This Weeks Forgotten Gem of the 80s Prism Dont Let Him Know

The songwriting partnership of Canadian musicians Jim Vallance and Bryan Adams left a wide-reaching mark on '80s music across several genres. However, Vallance himself got his start as a songwriter and early drummer in Canadian arena rock band Prism, all of which preceded his more renowned association with the eventual pop superstar Adams. And although he had long ceased to contribute as a working member of that band by the early '80s, Vallance continued to lend his talents to the new lineup.

"Don't Let Him Know" is a top-notch Adams/Vallance composition that hums along with all the elements of mainstream rock circa 1982: strong power guitars, bright and melodic keyboards, and passionate vocals from a singer capable of operating in the upper registers. Vocalist Henry Small had just recently joined the band for 1981's aptly titled Small Change, and his delivery on this track - which reached the top spot on Billboard's mainstream rock chart in the U.S. - ranks highly among similar examples in the genre. There was a small window for this kind of music to be viable and not sound almost laughably dated, but this tune fits nicely into that limited space. A fun listen any week of the year.

• Sample or download "Don't Let Him Know" here.
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Album Cover Image Courtesy of Capitol