Square Rooms
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| “Square Rooms” | |||||
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| Single by Al Corley from the album Square Rooms |
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| Released | 1984 (Switzerland) 1985 (France, Austria) |
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| Format | 7" vinyl 12" vinyl |
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| Recorded | 1984 | ||||
| Genre | Pop / Europop / Eurodisco | ||||
| Length | 3:40 | ||||
| Label | Mercury Records | ||||
| Writer(s) | Harold Faltermeyer Al Corley Peter John Woods |
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| Producer | Harold Faltermeyer | ||||
| Al Corley singles chronology | |||||
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"Square Rooms" is a Euro-pop song recorded by American singer, actor and producer Al Corley. It was the first single from his album of he same name. First released in 1984, the song was a hit in some European countries in 1985.
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[edit] Background and writing
After two seasons appearing as one of the first gay leading characters an American TV series, Dynasty, Al Corley left the nighttime soap opera to become a singer. With Harold Faltermeyer and Peter John Woods, he composed the text of his first song, "Square Rooms".
The media-savvy singer affected the brooding look and attitude popular among pop stars and GQ models at the time: pouty, dark glances and tousled hair. His choice of image worked best in France, where his television performances elicited the unbridled enthusiasm of teenage girls. However, according to Elia Habib, a French charts specialist, his success was not only based on his physical appearance. Indeed, "Square Rooms"' music had a large popular appeal and had a production designed for the dance floor. It was produced and composed by the German musician Harold Faltermeyer, who had previously arranged "Self Control", a worldwide pop and dance-floor smash for Laura Branigan in 1984 which featured a similar vocal hook. Faltermeyer would achieve his greatest personal success later the same year, composing, performing and producing the score to Beverly Hills Cop, a 1984 film directed by Martin Brest, including its hit instrumental theme, "Axel F"[1].
[edit] Chart performances
"Square Rooms" was released first in Switzerland, where it was a success, peaking at #6 on October 21, 1984, and staying in the top 30 for ten weeks[2].
The single debuted at number 47 in the French charts on January 5, 1985. It climbed quickly and was #1 for five nonconsecutive weeks, from March 9 to April 13, 1985. After its peak, it lingered on the charts until its 27th week, on July 20, 1985[3].
The song also achieved success in Italy (#12), Germany (#13) and Austria where it reached #15 in April 1985[4].
"Square Rooms" was released last in Corley's native U.S., where the single was only a minor pop hit, reaching #80 on the Hot 100 on June 1, 1985 [5]. American dancefloors were more receptive than its airwaves; Corley reached #26 on the Billboard Dance/Disco chart the week of June 22, 1985 [6].
After this first success, Corley recorded a second single, "Cold Dresses", also written by himself and produced by Harold Faltermeyer. That single spent 17 weeks on the French charts, peaking at #5 in September. A third single there, "Face To Face", was only a minor hit.
A French cover was recorded by France Lise under the title "On vit à deux".[7]
[edit] Formats and track listings
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[edit] Charts, certifications and sales
[edit] References
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