Friday December 31, 2021 “The Only Thing” Susanah Hoffs/Travis
Travis is a Scottish band that has greater recognition in the UK and Europe than they have here in the US…wait, I’m sensing a pattern here. Susannah Hoffs of course is well known for her solo work as well as fronting the successful all female band The Bangles.
Susannah Hoffs as a member of The Bangles would enter the charts with the band’s top ten hit “Manic Monday” written by “Christopher” a pseudonym for Prince who had seen the Bangles and was impressed with Hoffs voice or perhaps there was something else about Ms. Hoffs that caught his attention.
Travis takes its band name from the character Travis Henderson played by Harry Dean Stanton in the 1984 film Paris, Texas. You may recall that another band this week, similarly not well known in the US, that took their name from the same movie, that would be the Welch band Texas. Coincidence?
“The Only Thing” makes 2021 best of list because it is a lovely tune with an interesting and refreshing pairing of voices, Susanah Hoffs and Travis lead singer Fran Healy. Travis has released nine studio albums all but one of which were in the UK top ten with three number one albums.
As this concludes the Best of 2021 list please don’t hesitate to send comments if you think any or most of the ‘best of 2021’ don’t merit that distinction or songs that you feel have made a special impact. And as I said at the outset of this list, I really thought that pretty much all of the songs for 2021 were ‘the best’.
Stay safe and well…and have a safe and happy new year's eve. Tomorrow's going to hopefully start a better year.