THE4 Trading Post Way Medford Lakes, New Jersey 08055 HARD REPORT' July 31, 1987 Issue #39 609-654-7272 FRONTRUNNERS tiun=7tD DEF LEPPARD JOHN COUGAR HYSTERIA "HYSTERIA" MELLENCAMP Who'll have the biggest "PAPER IN FIRE" album this year? One And if Del Lep lakes the pass through this mas- hard rock crown, bank terpiece will make that on Mr. Mellencamp to answer abundantly clear. nail that American/ Hometown title down. Mercury Mercury NEW PLAY PRIORITIES... RECORD OF THE WEEK Fabulous Thunderbirds, JOHN KAY AND STEPPENWOLF, Marillion, Pete Wylie, "Hold On" The format foams at the mouth over and Autograph.... any act that hit it big before 1970-as illustrated by 43 first week adds and a #67 debut. ....INSIDE! I Ou i CHARTSTARS HEADLINES MOST ADDED FEDS BROADSIDE PIRATE SHIP 1. Insiders "Ghost On The Beach" EPIC 62 GARIANO EXITS WHTQ; 2. Pretenders "Where Has Every Body Gone" WB 49 T -K TAKES OVER IN ORLANDO 3. Richard Marx "Should Have Known Better" Manhattan/EMI 46 4. Steppenwolf "Hold On" Quil 43 BOB WELCH WQBK PROGRAM DIRECTOR 5. Glen Burtnick "Follow You' A&M 34 DEDE "VANNA" WHITESIDE BIGGEST MOVERS TURNS 3 LETTERS: MCA Bryan Adams "Victim Of Love" (81-43) 38 Richard Marx "Should Have Known, Better" (74-36) 38 CHOW, CHOW, CHOW: Pete Bardens "In Dreams" (77-62) 15 SCOTT BORCHETTA MTM LP GUY Beat Farmers "Dark Light" (43-29) 14 U2 "Where The Streets Have . (45-31) 14 BRIAN ILLES WKFM PD INCREASE INDEX MARK KATES TO GEFFEN ALTERNATIVE Def Leppard "Women" 29 THE Los Lobos "La Bamba" 24 38 Special "Back to Paradise" 24 JOHN Hooters "Johnny B" 19 PARIKHAL Cruzados "Bed Of Lies' INCREASES 19 INTERVIEW HARD HITS TO BE Former Frontrunners we feel most deserve your current attention ... THE B JOS0 The Silencers The Replacements Cock Robin The Brandos "Painted Moon" "Alex Chilton" "Just Around the "Gettysburg" RCA Sire/ WB Corner" Relativity Columbia JOHNMELLENCAMP COUGAR THE FIRST SINGLE FROM "THE LONESOME JUBILEE" 832 465-1 Q-1 PRODUCED BY JOHN MELLENCAMP AND DON GEHMAN MANAGEMENT: CHAMPION ENTERTAINMENT ORGANIZATION. INC. Manulaclured and Marketed tn, ON MERCURY RECORDS, CASSETTES & COMPACT DISCS PolyGram Recorcg THE HARD REPORTMore On The Picks... Def Leppard, "Hysteria", Mercury.... After all this time, you knew it had to be a dog or a delight --right? Well, we've only had the tape for about ten hours, but there's no hesitation here.PolyGram once again cinches the Big Winner award --with what we think will easily wind up with this year's biggestMainstream Monster numbers --both in terms of radio play and retail success."Women" has been on for two weeks now --and that's already pumped the advance orders up past the 800,000mark. And those potential retail targets are definitely hearing it plenty --as evidenced by this week's top ranked 29 play increasesand the 16-12 Hard Hundred advance. And calls? Try Top 5 status on 57 --with max play now on 72. With MTVprimed to pound the video starting this week and CHR getting the single simultaneously,time to power up more of the album's best: "Animal" (easy #1), "Gods Of War", "Pour Some Sugar On Me", and "Don't ShootShotgun". John Cougar Mellencamp, "Paper In Fire", Mercury.... It's nice to hear a big star like John have the balls to take the whole roots scene a step or two further.There's a lot more to getting back to basics than Stetsons, boots, jeans, a Marlboro backdrop --and leaving out the synths.This particular song doesn't really offer a huge departure from his standard verse/chorus approach --but we applaud theliberal application of dobros, harmonica, fiddles and a more acoustic feel in general. As Robert Palmer so aptly putit, some people can do what they want --and thank God John has the desire to get back tothe country. RECORD OF THE WEEK John Kay & Steppenwolf, "Hold On", Quil.... Hey, here's one we missed --but only 'cause we were holding out for an Lp track we like better. Obviously radio realizes the current to classic appeal of this artist -- as per 43 first week adds and a nifty 67 debut. As Rick Van Gil says, "It deserves airplay simply becausethis band has played before more men than Joan Collins"....From WHCN's Kim Alexander, "'Hold On' has a killer hook and John's signature growl. Our audience is gonna love it".... From WYNF's Charlie Logan, "Following the success of the Dead, Robir Trower and Gregg Allman, John and the boys have also revitalized their careers. Since we play more library cuts of Steppenwolf than the aforementioned artists, this is a natural".... Hey, with that in mind, could two -track depth on the comeback album be far behind? Stay tuned! ALSO NEW THIS WEEK The Fabulous Thunderbirds, "How do You Marillion, "Sugar Mice", Capitol.... As a huge Spell Love", CBS Associated.... You've heard "Kaleigh" fan, I've long felt the ultra -lush sweeping thirty dirty versions --but none better than this one! melodic approach was Marillion's forte, and can't wait The tune that racks up big points for tonality and to see how "Sugar Mice" performs. In fact, in terms topicality grabs adds at 8, including WPLR, WKDF, of lyrics and singing, I'm ready to call this the group's and KPEZ, with KLOL, WRXK, WLAV, WKLS, KILO, best work to date --and certainly their best shot an a KICT, WHCN, KFOG and KAZY already In.Anybody cross format hit.Keep in mind that it's their first out there who doesn't think this one tops the first single form this album --and nicely timed with the track?Underlined 78-69*. headline US tour starting at month's end. Pete Wylie, "Sinful", Virgin.... Since this tune Autograph, "She Never Looked That Good To took so long to finally get officially released, we might Me", RCA.... The track that we singled out from day as well pick it a couple of times, right?I admit one one looks likeit may in fact be the record's big might think Pete's the 80's equivalent of Hugo and single --as a very successful test at KEGL Dallas Luigi (an act everyone at Virginis too young to demonstrated this past week. For humor, hooks and remember), but we guarantee that cascading hook will their trademark guitar pyrotechnics, this one's the get the job done --especially with females. Easiest goods. It ain't over til it's over, so please go back. sing -along on the radio. HARD HITS TO BE... The Silencers, "Painted Moon", RCA.... The The Replacements, "Alex Chilton", Sire/VVB.... Nipper's fastest starting baby band this year hits the Why will this primo New/Alternative to Mainstream 101 station mark --with new air on killer calls WMMR, cross ultimately work so well?WAPL's Garrett Hart WLLZ, KLOL, WEGR, and WLAV--and heavy hitters knows, "It not only sounds great on the air, but it KBPI, KFOG, KGB, KOME, WEBN, WKDF, WQFM, segues great with Zeppelin and the Doors --just like WAAF, WCCC, WIOQ, and WIOT just some of the an AOR track should".... Christina at WPLR updates, noteworthies. Jim Steel at WIOT says, "After just one "It's doing great. Top 15 sales and building".... New week of light play we've got definite phone response. on KYYS, WHJY, WAPL and WNEW. How's that for a could be the next Jon Astley"....From KFMU's Dave killer add week? Top 5 requested at WHTG, KQWB Ross "The Silencers move into heavy this week, and I and WLZR, with WYNF, KGB, WMAD, WBCN, KILO, think they'll go top 5 soon".... Up 46-35*. WHCN and WLIR. 88-80* on the Hard Hundred. The Brandos, "Gettysburg", Relativity.... Well, Cock Robin,"Just Around The Corner", hell, no wonder no one's playing this record!! It's not Columbia.... Just decide it fits the format and you've out yet!!I'd sure play acassingle that was this got a upper demo smash on your hands --not to good --as are WNEW, DC101, and WBCN.WEGR's mention huge top 40 success acceptance to be. Take Kelly Cruise comments, "That Brandos cassingle it from WQFM's Chip Hobart, "I think this record Is a hasn'tleftmy cartapedeck.Youwatch - hit, and people should get over their preconceived 'Gettysburg' is going to be an incredible smash here notions about any past Cock Robin product. DO not in de south. Hurry up with the vinyl".... ignore this record. I mean, Cock Robin Is a racy name and everything, but they sing good, goddammit!!".... July 31, 1987 "ROCK ME" 15* HARD HUNDRED 13* R&R #4 MOST REQUESTED NOW TOP 5 AT OVER 44 REPORTING STATIONS! Rockin' on over 130 stations with over 60 stations playing in heavy to power! On tour now with Night Ranger... The new album "CLUTCHING AT STRAWS" includes the rock radio favorite "INCOMMUNICADO" Now charted at over 100 stations...and the forthcoming first single "SUGAR MICE" Coming soon, Marillion's first U.S. headline tour beginning August 23rd! HEART "Who Will You Run To" Bulleted at #2 Hard Hundred! And just released to CHR with video to MTV! From the platinum plus album "Bad Animals" See Heart now on major U.S. tour! THE HARD REPORT IMPACT TRACKS Insiders, "Ghost On The Beach", Epic.... Great Pretenders, "Where Has Every Body Gone", music and a great ad campaign equals mega -add WB.... A big week for this unusual yet distinctive action, as the Insiders crank out 62 OTB stations and soundtrack offering.