General Gregory N. Pigott: Late Night Music Part 60....................."I Wanna Do It Like Hans Solo"

One of the biggest headline makers in music has always been when an artist goes on their own from a successful band. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes the band is on a break, sometimes it's the artist who needs a break. Sometimes it's the fact that they are wanting to stiff the band, and sometimes the band is sick of them. However, it's always kinda cool to see what happens and what it sounds like when they break free from the band that they are known for being in. No matter what genre the band is in, it never gets old to see the plight of artists who go solo. Also, I am glad I can finally tag Ricky Ross again, welcome back to normal land!

In order to be eligible for this category, the artist had to be a prominent member of a band with a somewhat big name band and also been somewhat recognizeable prior to their solo release. Bonus points if the song was their first release after leaving the band. Also receiving votes in this category were "Let Me Ride" by Dr. Dre, "If I Ever Lose My Faith In You" by Sting, "Smooth by Rob Thomas (with Carlos Santana), and "I Got My Mind Set On You" by George Harrison.

"Let My Love Open The Door"- Pete Townshend. After years of being the "other guy" in The Who behind Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend released his solo debut album "Empty Glass" which was a metaphor of what his life seemed like at the time. While the album is deeply personal, this catchy tune became Townshend's signature solo song and his biggest solo hit. Please notice future Big Country bassist Tony Butler in the video with his catchy background hook he sings. Bonus points for days.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUaRnGKfkBE

"Oh Sherrie"- Steve Perry. In 1984, Journey and Steve Perry were on top of the world as the #1 arena rock group in the world. So, in order to boost his already growing popularity, Steve Perry released 1984's "Street Talk" (which was kinda funny because when I think of street cred the last person I think of is Steve Perry- anyway). The album was a huge success producing 4 Billboard Top 40 singles, and this video features real life inspiration (and Perry's then girlfriend) Sherrie Swafford. While this song remains Perry's biggest solo song, I have a hard time believing that the other members of Journey weren't turned off by his solo effort, as he left the group for good in 1996 after their brief reunion from the group that disbanded in 1987. The acapella opening lines of this song are sung live and not lip synched like most other music videos- I always thought that was kinda cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNXDCHHjEvs

"Her Eyes"- Pat Monahan. I have to admit, before I saw Train live in 2004 at Southern Miss, I never thought much of Train of Pat Monahan either for that matter. However, I was very impressed with the show and with Monahan's poise and showmanship- was actually a really good show. After the success of their fourth album "For Me, It's You" in 2006, Train took a break from recording. During this time, Pat Monahan released his first and only solo album "Last Of Seven" which featured this hit which had moderate success on the charts. Please tell me if this song reminds you at all of Train's debut single "Meet Virginia"- a song about a girl you really shouldn't like but you do anyway? Come on, Pat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0GVoqsJr_s

"California Girls"- David Lee Roth. In 1984, in one of the biggest "screw you" moves of all time, David Lee Roth left Van Halen after their blockbuster album "1984", and what was called a bitter divorce by pretty much everyone in the industry, left his former band in a lurch. In 1986, he released his debut album "Eat 'Em And Smile"- which is a clear jab at his former band. However, just to get solo material out very quickly, he released a 1985 EP of all cover songs entitled "Crazy From The Heat" which contained his lead single and former Beach Boys hit (COVER SONG!!!!). The video and song in itself should have spelled doom for Roth as it just shows how egotistical and childish he really is. Despite his fans from VH, I think most the fans liked the BAND, and not him, and after mild success in the late 80's, Roth faded into oblivion before crawling back to Van Halen with his tail between his legs now serving as their lead singer once again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmbhfI8f_Ek

"Ex-Factor"- Lauryn Hill. Lauryn Hill is one of those people who has done tons with so little. Her original band, The Fugees, released just two albums, 1994's "Blunted On Reality" and the 1996 mega album "The Score", which is considered by some, including me, to be one of the best hip hop albums ever recorded. The combo of her, Pras, and Wyclef Jean was very interesting but really worked. In 1998, Lauryn released one of the biggest albums of the decade, "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill", which included this single released around Christmas of 1998. I have always been amazed on how Lauryn could write a song like this while she was involved in a very loving and serious relationship with Ziggy Marley. Most of the time, songs like this are written when someone is hurting. I remember buying this album right before a long bus ride to Colorado on a ski trip and listening to it literally the whole way there and back. What a great song, great album, and great video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cE-bnWqLqxE

"Glamorous"- Fergie. Childhood bubblegum star and former "Kids Incorporated" sweetheart, and former lead singer of Lou Pearlman's Wild Orchid, Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson made music industry earthquakes when she joined hip hop group the Black Eyed Peas in 2001 after the dismissal of Kim Hill. Her first album with the group, "Elephunk" proved to be the group's biggest which spawned their hits "Where Is The Love?" and "Let's Get It Started". They followed up with 2005's "Monkey Business" which also proved to be a worldwide hit with Fergie's own prostitution ad/video with their song "My Humps". While Black Eyed Peas took a break, Fergie released her first solo album "The Duchess" in 2006 which included this song which includes Ludacris. I will always remember this song because of the little girls dancing around at summer camp to this song and going the "Fergie" dance. All kinds of bonus points for the appearance of Alfonso Ribeiro in the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0SyUgw98tE

