Square Rooms

Infobox Single
Name = Square Rooms

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Artist = Al Corley
from Album = Square Rooms
Released = 1984 (Switzerland)
1985 (France, Austria)
Format = 7" vinyl
12" vinyl
Recorded = 1984
Genre = Pop / Europop / Eurodisco
Length = 3:40
Label = Mercury Records
Writer = Harold Faltermeyer
Al Corley
Peter John Woods
Producer = Harold Faltermeyer
Certification =
Last single =
This single = "Square Rooms"
(1984)
Next single = "Cold Dresses"
(1985)

"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 and a minor hit in the U.S. in 1985.

Background and writing

After two seasons playing 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" [Elia Habib, "Muz hit. tubes", 2002, p. 35 (ISBN 2-9518832-0-X)] .

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"Square Rooms", Swiss Top 30 Singles Chart [http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Al+Corley&titel=Square+Rooms&cat=s Hitparade.ch] (Retrieved December 16, 2007)] .

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"Square Rooms", French Top 50 Singles Chart [http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Al+Corley&titel=Square+Rooms&cat=s Lescharts.com] (Retrieved December 16, 2007)] .

The song also achieved success in Italy (#12), Germany (#13) and Austria where it reached #15 in April 1985"Square Rooms", Austrian Top 30 Singles Chart [http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Al+Corley&titel=Square+Rooms&cat=s Austriancharts.at] (Retrieved December 16, 2007)] .

"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 [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=379&cfgn=Singles&cfn=The+Billboard+Hot+100&ci=3004301&cdi=6190481&cid=06%2F01%2F1985 Billboard.com] ] . American dancefloors were more receptive than its airwaves; Corley reached #26 on the Billboard Dance/Disco chart the week of June 22, 1985 [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=359&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Hot+Dance+Club+Play&ci=3004299&cdi=6190359&cid=06%2F22%2F1985 Billboard.com] ] .

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". ["Nos années Top, clips et 45 tours : 1984-1991", Marc Lemonier, 2008, p. 31-32 (ISBN 225807648X)]

Formats and track listings

; 7" single
# "Square Rooms" — 3:40
# "Don't Play With Me" — 4:20; 12" maxi
# "Square Rooms" (long version) — 8:02
# "Square Rooms" (single version) — 3:40
# "Don't Play With Me" — 4:20

Charts

References