Total Control (song)

Last updated

"Total Control"
The Motels Total Control 1979 single cover.jpg
Single by The Motels
from the album Motels
B-side "Love Don't Help"
Released1979
Recorded1979
Length3:45
Label Capitol
Songwriter(s) Martha Davis, Jeff Jourard
Producer(s) John Carter
The Motels singles chronology
"Closets and Bullets"
(1979)
"Total Control"
(1979)
"Anticipating"
(1980)

"Total Control" is a song by American new wave band the Motels. It was released in 1979 as the second single from their debut studio album Motels . The song failed to make an appearance on the US Billboard Hot 100, but reached number 9 on the Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart in December 1979. [1] It fared better in Australasia, peaking at number 7 in Australia and 11 in New Zealand. The song has been covered by American singer Tina Turner and Australian singer Missy Higgins.

Contents

Background

Speaking of the song in 2000, Davis recalled, "When I wrote this my heart had been broken. I was angry, I wrote a thrash punk rock song, [then] Jeff Jourard came along with this wonderful minimalist chord progression [and] I laid my thrash lyrics on the new progression." [2]

Critical reception

Upon its release as a single, Cash Box noted how Davis' "hauntingly plaintive vocals succeed beautifully in capturing the smoldering intensity of this L.A.-based outfit on the first single off of its self-titled debut effort". The reviewer also commented on the "lazy bass and fluid, moaning sax work [which] catch the bluesy late night feel of the cut". [3] Record World considered the song to be a "rather quirky ballad" on which Davis "gives a hauntingly vulnerable reading". [4]

Track listing

US 7" single

  1. "Total Control" - 3:45
  2. "Love Don't Help" - 1:56

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Total Control"
Chart (1979–80)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [5] 7
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [6] 11
UK Singles Chart (BMRB) [7] 106
US Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100 [1] 9

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Total Control"
Chart (1980)Position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [8] 32

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Will Survive</span> 1978 single by Gloria Gaynor

"I Will Survive" is a song by American singer Gloria Gaynor, released in October 1978 as the second single from her sixth album, Love Tracks (1978). It was written by Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris. A top-selling song, it is a popular disco anthem, as well as being certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

"Always on My Mind" is a ballad written by Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher, and Mark James, first recorded by Brenda Lee and first released by Gwen McCrae in March 1972. Lee's version was released three months later in June 1972. The song has been a crossover hit, charting in both the country and western and pop categories. Elvis Presley's recording was the first commercially successful version of the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Night Fever</span> 1978 single by the Bee Gees

"Night Fever" is a song written and performed by the Bee Gees. It first appeared on the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever on RSO Records. Producer Robert Stigwood wanted to call the film Saturday Night, but singer Robin Gibb expressed hesitation at the title. Stigwood liked the title Night Fever but was wary of marketing a movie with that name. The song bounded up the Billboard charts while the Bee Gees’ two previous hits from Saturday Night Fever soundtrack were still in the top ten. The record debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart at #76, then leaped up 44 positions to #32. It then moved: 32–17–8–5–2–1. It remained at #1 for eight weeks, and ultimately spent 13 weeks in the top 10. For the first five weeks that "Night Fever" was at #1, "Stayin' Alive" was at #2. Also, for one week in March, Bee Gees related songs held five of the top positions on the Hot 100 chart, and more impressively, four of the top five positions, with "Night Fever" at the top of the list. The B-side of "Night Fever" was a live version of "Down the Road" taken from the Bee Gees 1977 album, Here at Last... Bee Gees... Live.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Just the Way You Are (Billy Joel song)</span> 1977 single by Billy Joel

"Just the Way You Are" is a song by Billy Joel from his fifth studio album The Stranger (1977). It was released in September 1977 as the album's lead single. It became both Joel's first US Top 10 and UK Top 20 single, as well as Joel's first gold single in the US. The song also topped the Billboard Easy Listening Chart for the entire month of January 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let's Go (The Cars song)</span> 1979 single by the Cars

"Let's Go" is a song by American rock band the Cars, written by Ric Ocasek for the band's second studio album, Candy-O (1979). A new wave rock song, the song's hook was inspired by the Routers. The song's vocals are performed by bassist Benjamin Orr.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">How Am I Supposed to Live Without You</span> 1982 song written by Doug James and Michael Bolton

"How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" is a song co-written in 1982 by Doug James and Michael Bolton. The track was originally recorded by Laura Branigan in 1983, charting at number one in both the US and Canadian Adult Contemporary charts. Bolton later recorded his own version of the song that topped the US Billboard Hot 100 and became a worldwide hit.

