Blue Rue is an album by singer/songwriter Gerard McMahon and Kid Lightning. It was released on the ARC/Columbia label in January 1981 as NJC 36986 (LP) and NCT 36986 (cassette).Billboard 1981-01-24, p. 53 It was distributed internationally by CBS as catalog no. 84880 (LP).
Background In 1978 McMahon was chosen by Jerry Bruckheimer to provide the original songs (not the score) for the movie Defiance and when the movie was in post-production there was speculation that the project had potential for a soundtrack album.Billboard 1979-03-03, p. 19 When the movie premiered in February 1980 – its release was delayed to avoid possible competition with The WarriorsThe Tampa Tribune of Tampa, Florida 1980-02-01, section H p. 1 – the poster and some ads had the text “Original songs by Gerard McMahon”.Newsday of Melville, New York 1980-03-14, section II p. 4 One of the songs McMahon wrote for the movie, “Bad Times”, was recorded by Tavares and became a minor hit peaking at number 47 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 64 on Cashbox Top 100 Singles in late February, 1980,Billboard 1980-02-16, p. 94Cashbox 1980-02-23, p. 4 and managed a peak of number 61 on the Record World Singles chart in early March.Record World 1980-03-01, p. 25 McMahon also managed to get the song “Is That You” recorded by Kiss for their 1980 album Unmasked. These relative successes led to a publishing deal with the newly formed Amazin’ Music run by former Billy Joel manager Irwin Mazur and, shortly thereafter, a record deal with ARC.Billboard 1980-07-05, p. 27
Reception Critical reception of the album was varied. Some saw “the most intense, exceptional album of mainstream rock of the year”, one which contained “a hot string of hits”,The Post Star of Glen Falls, New York 1981-03-14, Featurama section p. 5 and featured the “mostt [sic.] ambitious writing heard this year from anybody”.The Muncie Star of Muncie, Indiana 1981-05-17, section B p. 9 Others called it “a blustering, hollow debut […] a formula effort that fails to find the spark to catch fire”,Argus Leader of Sioux Falls, South Dakota 1981-03-19, p. B-1 and a syndicated review from Rolling Stone claimed that the album showcased an “utter lack of emotion”.The Record of Hackensack, New Jersey 1981-04-14, p. A-17 Most reviewers mentioned a stylistic debt to Bruce Springsteen and/or Tom Petty.Daily News of New York, New York 1981-04-20, p. 41Dayton Daily News of Dayton, Ohio 1981-05-17, Leisure section p. 27 Both Billboard and Cashbox noted that the material on the album should be accessible to both Top 40 and AOR radio formats,Billboard 81-01-31, p. 62Cashbox 81-01-31, p. 11 and critic Robert Hilburn included the album track “Town Girls” on his Alternative Top 10.The Los Angeles Times of Los Angeles, California 1981-04-26, Calendar section p. 58 Despite this the album managed only minor airplayCashbox 1981-02-21, p. 20Record World 1981-02-28, p. 28Billboard 1981-03-07, p. 28Radio & Records 1981-03-13, p. 46 and several radio appearances in early April, 1981, failed to improve that.Radio & Records 1981-04-03, p. 42Radio & Records 1981-04-10, p. 40 The album failed to chart on the Billboard Top 200.
Track listing
"Taxi (Nightdriver)" "Night Woman" "Gone Tomorrow" "Town Girls" "All I Really Need" "You Know Me Better Than I Do" "Run Into Your Shadow" "One More Goodbye" "Blind Love" "What've You Gotta Lose"
Personnel Gerard McMahon – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards Gary Mallaber – drums, percussion, backing vocals John Massaro – guitar, keyboards, harmonica, backing vocals Al Campbell – keyboards, synthesizer Steve Sykes – lead guitar, guitar synthesizer Kenny Lewis – bass, backing vocals
Production Producer – Gerard McMahon, Kid Lightning Chief Engineer – Joel Soifer Engineer – Bob Deeb
References