Top 10 Songs From The Romantics

Photo: Carl Lender, CC BY-SA 3.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commons

Our Top 10 Songs from The Romantics presents a journey into the world of a band that emerged as a significant force in the power-pop and new wave genres, hailing from the iconic rock city of Detroit, Michigan. Established in 1977, The Romantics drew inspiration from a rich local legacy, counting among their influences Detroit legends like The Stooges, MC5, and Bob Seger. Their compelling compositions and electrifying live performances propelled them to international acclaim. Merging the catchy appeal of pop with punk’s raw energy, The Romantics crafted a distinct sound that resonated deeply with music enthusiasts.

The band’s foundational lineup featured Rich Cole on bass, Mike Skill on guitar, Jimmy Marinos on drums, and Wally Palmar as the lead vocalist. Despite undergoing several changes in its lineup over the years—a common narrative for many bands—the group’s current roster includes all the original members except for Marinos. Brad Elvis has been occupying the drummer’s seat since 2004. Beyond their musical prowess, The Romantics also captivated audiences with their distinctive style, donning black vinyl and red leather suits that became their signature look in music videos. This striking visual identity not only enhanced their stage presence but also played a pivotal role in making them a sought-after act for live performances. The following top 10 songs from The Romantics underscore the band’s enduring legacy and its significant contribution to Detroit’s illustrious musical heritage.

# 10 – Shake a Tail Feather

We open our Romantics songs list with a real rocker called “Shake A Tail Feather.
The band sounds like a cross between The Beatles and the Stray Cats on this one. The original version of”Shake a Tail Feather” was penned by Otha Hayes, Verlie Rice, and Andre Williams in 1963. The original version was released the Five Du-Tones. This initial rendition not only charted on Billboard’s Hot R&B Singles at number twenty-eight but also made a respectable appearance on the Hot 100, securing the number fifty-one spot. The song is infused with a celebratory ode to dance, invoking a variety of moves from the playful Boogaloo and Twist to the whimsical Monkey and Mashed Potato. In 1966, the song found a new home on Tommy James and the Shondells’ debut album, Hanky Panky.

# 9 – Tell It to Carrie

Continuing with our Top 10 Songs From The Romantics we present the band’s single “Tell It To Carrie.” The Romantics convey a heartfelt message in their song about Carrie. It illustrates a deep bond the singer shares with her, emphasizing how vital she is to his life. Carrie is portrayed not just as a close friend, but as someone whose presence is essential for the singer’s well-being. He relies on her for advice and support, making it clear that the thought of a life without Carrie is unimaginable.

# 8 – She’s Got Everything

And here you go, that classic Romantics-style guitar lick. Does this sound familiar? It should be because this was the style of play that the band found great success with. It also should sound familiar because it was a cover of a classic Kinks song. It was initially written by Ray Davies in 1968. The song “She’s Got Everything” was released on the band’s debut album entitled The Romantics. The album was released in 1980.

# 7 – Night Like This

I love the bass and drum lick that opens up this very cool song. “Night Like This,” was released on The Romantics’ 1980 album National Breakout. This was the second album the band released in 1980. It just broke into the Billboard Top 200 albums chart peaking at number one hundred and seventy six.

# 6 – Test of Time

This is a really interesting one. The band takes the bass and guitar line from the Four Tops classic 1965 hit single “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” and composes an entire song around it. There are even some licks taken from the melody. I don’t think the band got sued for this, but it’s pretty blatant. The song was released on The Romantics album Rhythm Romance.

# 5 – When I Look into Your Eyes

At the halfway point on our Romantics songs list, we present a song that was very much a variation of their hit single “What I Like About You.” I guess when a formula works well, you stick to it. We have seen this done countless times with so many bands. The song was released on the album The Romantics in 1980. It was also issued as the follow-up single to their top 40 hit “What I Like About You.” However, in this case, being very similar to the hit proved to be a mistake as the song “When I Look Into Your Eyes,” failed to even break into the Top 100 of the Billboard charts.

# 4 – Rock You Up

This has always been one of my favorite Romantics songs and probably one of the band’s most underrated. The opening harp sound reminds me of Culture Club’s “Church Of The Poison Mind.” The song “Rock You Up” was released on the album In Heat. The album was released in 1983. “Rock You Up” was the follow-up single to “Talking In Your Sleep.” While it failed to break onto the Billboard Hot 100, it did rank on the Billboard Rock Tracks charts, peaking at number forty-nine.

# 3 – One in a Million

It’s funny how many videos start out with someone dropping a dime in a jukebox. Do you know what I mean? Nonetheless, this is one of the most captivating songs the band ever released. It was really original sounding. Music fans loved it, too. The song was released as the third single from the In Heat album. It became a top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, making it one of the three songs that the band managed to break into the top 40 throughout their career.

# 2 – What I Like About You

The next two songs on this list are pretty interchangeable as far as popularity goes among the band’s biggest releases. This was the song that put the band on the map. It was their first big hit. It got very heavy exposure on MTV. I remember seeing it appear on the channel a couple of times almost every hour. The song is based on a three-chord pattern very similar to the progression in Neil Diamond’s “Cherry Cherry. It would later also be used in John Mellencamp’s R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.

# 1 – Talking in Your Sleep

We close out our Romantics song list with the band’s biggest hit of their career. The track “Talking in Your Sleep” stands out as a monumental achievement for The Romantics, featured on their 1983 album In Heat. Notably, it’s the only song by the band that soared into the top ten of the US Billboard Hot 100, reaching an impressive peak at number three. The song didn’t just make waves nationally; it clinched the top spot on several charts around the globe, marking a pinnacle in The Romantics’ career.