"Oh Sherrie" is the debut solo single by American singer Steve Perry. Written by Perry, Randy Goodrum, Craig Krampf and Bill Cuomo, the song was recorded and released on Perry's first solo album Street Talk in 1984, which he released while still a member of Journey. The song is often regarded as an "honorary" Journey song, being credited to the band on several hit compilation albums and in other media, largely due to its resemblance to the band's trademark sound, as well as their performances of the song on the Raised on Radio Tour, which proved to be Perry's live swansong with the band.[3] The track is composed in the key of F major with a time signature of 4
4, following a tempo of 120 beats per minute.[4]
| "Oh Sherrie" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Steve Perry | ||||
| from the album Street Talk | ||||
| B-side | "Don't Tell Me Why You're Leaving" | |||
| Released | March 1984 (US)[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1983 | |||
| Studio | Record One, Los Angeles | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:48 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| Steve Perry singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Oh Sherrie" on YouTube | ||||
The song was Perry's biggest hit as a solo artist and written for his then-girlfriend Sherrie Swafford,[5] who also appeared in the music video. The song hit number three on the pop chart and number one on the rock chart in the United States,[6] partly aided in its success by a music video released to promote the song, which received heavy airplay on MTV.
Two of the song's co-writers and supporting musicians, Bill Cuomo and Craig Krampf, earlier performed on Kim Carnes' signature song "Bette Davis Eyes" in 1981. Cuomo, who performed the keyboard riff on "Oh Sherrie," was the musician responsible for the keyboard riff on "Bette Davis Eyes", and Krampf was the drummer on "Bette Davis Eyes" while Larrie Londin was the drummer for "Oh Sherrie".[7] Cuomo, Krampf and Perry had started composing the song at approximately midnight with little more than the simple chorus of "Oh Sherrie" and "Hold on, hold on" plus a few simple sounds. Swafford had been in the room with them initially, but had gone to sleep because of the late hour.[5]
Music video
editThe video was shot at the historic entertainment venue the Park Plaza Hotel - now called the MacArthur,[8] located at 607 South Park View St. in Los Angeles, CA.[citation needed]
The video opens with what appears to be an elaborate formal Royal Wedding, complete with a bride in a large wedding dress, various Royal Court members, trumpet players, minister, and a man wearing a royal robe and a crown. As the bride approaches the altar and groom, she kneels, he takes off his crown revealing he is Steve Perry. He complains he cannot perform this scene. The director yells "cut!" and the camera pulls back to reveal this was an elaborate movie set. The scene is restarted, and again Perry announces he cannot do the scene, claiming it is too pretentious. Stripping off his crown and costume, ignoring various people who want his attention, Perry walks over to a quiet corner. He begins singing a cappella, the first lines of the song
- Well you should have been gone!
- Knowing how I made you feel.
He continues two more lines, then the music starts. As he sings, below at a large entrance similar to a church or a train station, his girlfriend Sherrie walks in wearing a white skirt. He continues singing, then runs downstairs to sing to her, as she smiles and laughs. He then embraces her as the song ends. As the director calls out to Perry, imploring him to resume the video, Perry escorts Sherrie out as they exit, with his arm around her.
Chart history
editWeekly charts
edit| Chart (1984–86) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[9][10] | 5 |
| Canadian RPM 50 Singles[11] | 1 |
| Germany German Music Charts [12] | 50 |
| Peru (UPI)[13] | 3 |
| South Africa (Springbok Radio)[14] | 6 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[15] | 8 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 3 |
| US Cashbox[16] | 4 |
| US Billboard Top Tracks | 1 |
| US Billboard Adult Contemporary[17] | 33 |
Year-end charts
edit| Year-end chart (1984) | Rank |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[9] | 48 |
| US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[18] | 31 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. Canongate Press. p. 445. ISBN 9780862415419.
- ^ Rolling Stone Staff (September 17, 2014). "100 Best Singles of 1984: Pop's Greatest Year". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
...the lead single from [Street Talk]...bore many of his band's signature touches — pealing guitars, urgently pled verses and a sense of arena-rock pomp.
- ^ "Solo Hits Credited to the Band Anyway...". New Book of Rock Lists. Sidgwick & Jackson. 1994.
- ^ Oh Sherrie
- ^ a b Steve Perry talks about the recording of "Oh Sherrie" and Street Talk singles.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 487.
- ^ Blair Jackson (2003). "Classic Tracks: Kim Carnes' "Bette Davis Eyes"". Mix. Archived from the original on 2014-07-13. Retrieved 2010-04-10.
- ^ About the MacArthur: http://themacarthur.com/#about
- ^ a b "Kent Music Report No 548 – 31 December 1984 > National Top 100 Singles for 1984". Kent Music Report. Retrieved January 23, 2023 – via Imgur.com.
- ^ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 Singles 1984". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
- ^ RPM - Library and Archives Canada - Top Singles - Volume 40, No. 18, July 07 1984. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
- ^ Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
- ^ "Las canciones más escuchadas en Latinoamérica". La Opinión (Los Angeles) (in Spanish). June 24, 1984. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
- ^ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 5 September 2018.
- ^ "Steve Perry – Oh Sherrie". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2020-09-07.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2014). Cash Box Pop Hits 1952-1996. Sheridan Books, Inc. ISBN 978-0-89820-209-0.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 187.
- ^ "Talent Almanac 1985: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 96, no. 51. December 22, 1984. p. TA-19.
