Here is another example of a band who deserved much more than the industry (or the public) gave them. Franke and the Knockouts were a New Jersey-bred band steeped in blue-eyed soul-tinged pop rock, fronted by Franke Previte. The group would release only three albums over a six-year period, but three of their songs would break the Billboard Top-40, including the near-forgotten gem in the video, Sweetheart.
When I see live performance videos like this, I keep asking myself why it is that we simply don't see bands like this anymore, singers like this anymore, or performances like this anymore. This was one take, live, with no overdubs or other gimmickry - and Autotune was twenty years away from development (the video was from 1981). The answer: bands like this were made the old-fashioned way - individual instrument and vocal talents that blend to a smooth concoction, great songwriting, arrangements in which there is a reason for every note in said arrangement, and practice. It takes work to do what Franke and his cohorts (and bands like them) did back in the day.
A few points of trivia regarding this band. The lead singer, Franke Previte, co-wrote much of the music for the Dirty Dancing soundtrack, including the single I've Had The Time Of My Life. Among the players who came through Franke's band were future Bon Jovi drummer Tico Torres, and Charlie Dominici (a sesssion backup singer on their debut) would go on to form Dream Theater.
Enjoy!
(Legal notice: the video is likely owned by ABC Television and is intended, as always, for editorial and educational purposes. Upon request, I'll remove the link.).
