Never Run, Never Hide
| Never Run, Never Hide | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1980 | |||
| Recorded | 1979–1980 | |||
| Studio | Quadradical Studios (Miami, Florida) | |||
| Genre | Pop rock | |||
| Length | 37:01 | |||
| Label | Polydor | |||
| Producer | Barry Mraz | |||
| Benny Mardones chronology | ||||
| ||||
Never Run, Never Hide is the second studio by pop-rock singer-songwriter Benny Mardones album, released in May 1980 by Polydor Records.[1][2] It included his biggest hit, "Into the Night", which peaked that year at No. 11 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and re-charted nine years later, in 1989.[3]
Mardones said that the music was based on reality, stating in an interview that "nothing on my album is made up."[4] The track "American Bandstand", which was written about the music TV show of the same name and the presenter and host Dick Clark,[4][5] was performed on American Bandstand.[6] "Hold Me Down" was originally recorded and released on Mardones' 1978 debut album Thank God for Girls.[7][better source needed]
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [8] |
On 3 May 1980, Cashbox wrote that the songs on Never Run, Never Hide "are as much dramatic productions as they are straight ahead rock songs", highlighting Mardones's "flair for writing strong melodies and lyrics", along with his "wild boy rock style" that is reminiscent of Meat Loaf.[1] A week later, on May 10, Billboard praised Mardones's voice for doing justice to the album's songs, noting that its "uncompromising basic rock recalls Bob Seger at his best", and describing it as "well thought-out, well-played, and totally credible" commercial rock with no "frills".[2] When mentioning the album's best songs, both reviewers excluded "Into the Night" but included "She's So French".[1][2]
In July of that year, John Griffin of The Gazette found that Never Run, Never Hide "touches on the cornerstones of the rock foundation", observing that Mardones has a huge and expressive voice in the "Springsteen vein."[5] However, Griffin considered the album's greatest issue to be the production's "mock-heroism" style. At the end of the next month, Jack Lloyd of the Knight Newspaper Service wrote in The Blade that although the record has a limited amount of innovation, the songs are "at least put together with a fresh point of view", remarking that Mardones employs the usual forms of "punchy rockers and mellow ballads."[4] In September, Christine Hogan agreed that album's production was "terrific" as it "achieved wonderful levels of musical texture", concluding that it was "first rate rock and roll."[9]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "She's So French" |
| 4:33 |
| 2. | "Mighta Been Love" |
| 4:05 |
| 3. | "Into the Night" |
| 4:30 |
| 4. | "Crazy Boy" |
| 4:20 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hold Me Down" |
| 3:13 |
| 2. | "American Bandstand" |
| 3:54 |
| 3. | "Hey Baby" | Mardones | 3:58 |
| 4. | "Hometown Girls" |
| 3:13 |
| 5. | "Too Young" |
| 5:15 |
| Total length: | 37:01 | ||
Personnel
[edit]Adapted from the album's liner notes's liner notes.
Musicians
- Benny Mardones – lead vocals, backing vocals
- Robert Tepper – backing vocals
- Ron Bloom, Bobby Massaro – guitars
- Kinny Landrum – keyboards
- Rockin' Leigh Foxx – bass
- Sandy Gennaro – drums
Production
- Barry Mraz – producer, engineer
- David "The Gazelle" Gotlieb, Paul Speck – assistant engineers
- Greg Calbi – mastering (at Sterling Sound)
- Richard Wexler – photography
- Stephanie Zuras (AGI) – design
- Bob Heimall (AGI) – art direction
- Eric Gardner – management
Charts
[edit]| Chart (1980) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard 200[10] | 65 |
| Chart (1989) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard 200[11][better source needed] | 178 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Album Reviews" (PDF). Cashbox. Vol. XLI, no. 51. May 3, 1980. p. 15. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Billboard's Recommended LPs" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 85, no. 19. May 10, 1980. p. 77. Retrieved September 28, 2024 – via American Radio History.
- ^ Unterberger, Andrew (June 29, 2020). "Benny Mardones, 'Into the Night' Singer-Songwriter, Dead at 73". Billboard. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
- ^ a b c Lloyd, Jack (August 29, 1980). "An Innovator. Mardones Fresh Voice In Hard-Rock Revival". The Blade. pp. P-3. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
- ^ a b Griffin, John (July 5, 1980). "'Spider's' musical web is spun with decent tunes". The Gazette. p. 88. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Benny Mardones "American Bandstand" on American Bandstand. YouTube.
- ^ "Benny Mardones – Thank God for Girls (1978, Vinyl)". Discogs.
- ^ Allmusic review
- ^ Hogan, Christine (September 29, 1980). "David Bowie up to scratch". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 7. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
- ^ ""Never Run, Never Hide" Album by Benny Mardones". Music Charts Archive. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
- ^ "Music News, Reviews, Articles, Information, News Online & Free Music". Billboard. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
