During the early '80s it was difficult for pop listeners to escape the soft rock ballads of the Australian duo Air Supply, as the pair of Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock racked up seven straight Top 5 pop hits and added one more before petering out by the mid-'80s. Critics, hipsters and rock music fans never gave the duo much attention that wasnt negative, but there was clearly an audience for Air Supplys theatrical love songs. Heres a look at some of the best of these ballads.
As a lifelong fan of hard rock (and, most recently, a full-tilt punk rock convert), I know Im not supposed to love this song with fierce devotion, but dammit, I just cant help it. Actually, the reasons why this is Air Supplys best song and one of the best of the '80s are many, but the main thing, I think, is the balance provided by shared lead vocals between Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock. Russells acoustic guitar and folky vocal style serve as the perfect foil for Hitchcocks squeaky-clean, cloying tenor, and as a result the song itself is able to shine through as the pop masterpiece it is.
Many of the principles above apply here as well, as Russells gentle acoustic guitar again sets the stage for a love song but tones things down enough so that Hitchcocks sappy arrival doesnt push things completely over the line. Both of these tunes apply ample orchestration and sweet backing harmonies, but in both cases the flawless song structures carry the day. Ultimately, Russell is a gifted songwriter, and even if his lyrics display extreme earnestness, he has a deft enough touch to prevent engagement of the gag reflex. As listeners would come to learn, thats Hitchcocks department.
Although my primary memory of this song seems to revolve around early-'80s forced trips to the shoe store or discount store with my mom, its still an undeniably catchy, successfully melancholy take on romance. Perhaps it feels so sappy because Hitchcock takes over lead vocals completely, but it definitely seems to be a decline from the first two worthy selections on this list. Of course, music buyers must not have agreed with that assessment, helping the song to become the duos only No. 1 hit on the Billboard pop charts in 1981.
This is Air Supplys lone stab at a power ballad, soaring in on a sweeping chorus and bolstered by twin-guitar fills, of all things. The tune may also be the duos least over-the-top and most straightforward offering, which is a credit to Russells firm songwriting sense and a reduction in heavy orchestration. Were still in the midst of a sweet love song here (is Air Supply capable of anything else?), but at least the boys can be credited for leaving the word love out of the title, a bold move indeed.
I suppose it can never be said with a straight face that Air Supply ever possessed much of an edge musically or lyrically, but if the duo ever did, any semblance of it was long gone by 1982. Of course, it didnt help that at this point the pair began to rely upon outside songwriters, despite Russells proven pedigree for pumping out hits. Its no surprise that as Air Supplys sound became ever more teeth-gratingly easy listening that Hitchcock would be the focal point vocally. Even so, the duos heavy orchestration reached a new level here, making some music fans reach for the snooze button.
Its outside professional songwriting again for this 1983 hit, but at least its difficult for over-the-top love songs to fail when they come from the pen of former Meat Loaf collaborator Jim Steinman, the composer of the sublime classic Total Eclipse of the Heart. His effort here certainly resembles that smash hit from the same year, mostly through the undeniable style of Steinmans flashy balladry. Hitchcocks vocals are appropriate enough, I suppose, but it is hard to take him seriously when he claims an ability to make all the stadiums rock. Nonetheless, a solid ballad.