Songoftheday 7/8/13 - I got your letter, I felt so scared to pick up the paper knife and read within..

Wang Chung - "Don't Let Go"
from the album Points On The Curve (1984)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #38 (two weeks)
Weeks in the Top-40: 3

Today's Song of the Day is by English new-wave band Wang Chung, who came together at the beginning of the 80s (spelled Huang Chung initially), and after trudging along and reducing to a trio led by singer/guitarist Jack Hues (a pun-filled moniker as well). Looking like a Sting cover band, Jack and bassist Nick Feldman and drummer Darren Costin released their debut big-label album in 1983 in Britain, a year later in the US. The first American single would be the minor-key synth-rock of "Don't Let Go", written by Hues and Feldman and produced by Ross Cullum (Adam & The Ants) and Chris Hughes (Tears for Fears)...

At the time for the life of me I couldn't tell what the background vocals were saying...

"Don't Let Go" became Wang Chung's first top-40 hit in the US in March of 1984, and as a double-A side with follow-up "Dance Hall Days", would top the dance chart in Billboard magazine. On rock radio, it was aminor success, reaching #49 . As the third single from the album in Britain, it was a minor hit, peaking at #81, while in Canada, it did better, topping off at #26.

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...and here's the chart-topping dance remix...

Up tomorrow: a British comedian gets a big hit with a retro number with a big cameo.