Don’s Top 10 From March 29, 1992

(#24 last week) Insanely funky hit from the 90s Supremes, as they were called. James Brown fans were either thrilled or annoyed that the song contains a sample of the guitar riff from JB's "The Payback". The guitar sample is looped throughout the entire song and forms the basis of the melody.

(#13 last week) Who killed "Mary"? That question forms the whodunit-basis for this hit, both in the lyrics & the video. "Hazard" tells the story of an implied relationship of some kind between a narrator and a woman named Mary. Mary dies in suspicious circumstances, & Marx, shunned by many in the small town since his childhood ("That boy's not right."), is immediately considered the main suspect. Marx, however, maintains his innocence throughout the song, and the question of such is left open to the listener's interpretation.

(#7 last week) Ironically, this song created the "I Can't Dance dance" (a series of stiff, stylized motions). Phil Collins explained in an interview that when he was at stage school, that he would see kids that would always use the same hand and the same foot when they were tap dancing, meaning they could not coordinate. He then copied their movements and the "dance" was born.

(#10 last week) "One" was released as a benefit single, with proceeds going towards AIDS research. The song topped the Irish Singles Chart and US Billboard AOR  Rock Tracks and Modern Rock charts, and it peaked at #7 on the U.K. Singles Chart, & #10 on the American singles survey. In promotion of the song, the band filmed several music videos, although they were not pleased until a third was created. The song was acclaimed by critics upon its release, and it has since been featured in polls of the greatest songs of all time. U2 have performed "One" at every one of their tour concerts since the song's live debut in 1992, and it has appeared in many of the band's concert movies. In a live setting, "One" is often used by the group to promote human rights or social causes, and the song lends its namesake to Bono's charitable organisation, the "One Campaign". In 2005, U2 re-recorded the song as part of a duet with singer Mary J. Blige on her album "The Breakthrough".

(#12 last week) Most big Bruce fans just never warmed up to this song, the title track from the album of the same name (& released at the same time as the "Lucky Town" album). The main reason? No E Street Band. Bruce had fired them in 1989. On drums? Jeff Porcaro. Yep, the guy from Toto! On bass guitar? Randy Jackson. That's right, dawg! Also on background vocals, veterans Sam Moore (Sam & Dave) & Bobby Hatfield (The Righteous Brothers).

(#4 last week) This song, which went to #3 pop & #2 R&B, was written by 70s star Kenny Nolan ("I Like Dreamin').

(#3 last week) Second single from the smash "Dangerous" album, following the #1 hit "Black Or White". "Remember The Time" was a successful attempt by Jackson to create a "New Jack Swing"-flavored jam with the accompaniment of co-producer Riley. Musically, the song is dance-oriented, prominently featuring piano and guitar. The lyrics are about remembering being in love with someone. When the single was originally released in 1992, Jackson dedicated the song with love to Diana Ross. Brother Jermaine said then that  the song was "written with Diana Ross in mind; the one great love that, as far as he was concerned, escaped him."

(#1 last week) From tragedy, came art. That was the case with this Grammy-winning ballad. The song was written about the pain and loss Clapton felt following the death of his four-year-old son, Conor. Conor fell from a window of a 53rd-floor New York apartment building owned by his mother's friend on March 20, 1991. Clapton arrived at the apartment shortly after the accident. In 1994, he stopped performing it, but brought it back in 2013.

(#11 last week) Queen's 1976 hit, back & even bigger the second time around 16 years later, due to its placement in a key scene of the "Wayne's World" movie. The film's director was hesitant to use the song, as it did not entirely fit with the lead characters, who were fans of less flamboyant hard rock & heavy metal. However,Mike Myers insisted that the song fit the scene. And he was right.

(#2 last week; 1st week at #1) I'm not a fan of most of the ballad hits of the last 30 years. For me, I need much more lush orchestration, & the recent ballads usually are just spare piano songs. But this beautiful ballad really hit a nerve with me. For once, I couldn't say that "they don't make 'em like they used to!" Gives me goosebumps. And hey, given our local weather this winter, maybe the lyrics will finally come true..... ("Sometimes, the snow comes down in June").