Key Largo (song)

Last updated
"Key Largo"
Key Largo by Bertie Higgins US vinyl.png
Side A of US single
Single by Bertie Higgins
from the album Just Another Day in Paradise
B-side "White Line Fever"
ReleasedSeptember 1981
Recorded1981
Genre Soft rock [1]
Length3:20
3:05 (7")
Label Kat Family, Epic
Songwriter(s) Bertie Higgins, Sonny Limbo
Producer(s) Sonny Limbo, Scott MacLellan
Bertie Higgins singles chronology
"Key Largo"
(1981)
"Just Another Day in Paradise"
(1982)

"Key Largo" is the debut single by Bertie Higgins, released in September 1981. It became, in early 1982, Higgins' only top 40 hit in the United States, peaking at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The track spent 17 weeks in the top 40 and was certified gold by the RIAA. [2] In addition, "Key Largo" topped the Adult Contemporary chart for two weeks. [3] In the United Kingdom, it reached No. 60 on the UK Singles Chart.

Contents

Background and content

The song's lyrics plead with a lover to reconsider ending a romance the singer compares to that depicted by Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, the stars of the 1948 namesake film. The glamorous couple is recalled in the lyric We had it all / Just like Bogie and Bacall / Starring in our own late late show / Sailin' away to Key Largo. The lyrics also draw from the film Casablanca , in the lines "Here's looking at you, kid" and "Please say you will / Play it again". The song "Key Largo" was included on Higgins' album Just Another Day in Paradise .

In 2009, VH1 ranked "Key Largo" #75 on its program 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 80s.

Music video

A promotional music video was produced in 1982, filmed in and around Tarpon Springs, Florida and directed by David Jean Schweitzer. It begins with Bertie Higgins leaning against a pole, smoking a cigarette, reminiscing. Later, the singer is seen walking with a young woman, played by then-17-year-old Patty Wolfe. [4] The scene then cuts to the pair riding in a motorboat around Anclote Key, off Tarpon Springs. The video also shows them in a car on Fred Howard Park. The final moments depict the two walking along a beach at sunset.

Chart performance

Certifications and sales

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [15] Gold50,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)</span> 1974 single by MFSB featuring The Three Degrees

"TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" is a 1974 recording by MFSB featuring vocals by The Three Degrees. It was written by Gamble and Huff as the theme for the American musical television program Soul Train, which specialized in African American musical performers. The single was released on the Philadelphia International Records label. It was the first television theme song to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Every Little Bit Hurts</span> 1964 single written by Ed Cobb

"Every Little Bit Hurts" was originally a 1964 hit single for Motown soul singer Brenda Holloway, written by Ed Cobb.

Elbert Joseph "Bertie" Higgins is an American singer-songwriter. In 1982, Higgins had a top 40 album with Just Another Day in Paradise. It spawned the hit song "Key Largo", which referenced the Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall film of the same name and reached No. 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100, No. 1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and No. 50 on the Billboard Country chart.

<i>Just Another Day in Paradise</i> 1982 studio album by Bertie Higgins

Just Another Day in Paradise is the debut album by American singer-songwriter Bertie Higgins, released in 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You're in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)</span> 1977 single by Rod Stewart

"You're in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)" is a song written and recorded by Rod Stewart for his 1977 album Foot Loose & Fancy Free. The song became a hit, reaching the top ten of many countries, including the United States (number 4), Canada (number 2), and Australia, peaking at number 1 for one week.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sure Know Something</span> 1979 single by Kiss

"Sure Know Something" is a single by American hard rock band Kiss, released on their 1979 album Dynasty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feels Like I'm in Love</span> 1977 song by Mungo Jerry

"Feels Like I'm in Love" is a song written and recorded by Ray Dorset with his band Mungo Jerry. It was a number-one hit on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in September 1980 for Scottish singer Kelly Marie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Eyes (Elton John song)</span> 1982 single by Elton John

"Blue Eyes" is a song performed by English musician Elton John with music and lyrics written by John and Gary Osborne. It was released in 1982, as the UK lead single from John's 16th studio album, Jump Up! (1982). It was released as the album's second single in the US. It hit No. 8 in the UK; in the US, it spent three weeks at No. 10 on the Cash Box chart, went to No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100, and spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard AC chart. John performed this song often in his concerts until 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paloma Blanca</span> 1975 single by George Baker Selection

"Paloma Blanca", often called "Una Paloma Blanca", is a song written by Dutch musician George Baker and first recorded and released by his band, George Baker Selection. The single—the title track of the group's fifth album—was released in 1975 with "Dreamboat" as its B-side. The song was a hit throughout Europe, reaching No. 1 in Austria, Finland, Flanders, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland, and it also topped the charts of New Zealand and South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harden My Heart</span> 1981 single by Quarterflash

