This Weeks Forgotten Gem of the 80s Burton Cummings Heavenly Blue

During the late '60s and early '70s, Burton Cummings served memorably as lead vocalist and a chief songwriter in The Guess Who, one of Canada's most popular and successful classic rock bands. Then, when that band dissolved in 1975, Cummings launched a solo career that paid immediate dividends, especially in his homeland. Even so, the singer-songwriter's solo efforts had steadily decreasing impact in the U.S. leading up to the release of his 1980 LP Woman Love, over which Cummings was decidedly displeased. Nevertheless, the album contained several strong compositions, even if the overuse of synthesizers betrayed the major-label concessions Cummings was apparently forced to make to get it distributed.

In the ensuing years of his continuing but increasingly less lucrative solo career, "Heavenly Blue" has remained a mainstay of Cummings' catalogue, and it is relatively easy to hear why. Though less angry and raw than on many of The Guess Who's most lasting hits, Cummings' vocals here reveal both his immense talent and inherent soulfulness. This is far more than mere adult contemporary or soft rock, even if few Americans were knowledgeable of the fact at the time. In fact, the acoustic guitar and piano foundation brings this track almost to the level of some of this artist's finest '60s compositions (written with former bandmate Randy Bachman), "Laughing" and "No Time." This is an '80s sleeper for American listeners like me who have just recently regained interest in old FM rock favorites.

• Sample or download "Heavenly Blue" here.
• Compare prices on Burton Cummings CDs here.
• Top Soft Rock Songs of the '80s
• Top Soft Rock/Adult Contemporary Artists of the '80s

Album Cover Image Courtesy of Columbia