Yet another new pop song reached Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100” on March 30, 1985: “One More Night” (video up top) by English singer, drummer, songwriter (etc.) Phil Collins. It was the first US single (and second UK single) from Collins' third studio album No Jacket Required. It was his second Number One song the first was “Against All Odds”, which was the subject of Weekend Diversion: 1984, Part 5 on April 21 of last year).
Something I didn’t say about Collins last year was that I first became familiar with him when he was lead singer for English rock band Genesis. specifically their 1978 album ...And Then There Were Three.... I had that album and aslo it’s follow-up album, 1980’s Duke. As far as I can remember, I never bought another Genesis album, nor any Phil Collins album. That doesn’t necessarily mean that I actively disliked any of the music from either in those eras, thought I also didn’t necessarily like it all, either. The early-to-mid 1980s was one of the periods in which my musical tastes were changing the most, as I’ve mentioned before, and that meant that I didn’t always like bands or artists I once did. That’s just part of life, I think.
All that said, I actually kind of liked this song: It had a pleasant sound, and sometimes that’s enough. While it wasn’t a favourite song, I thought it was okay. Sometimes that’s enough for me, too.
“One More Night” reached Number 2 in Australia, Number One in Canada, Number 5 in New Zealand (Gold), Number 4 in the UK (Silver), and Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100” and their “Adult Contemporary” charts. It was also Number 4 on the Billboard “Mainstream Rock” chart. The song was certified Gold in the USA.
The album No Jacket Required reached Number One in Australia (Platinum), Canada (Diamond), New Zealand (Platinum), the UK (6x Platinum) as well as Number One on the Billboard 200” (12x Platinum).
This series will return April 13 with the next Number One from 1985.
Footnote: Back on schedule! But I still wrote this on Sunday, the day I published it, and did so only after I fixed the messed up links in Part 3. The journey continues.
Previously in the “Weekend Diversion – 1985” series:
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 1 – February 2, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 2 – February 16, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 3 – March 12, 2025
Sunday, March 30, 2025
Friday, March 28, 2025
AmeriNZ Podcast episode 418 is now available
The five most recent episodes of the podcast are listed on the sidebar on the right side of this blog.
Podcasting for 18 years
Eighteen years ago today, I posted the first episode of my AmeriNZ Podcast. Today, as is usually the case, Facebook served up a “Memory”, and one of them was a post for my 15th podcast anniversary in 2022, something that I turned into a blog post. Everything from that post is still true. However, what I haven’t made clear enough, I think, is how much Nigel was my muse—and so much more.
Nigel first encouraged me to start a blog in 2004 or 2005 (I finally did in 2006), and then he encouraged me to start a podcast (they were audio-only at the time). He then bought me all kinds of equipment—an XLR microphone, mixer, studio headphones, and gave me very useful feedback after I was on Paul Armstrong’s “ArcherRadio” podcast for the first time a couple days after I posted my first episode.
A little while later, Nigel and I were shopping for audio mixers for him (he tried several…), he got a microphone, headphones, and monitor speakers. At the time, he was interested in recording and mixing music, but the only song he actually seriously worked on was a vocal by our niece.
That, then, led to two different Internet radio shows, the first alternating with Daniel Brewer, and the second was on his own Internet radio channel. Our friend Brian (who I originally met through podcasting) also had a show on Nigel’s station. I still have recordings of some of our shows on Nigel’s channel.
Things changed, Nigel’s job got busier, we shifted to South Auckland—then it all ended when he did.
I’ve struggled with podcasting and blogging ever since, and it’s pretty common for me to think about formally quitting both. Even so, I persist for some reason—mainly because whatever appealed to me about them at the beginning is still there, though more low key than it was.
I have no idea whether I’ll attempt to continue either, let alone both, or if they might evolve. But I know for sure that Nigel would still be encouraging me to do what feels right to me, and probably quietly proud that I’m still doing what he encouraged me to do so long ago, however imperfectly I’m currently doing it.
In keeping with my tradition, I’ll post a new episode this evening my time [the episode is now uploaded].
Nigel first encouraged me to start a blog in 2004 or 2005 (I finally did in 2006), and then he encouraged me to start a podcast (they were audio-only at the time). He then bought me all kinds of equipment—an XLR microphone, mixer, studio headphones, and gave me very useful feedback after I was on Paul Armstrong’s “ArcherRadio” podcast for the first time a couple days after I posted my first episode.
A little while later, Nigel and I were shopping for audio mixers for him (he tried several…), he got a microphone, headphones, and monitor speakers. At the time, he was interested in recording and mixing music, but the only song he actually seriously worked on was a vocal by our niece.
