John Hunter “Famous at Night”

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#334 in the Series ) is John Hunter, Famous at Night.

Famous at Night was John Hunter’s first of two solo releases for Private I /Epic Records. It was released in late 1984. It featured the top 40 hit “Tragedy” which you can hear below.

John, of course, was also known as founder and leader of the 70s and early 80s band The Hounds.  They found success with their single “Drug land Weekend.”  In fact, John gives new life to “Horses” here. “Horses” was previously recorded for the their album Puttin’ on the Dog.

While The Hounds were more hard rock and roll, John Hunter solo was more of a synth based pop. We were now in the 80’s after all.

“Tragedy” was the first and most successful track. As mentioned earlier, it was top 40 in the US but actually did even better in Europe, especially Belgium were it was a huge hit. They performed the song on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand in 1985.

My favorite tracks on the album were the side one closers, “Take Your Chances” and “This is Forever.” Also worth mentioning are the rockers “Put Yourself on the Line” and “Crimes of Passion.”

Two of John’s ex-Hounds are also members of this band, Joe Cuttone, bass and Glen Richard Rupp. Don Griffin, also from The Hounds makes a cameo on what would be the second single, “Valentine.”

Drums were handled by ex-Heartsfield founding member Artie Baldacci  whoalso added synthesizer and other programming to the project.  Hank Guaglianone added some drums as well.

John would follow up the success with another solo release, “More Than Meets the Eye” in 1986.

So what happens to rock stars twenty years down the road? For John Hunter and his band, good things indeed!

John still records music. He has his own studio and has been working on a few projects for a couple years. That’s his music side of things.  The former pre-med student at Northwestern is also a Vice President of a very successful business that does some wonder things on a global stage.

Artie Baldacci helps run one of the most successful drums and percussion business in the Midwest.  He continues to play when he’s not watching his White Sox or Detroit Lions.

Joe Cuttone is in the home financing industry.  He actually has his own mortgage company,

Glen Richard Rupp has been a mail carrier for many years.  He stays alive in music by playing Christian music in nursing homes.  He also leads worship for a Monday night church service at the Cook County Jail twice a month.

— Larry Carta

Track Listing 

 

Side One

1. Tragedy
2. Crimes Of Passion
3. She Advertises
4. Take Your Chances
5. This Is Forever

Side Two

1. Valentine
2. Losin’ You Again
3. Put Yourself On The Line
4. Horses
5. Sad Songs On The Radio

Personnel

• John Hunter -Vocals and keyboards
• Glen Richard Rupp – Guitars and background vocals
• Joe Cuttone – Bass and background vocals
• Artie Baldacci – Drums, percussion, DMX and synthesizers

Additional Personnel

• Barry Sperti – Saxophone on “Losing You Again” and “Take You Chances”
• Ken Zemanek – Keyboards
• Don Griffin – guitar on “Valentine”
• Hank Guaglianone – drums
• John Kontol – keyboards

Links

• See more features from 1984
• Back to the “Cool Album” Homepage

John Hunter interviewed on American Bandstand (1985)