Top 10 Scandal Songs

Feature Photo: Randy Miramontez / Shutterstock.com

Scandal was formed in New York City in 1981 when guitarist Zack Smith brought together a lineup that included Patty Smyth on vocals, Ivan Elias on bass, Keith Mack on guitar, Benjy King on keyboards, and Frankie LaRocka on drums. The band wasted no time in making their mark, releasing their self-titled debut EP in 1982. The record featured the song “Goodbye to You,” which quickly became a staple on MTV, giving the group national exposure and laying the foundation for their success.

Their momentum carried into 1983 with the release of “Love’s Got a Line on You,” another track that earned heavy radio and video play. This period positioned Scandal as one of Columbia Records’ most promising acts, and the label prepared them for their first full-length album. That record arrived in 1984, titled The Warrior. The album’s title track became the band’s signature song, climbing to number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and going on to be certified platinum in the United States and Canada. “The Warrior” not only dominated the charts but also earned Scandal a permanent place in 1980s rock history.

Despite their commercial success, the band struggled with internal tensions and record company challenges. By the time the Warrior tour was underway in 1984, only Patty Smyth and Keith Mack remained from the original lineup. Shortly after, the band broke apart. While Scandal’s time in the spotlight was brief, their impact was undeniable. Patty Smyth went on to a successful solo career, including her hit duet with Don Henley, “Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough,” which became one of the defining songs of the early 1990s.

Scandal’s story did not end in the 1980s. The band reunited in 2004 for VH1’s Bands Reunited program, bringing Smyth, Mack, Smith, King, and Price back together for a series of East Coast concerts. This comeback was well-received, culminating in a performance at New York’s Irving Plaza in 2005. The group hit the road again in 2006 for VH1’s We Are the ‘80s tour.

By 2008, talk of new music began to surface, and the band even debuted songs such as “Trust in Me” and “Make It Hard.” In 2009, Scandal released “Hard for You to Love Me,” their first new single in over two decades. Though an album was discussed, it never materialized. The band did, however, release a version of “Silent Night” in 2011, which was featured on the television show NCIS.

Sadly, Scandal lost several original members over the years. Ivan Elias passed away in 1995, Frankie LaRocka in 2005, and Benjy King in 2012.

# 10 – Maybe We Went Too Far

We open up our top 10 Scandal songs list with the closing track from the band’s debut full-length album, The Warrior. With a great flowing groove that sounds just so perfect for a fall day, Patty Smyth’s killer vocals will just blow you away like she does on every track she sings. I love the line, ‘I don’t talk in my sleep because I have too much to tell.’

# 9 – Talk To Me

This is a great deep track from the band’s Warrior album released in 1984. The album featured musicians Zack Smith on guitar, Ivan Elias on bass, Keith Mack on guitar, and the legendary Thommy Price on drums.

# 8 – She Can’t Say No

With its simple opening guitar riff and feel-good groove, this one laid out a rhythm section that perfectly wrapped around Patty Smyth’s tender vocal performance. This one was released on the band’s 1982 EP release. When Patty sings “All I Need Is You,” there is no doubt that she means it.

# 7 – Hands Tied

“Hands Tied” was the second of two songs written by award-winning songwriter Holly Knight to be released on the band’s first full-length album. While “The Warrior” was written by Holly Knight and Nick Gilder, “Hands Tied” was composed by Holly Knight and Nick Chapman. This was the second single released from the album. As it was released as a single in the early 1980s, it was accompanied by a video, which is always enjoyable to watch, featuring Patty Smyth.

# 6 – Win Some, Lose Some

“Win Some Lose Some” was a rocking cover of a great Bryan Adams song that had initially appeared on the Canadian rocker’s debut album Bryan Adams in 1980. The song was written by the great songwriting team of Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, along with Eric Kagna and Loverboys’ Paul Dean.

# 5 – Only The Young

Scandal introduced “Only the Young” to the public in 1984 when they included it on their album The Warrior. The track, which quickly became one of the record’s most memorable songs, had actually been written by Jonathan Cain, Steve Perry, and Neal Schon of Journey. Originally recorded during the sessions for Journey’s Frontiers album, it was left off the final release and later sold to Scandal. By placing it on The Warrior, Scandal delivered the first commercially available version of the song. Journey’s own recording would not be heard until a year later, when it appeared on the soundtrack to the film Vision Quest and became a top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

# 4 -Beat of a Heart

“Beat of a Heart” was the third and final single release from the band’s only full-length album. It’s a real moody mid-tempo tune that hits you hard. It was placed perfectly as the second track on the album, following “The Warrior.” The song was written by band members Zack Smith, Patty Smyth, and Keith Mack.

# 3 – The Warrior

“The Warrior” was the much-anticipated follow-up to the band’s debut in 1982. Released as the title track to the band’s first full-length record, “The Warrior” did not disappoint. However, the video can be quite cringy, especially with the character they call the warrior in it. What were they thinking when they shot this video? However, on the positive side, the song went on to become the band’s first and only top 10 hit, peaking at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100. It would also reach number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts.

# 2 – Loves Got A Line On You

Patty Smith’s vocal on this song may just be one of the greatest rock vocal performances of all time. She also looks incredibly stunning in the video. I wonder how many people fell in love with her after watching this video.

# 1 – Goodbye To You

This is one of those videos that you can watch over and over again and never get tired of. And of course, the same goes for the song itself. When all of us first saw this video on MTV back in the early 80s we were totally blown away by the incredible presence of Patty Smyth. Who was this girl? Who was this band? And what a rocking song. Released in 1982 on their debut EP, the song sounds still as fresh over 40 years later.