"New York Minute"- Don Henley. In 1979, the Eagles broke up one of the biggest rock bands of all time and claimed that "Hell Would Freeze Over" before they got back together. All of them embarked on solo careers, with Don Henley really only making any real splashes. He made a huge splash with his third album, 1989's "The End of The Innocence". This song was never really a big hit, but has always been a favorite of mine. Every time I listen to this song, I wish a cool, epic video would have been made for it, especially for a song coming out at the peak of MTV's video era. Great live version here- even better than the Eagles live version from 1994.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRLJUz_QOMg

"Sweet Escape"- Gwen Stefani. Ok, I know I hate No Doubt, but I love when a solo artist does something completely different than what they did with their band. Plus, it's amazing how hot Gwen Stefani looks when she's not in a trashy band like No Doubt. I think Gwen Stefani should have been recording hip-hop all along, because while this song has a pop twist, it's more her style. This video cracks me up- bonus points for Akon, seeing how he wins the award for "Most Time Spent Behind Bars Claimed While Still Recording Music". Kind of an appropriate theme in the video for him wouldn't you say?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0lf_fE3HwA

"In The Air Tonight"- Phil Collins. In 1980, Genesis had just released their biggest album to that point "Duke". However, the constant touring and new found success had taken a toll on Phil Collins then wife, Andrea. In response to his impending divorce, Phil Collins took a leave of absence from Genesis to write and record his first solo album "Face Value" which deals with this feelings about his failed marriage. The lead song and lead single from the album is not only one of the most famous songs of the 80's, it remains Phil Collins most famous song ever. Despite it's urban legends about its meaning, the song is about how Collins felt after his divorce was final. The video shown here, is not only one of the early dark videos, it was one of the most requested videos in the early days of MTV. I've always thought how cool it was that this song was so popular in hip-hop circles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcZdJmdIM6U

"Maybe I'm Amazed"- Paul McCartney. This song has always been really special to me. However, not for the reason you might think. When seeing Paul McCartney in concert in New Orleans in 2002, McCartney had a beautiful speech about his late wife, Linda, who everyone knew he had a beautiful relationship with. He then recognized his then wife, Heather Mills. He then started this beautiful song, got 3 chords in and said AND I QUOTE "oh sh-t, that's wrong" and started the song over. Even the great Paul McCartney is human. Paul actually wrote this song in 1969 while the Beatles were still together and had originally intended for it to be a Beatles song. However, at the time he wrote it, he knew the Beatles were close to breaking up (which they would a year later, but for all practicality, they did in August 1969), and this song was about the comfort that Linda offered him during his depression over the group's impending break up. Still, for my money, Paul's best solo song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cm2YyVZBL8U

"One Woman Man"- Dave Hollister. In 1994, Dave Hollister put a little known R&B quartet from New York City called BLACKStreet on the map with their self titled debut album and with hits like "Before I Let You Go" and "Babi Me Mine". However, with their new found success, Dave Hollister left Blackstreet in 1995 to start his own solo career. He found pretty good success with his first release "Ghetto Hymns" but he really hit the mark with his phenomenal album "Chicago '85: The Movie". The Top 10 album has been a favorite of mine for a long time, and it featured this song as it's hit single. Please notice that every woman that is around Dave Hollister in this video has a rear end the size of Texas- does that guy have a preference or what? Good lord!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Al7eDvlsU5Y

"Senorita"- Justin Timberlake. I gotta give JT props, the guy is a great actor, especially more so in his post- N'Sync days, the guys just bleeds hip-hop and R&B while he's on the stage. With 2002's "Justified" he put forth this image more so with the hip hop group The Neptunes producing (and with group member Pharrell Williams on drums and backing vocals on this video). However, with the airing of first episode of "Punk'd" featuring the punking of Timberlake, he showed that deep inside, he is a dorky white guy that is far from the hard image he portrays on stage- ain't gonna knock the talent. Never been a huge JT fan, but I've always liked this song. The ending hook is just so cool!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJHYDkvRB2Y

"Halo"- Beyonce. Good lord, I love Beyonce! Michael Ealy is a cool guy, and I think an up and coming good actor, but you have to admit you know that even he got excited about being so lovey-dovey with Beyonce- who wouldn't be? It should be a crime for a woman to be this sexy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnVUHWCynig

"Walk Away From Love"- David Ruffin. David Ruffin was kicked out of the Temptations in 1968, but quickly caught on as a successful solo artist, by 1975, his luck had run out (along with his body weight.......and his cocaine) and his "swan song" of sorts was this top 10 hit shown here he performed on "American Bandstand". I actually get upset when I see David Ruffin because I think about despite being successful in his life, he could have done so much more and could be remembered as a great Mississippian instead of a crackhead.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pFT18a3VwQ

"Wild One"- Darius Rucker. One of the things that has always upset me about Darius Rucker is how he is dissed as "too white" for the African American community and being called an "Uncle Tom" by others. However, if they listened to his 2002 album "Back To Then", which is entirely R&B, they would see that Darius Rucker is truly just a musical plethora of talent. In 1992, Rucker's mother passed away, and he wanted to honor her with an album of music she grew up listening to. The lead single and biggest hit from the album, "Wild One" is one of my favorite R&B songs ever. Just goes to show that a truly great artist can sing rock, soul, and now country as he has begun his career as a country singer with the release of the album "Learn To Live", how appropriate because people should learn to live with the fact that Darius Rucker follows his heart and takes himself to where the music leads it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gMvgMq-2CM

BONUS VIDEO- Darius Rucker- "Come Back Song"- his newest single.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMQXpBB3H6U