsy (cover. from the 1987 album "Solitude Standing" by Suzanne Vega. This song is a testament to Chyi's ability to sing in English. She changes her diction just for this song and it's a perfect fit, even better than Suzanne's original.)
4. Graveyard Angel (cover. from Louise Tucker & Charlie Skarbek's 1982 collaboration "Midnight Blue", and based on a high octane, synth version of "Adagio in G minor". Chyi really shows her vocal range here. A soaring soprano!)
5. Tonight (cover. from Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1986 masterpiece "The Phantom of the Opera".)
6. It Was Love (cover. from the 1985 album "Time for Lovers" by Frank Duval. Chyi's arrangement of this song has an edgy Vangelis sensibility to it.)
7. Islands (cover. from Mike Oldfield's 1987 album of the same name. Oldfield's lyrics come alive through Chyi's stratospheric power and range. Absolutely blows away the original vocal effort by Bonnie Tyler.)
8. Joan of Arc (cover. among others, Judy Collins, has recorded this old Leonard Cohen song. Judy did this in her 1971 album "Living". Chyi is able to execute this song very well. Technically gifted, Chyi adds an easily accessible emotion and range to this piece that is something to hear. Unfortunately, this is a duet and the other half of the vocal team doesn't measure up to Chyi.)
9. Broken Heroes (cover. written by Chris Norman, 1988. You might remember the duet "Stumblin In" that Chris and Suzi Quatro sang which just managed to flash into the US charts in the late 70's.)

Music:

Music