That, then, led to two different Internet radio shows, the first alternating with Daniel Brewer, and the second was on his own Internet radio channel. Our friend Brian (who I originally met through podcasting) also had a show on Nigel’s station. I still have recordings of some of our shows on Nigel’s channel.
Things changed, Nigel’s job got busier, we shifted to South Auckland—then it all ended when he did.
I’ve struggled with podcasting and blogging ever since, and it’s pretty common for me to think about formally quitting both. Even so, I persist for some reason—mainly because whatever appealed to me about them at the beginning is still there, though more low key than it was.
I have no idea whether I’ll attempt to continue either, let alone both, or if they might evolve. But I know for sure that Nigel would still be encouraging me to do what feels right to me, and probably quietly proud that I’m still doing what he encouraged me to do so long ago, however imperfectly I’m currently doing it.
In keeping with my tradition, I’ll post a new episode this evening my time [the episode is now uploaded].
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 3
A new pop song reached Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100” on March 9, 1985: “Can't Fight This Feeling” (video up top) by American rock band REO Speedwagon. It was the second single from their 1984 album, Wheels Are Turnin'. It was the group’s second, and last, Number One. The song would be at the top spot for three weeks.
The song was written by lead singer Kevin Cronin, who began writing it around a decade earlier, and was based on a what was at the time his unrequited feeling for a woman who was dating a friend. In an interview with “the Professor of Rock” posted on YouTube last year, Cronin talked about one line in the song lyrics that he “caught so much crap for”WATCH/LISTEN to the short on YouTube:
Clunky phrasing aside, I actually kind of liked the song. It was one of those soaring rock ballads from the time, and it was pleasant enough to listen to, though I never bought the song or album. I did, however, buy their 1980 album Hi Infidelity, which I also re-bought in digital form here in New Zealand. I was first introduced to them by my flatmate when I was at university when their 1978 album You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish, and I associate that album with good times. It probably helped that the band was largely formed in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois when the founders were at the University of Illinois—even though students at all the other state universities, including mine, tended to express at least mock hatred of U of I.
In 1985, my taste in pop music was still expanding, but still included “adult contemporary” (a much less cringe name than the old “easy listening”) music/artists I’d listened to since the very early 1970s, but by the 80s I was listening to rock music, synth pop, and dance music. Maybe this song shows of the process of how my pop music tastes changed, because the song was also Number 3 on the Billboard “Adult Contemporary” chart. At any rate, it turned out that this gradual expansion has never stopped, and even today I can appreciate—and even like—all sorts of pop music, including contemporary songs that my age peers can’t stand. I take that as being a good a thing, but I don’t think I’d be as aware of this lifetime of changes to my tastes if I hadn’t done these series of posts. I think that, too, is a good thing.
“Can't Fight This Feeling” reached Number 2 in Australia, Number 2 in Canada (Gold), Number 33 in New Zealand, and Number 16 in the UK (Gold). It was also Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100” and Number 3 on their “Adult Contemporary” charts. It was also Number One on Cash Box and Radio & Records (R&R)The song was also certified Gold in the USA.
The album Wheels Are Turnin' reached Number 54 in Australia, 13 in Canada (Platinum), and Number 7 on the USA’s “Billboard 200” (2x Platinum). The album didn’t chart in New Zealand or the UK.
This series will return March 30 with the next Number One from 1985.
Footnote: Obviously, I didn’t get this post published on schedule this past Sunday. Because I didn’t write this post in advance—and I seldom do—I was still working on it that day, and intended to finish it that evening. Instead, I fell asleep watching TV, and couldn’t rouse myself enough to finish the post, something that’s happened before, though not usually with posts I intended for a specific day. Still, this “Weekend Diversion – 1985” series is now up-to-date, and it’s also a new addition to my informal “Midweek Diversion” series of posts—maybe I’ll make tag for this and the other posts….
Previously in the “Weekend Diversion – 1985” series:
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 1 – February 2, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 2 – February 16, 2025
The song was written by lead singer Kevin Cronin, who began writing it around a decade earlier, and was based on a what was at the time his unrequited feeling for a woman who was dating a friend. In an interview with “the Professor of Rock” posted on YouTube last year, Cronin talked about one line in the song lyrics that he “caught so much crap for”WATCH/LISTEN to the short on YouTube:
It's time to bring this ship into the shoreI can certainly see why he “caught so much crap”. The phrasing is clunky, but pedants at Genius Lyrics, linked above, pointed out that boats have oars, not ships, but that’s kind of beside the point for me and many others: It’s just kinda lame. Having said that, I’ve never written song in my life, so what do I know?