"Harden My Heart" is a song by American rock group Quarterflash, written by guitarist Marv Ross and included on the band's debut album, Quarterflash (1981). The song was originally released as a single in early 1980 by Seafood Mama, Quarterflash's predecessor band. Quarterflash's version became a top-10 hit in the United States, peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1982. The song's video features theatrics in and around an office trailer with dark corridors and swinging Metal Halide light bulbs from the ceiling before it was bulldozed and torched.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Make a Move on Me</span> 1982 single by Olivia Newton-John

"Make a Move on Me" is a song recorded by singer Olivia Newton-John for her eleventh studio album. Physical (1981). It was written by John Farrar and Tom Snow, and produced by the former. The follow-up single to the number-one hit "Physical", it was released in January 1982 and peaked at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 that April. It also became her twelfth and final single to be certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

"My Boy" is a popular song from the early 1970s. The music was composed by Jean-Pierre Bourtayre and Claude François, and the lyrics were translated from the original version "Parce que je t'aime, mon enfant" into English by Phil Coulter and Bill Martin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Heat Is On (Glenn Frey song)</span> 1984 single by Glenn Frey

"The Heat Is On" is a song written by Harold Faltermeyer and Keith Forsey, and recorded by Glenn Frey for the American film Beverly Hills Cop (1984). The song was published as a single and as the sixth track of the album Beverly Hills Cop: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1984).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Plus One</span> 1982 single by Haircut One Hundred

"Love Plus One" is a 1982 single by the British new wave band Haircut One Hundred from their debut album Pelican West. It was the band's biggest hit in their native UK, where it reached No. 3 and was certified gold by the BPI for sales in excess of 400,000 copies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Believe in You (Don Williams song)</span> 1980 single by Don Williams

"I Believe in You" is a song written by Roger Cook and Sam Hogin, and recorded by American country music artist Don Williams. It was released in August 1980 as the first single and title track from the album I Believe in You.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Other Woman (Ray Parker Jr. song)</span> 1982 title track for the eponymous album

"The Other Woman" is the title track from the album The Other Woman by Ray Parker Jr. It was his first solo hit single without his longtime group, Raydio. Released as a single in March 1982, it peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100, number two on the Hot Black Singles chart, number twenty-four on the dance chart, and number thirty-three on the Adult Contemporary chart. It also spent one week at number one in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gold (John Stewart song)</span> 1979 single by John Stewart

"Gold" is a song written and recorded by John Stewart in 1979. It was the lead single and biggest hit among three Top 40 singles released from his LP, Bombs Away Dream Babies. The song was Stewart's first US Top 40 hit, as well as his first chart single in a decade. Stevie Nicks is featured on backing vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ebony Eyes (Bob Welch song)</span> 1978 single by Bob Welch

"Ebony Eyes" is a song written and performed by Bob Welch. The song was the second single release and second hit song from his album French Kiss. Backing vocals are provided by Juice Newton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wired for Sound (song)</span> 1981 single by Cliff Richard

"Wired for Sound" is a song recorded by English singer Cliff Richard, released in 1981 as the lead single for his album of the same name. The song reached number 4 in the UK Singles Chart and was certified silver by the BPI for sales over 250,000. The song reached number 2 in Australia and South Africa, and was a hit in a number of European countries. The song was written by Alan Tarney and B.A. Robertson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love and Other Bruises</span> 1976 single by Air Supply

"Love and Other Bruises" is the debut single by English/Australian soft rock duo Air Supply, from their 1976 self-titled debut album. The song was a top ten hit in Australia, where it peaked at No. 6. The song also appeared on the duo's third album of the same name, which was their first release in the United States.

References

  1. "VH1's 40 Most Softsational Soft-Rock Songs". Stereogum . SpinMedia. May 31, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 285.
  3. Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications), page 262.
  4. "Who Say's You Can't Go Home?". Archived from the original on 2016-08-19. Retrieved 2016-08-10.
  5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 138. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  6. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Key Largo". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  7. "SA Charts 1969–March 1989" . Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  8. "Official Charts > Bertie Higgins". Official Charts Company . Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  9. Cash Box Top 100 Singles, May 1, 1982 [ dead link ]
  10. "National Top 100 Singles for 1982". Kent Music Report. January 3, 1983. Retrieved January 22, 2023 via Imgur.
  11. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 434. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  12. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2016-08-11. Retrieved 2018-01-17.
  13. "Top 100 Hits of 1982/Top 100 Songs of 1982". musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-06-20.
  14. "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 25, 1982". Archived from the original on July 11, 2018. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  15. "Platinum and Gold Singles 1982". Kent Music Report. 28 February 1983. Retrieved 10 November 2021 via Imgur.