"Don't Leave Me This Way" is a song written by Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff and Cary Gilbert. It was originally released in 1975 by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes featuring Teddy Pendergrass, an act signed to Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International label. "Don't Leave Me This Way" was subsequently covered by American singer Thelma Houston in 1976 and British duo the Communards in 1986, with both versions achieving commercial success.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ike & Tina Turner discography</span> Cataloging of published recordings by Ike & Tina Turner

This article contains information about albums and singles released by the American musical duo Ike & Tina Turner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Only the Lonely (The Motels song)</span> 1982 single by The Motels

"Only the Lonely" is a song by American new wave band The Motels. It was released in 1982 as the first single from their third studio album All Four One. Propelled by a popular music video, it debuted at number 90 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 on April 24, 1982. It would ultimately climb to number 9 on July 17 of that year where it spent four weeks in that position. On the U.S. Cash Box Top 100, it performed slightly better, peaking at number 8 for two weeks. The song is included in the 2006 video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories in the fictional power ballad radio station Emotion 98.3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cher singles discography</span>

American entertainer Cher has released 84 official singles, 23 promotional singles and appeared in 25 other songs. On the Billboard Hot 100, she has achieved: 4 number 1 singles, 12 Top 10 singles, 22 Top 40 singles and a total of 33 charted singles as a solo artist. Combined with the entries she had as part of Sonny & Cher: 5 number 1 singles, 17 Top 10 singles, 32 Top 40 hits and a total of 51 singles which charted on the Billboard Hot 100.

<i>Motels</i> (album) 1979 studio album by The Motels

Motels is the first studio album by new wave band The Motels, recorded in the spring of 1979 and released in the fall. It was produced by John Carter. It peaked at #175 on Billboard's album chart in December.

<i>Shock</i> (The Motels album) 1985 studio album by The Motels

Shock is the fifth studio album by new wave band the Motels. It was recorded during 1984 and 1985, and released in August 1985. It sold approximately 400,000 copies in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Boy in the Bubble</span> 1987 single by Paul Simon

"The Boy in the Bubble" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Paul Simon. It was the third single from his seventh studio album, Graceland (1986), released on Warner Bros. Records. Written by Simon and Forere Motloheloa, its lyrics explore starvation and terrorism, juxtaposed with wit and optimism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shame (The Motels song)</span> 1985 song by the Motels

"Shame" is a song by American new wave band The Motels, which was released in 1985 as the lead single from their fifth studio album Shock. The song was written by Martha Davis and produced by Richie Zito. "Shame" peaked at number 21 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Remember the Nights</span> 1983 song by the Motels

"Remember the Nights" is a song by American new wave band The Motels, which was released in 1983 as the second single from their fourth studio album Little Robbers. The song was written by Martha Davis and Scott Thurston, and produced by Val Garay. "Remember the Nights" peaked at number 36 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shock (The Motels song)</span> 1985 song by the Motels

"Shock" is a song by American new wave band The Motels, which was released in 1985 as the second single from their fifth studio album Shock. The song was written by Martha Davis and Scott Thurston, and produced by Richie Zito. "Shock" peaked at number 84 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danger (The Motels song)</span> 1980 song by the Motels

"Danger" is a song by American new wave band The Motels, which was released in 1980 as the second single from their second studio album Careful. The song was written by Martha Davis and Tim McGovern, and produced by Carter. "Danger" saw limited commercial success in the US, but generated more chart action in Australasia, peaking at number 88 in Australia and 30 in New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forever Mine (song)</span> 1982 song by the Motels

"Forever Mine" is a song by American new wave band The Motels, which was released in 1982 as the third single from their third studio album All Four One. The song was written by Martha Davis and produced by Val Garay. "Forever Mine" peaked at number 60 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take the L (song)</span> 1982 song by the Motels

"Take the L" is a song by American new wave band The Motels, which was released in 1982 as the second single from their third studio album All Four One. The song was written by Marty Jourard, Martha Davis and Carter, and produced by Val Garay. "Take the L" peaked at number 52 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tell It to the Moon</span> 1987 song by Martha Davis

"Tell It to the Moon" is a song by American singer-songwriter Martha Davis, which was released in 1988 as the second single from her debut solo studio album Policy. The song was written by Diane Warren and produced by Richie Zito. "Tell It to the Moon" failed to chart in the US, but peaked at number 65 on the Australian Music Report chart.

References

  1. 1 2 "Bubbling Under the Hot 100". Billboard . Vol. 91, no. 49. Billboard Publications, Inc. December 8, 1979. p. 29. ISSN   0006-2510.
  2. Martha, Davis (2000). Anthologyland (CD). The Motels. US: Oglio Records. OGL81607-2.
  3. "Reviews: Singles". Cash Box . Vol. 41, no. 26. November 10, 1979. p. 20. ISSN   0008-7289.
  4. "Single Picks". Record World . Vol. 36, no. 1686. November 10, 1979. p. 16. ISSN   0034-1622.
  5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  6. "The Motels – Total Control". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  7. Jones, Alan (February 16, 1980). "Chartfile". Record Mirror . p. 38. ISSN   0144-5804.
  8. "National Top 100 Singles for 1980". Kent Music Report. January 5, 1981. Retrieved January 17, 2022 via Imgur.