And throw away the oars, forever
Clunky phrasing aside, I actually kind of liked the song. It was one of those soaring rock ballads from the time, and it was pleasant enough to listen to, though I never bought the song or album. I did, however, buy their 1980 album Hi Infidelity, which I also re-bought in digital form here in New Zealand. I was first introduced to them by my flatmate when I was at university when their 1978 album You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish, and I associate that album with good times. It probably helped that the band was largely formed in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois when the founders were at the University of Illinois—even though students at all the other state universities, including mine, tended to express at least mock hatred of U of I.
In 1985, my taste in pop music was still expanding, but still included “adult contemporary” (a much less cringe name than the old “easy listening”) music/artists I’d listened to since the very early 1970s, but by the 80s I was listening to rock music, synth pop, and dance music. Maybe this song shows of the process of how my pop music tastes changed, because the song was also Number 3 on the Billboard “Adult Contemporary” chart. At any rate, it turned out that this gradual expansion has never stopped, and even today I can appreciate—and even like—all sorts of pop music, including contemporary songs that my age peers can’t stand. I take that as being a good a thing, but I don’t think I’d be as aware of this lifetime of changes to my tastes if I hadn’t done these series of posts. I think that, too, is a good thing.
“Can't Fight This Feeling” reached Number 2 in Australia, Number 2 in Canada (Gold), Number 33 in New Zealand, and Number 16 in the UK (Gold). It was also Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100” and Number 3 on their “Adult Contemporary” charts. It was also Number One on Cash Box and Radio & Records (R&R)The song was also certified Gold in the USA.
The album Wheels Are Turnin' reached Number 54 in Australia, 13 in Canada (Platinum), and Number 7 on the USA’s “Billboard 200” (2x Platinum). The album didn’t chart in New Zealand or the UK.
This series will return March 30 with the next Number One from 1985.
Footnote: Obviously, I didn’t get this post published on schedule this past Sunday. Because I didn’t write this post in advance—and I seldom do—I was still working on it that day, and intended to finish it that evening. Instead, I fell asleep watching TV, and couldn’t rouse myself enough to finish the post, something that’s happened before, though not usually with posts I intended for a specific day. Still, this “Weekend Diversion – 1985” series is now up-to-date, and it’s also a new addition to my informal “Midweek Diversion” series of posts—maybe I’ll make tag for this and the other posts….
Previously in the “Weekend Diversion – 1985” series:
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 1 – February 2, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 2 – February 16, 2025
Saturday, March 01, 2025
I’ve been walking, yes indeed
February was a good month overall, especially my goal at this point is still to build up stamina, and I think I’m doing that. I thought I’d share some stats from this February—something I may do again at the end of March, at the end of the quarter, but if I do any updates after that, it’ll probably only be at the end of each quarter.
In February, my walking workouts covered a total of 52.68 kilometres (35.219319 miles), compared to 46.36 kilometres (28.806768 miles) in January. My average pace on my workouts over the month was 14:04 per kilometre, compared to 13:09 in January.
I had an average daily total daily of 7141 steps per day in February, which includes all my steps, not just those from the walking workouts (the workouts don’t track steps for some reason). The average total distance I covered each day in February was 5.78 kilometres (3.591525 miles), again, that’s total distance walked, not just from workouts; I only know my distance from workouts alone because of my spreadsheet. The totals in January were pretty similar, however, the difference between this year and last is significant: In February 2024, I had a daily average of 3,953 total steps per day and an average total distance of 3.36 kilometres (2.23694 miles) per day. February was my worst month in 2024 (after that month, my overall totals were much better.
All of those are just numbers, and honestly probably of interest to me alone. So I decided to have a bit of fun: The map up shows the towns in a 50 kilometre radius of Hamilton [SOURCE]. It’s not necessarily possible to easily walk to some of those towns, and certainly not by me, but it’s kind of interesting to see how far 50 kilometres really is. As a bonus, several places I’ve talked about at one point or another—like Cambridge, Raglan, Huntly, and Matamata—are all within that circle, and others that I’ve talked about, and that had roles in my past life, like Paeroa, Thames, Pukekohe, Waiuku, Clarks Beach, and Te Kuiti are all visible.
The thing about these stats, and even the map, is that looking at the data visually on a spreadsheet (or even on that map) somehow keeps me committed to the plan. Some of it’s probably that I’m competitive with myself, and I constantly want to do better than I’ve done in the past. I want to try to tap into that self-competitiveness to get some other things done, too, because maybe it’ll work for other plans and goals, too? I know some people get more stuff done when they make things like chores into a game, and, in a sense, that’s what I’ve been doing.
Still, February is my only full calendar month of daily walks so far (plus most of January, of course), so it’s a bit early to take a victory lap. I want this to be a lifestyle change, and not just a temporary obsession. Creating opportunities for me to compete with myself—including my making a spreadsheet with my data—may do exactly that.
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