Dexys Midnight Runners – Come On Eileen

In 1983, a pop-rock band from Birmingham, England burst onto the scene in America.  Formed in 1978 and led by Kevin Rowland, Dexys Midnight Runners named themselves after Dexedrine, a widely-used pep pill.  Ironically, the band abided by a strict “no drink or drugs code.  The band initially adopted a visual image taken from characters in Robert DeNiro’s movie, “Mean Streets”, but eventually discarded it for dungarees and a gypsy-like look.  The band released, “Come On Eileen” in early 1983 where it spent one week at #1 according to Billboard, and also ended Michael Jackson’s chart dominance of 7 weeks at #1 (“Billie Jean”).  Turnaround is fair play because the song that knocked “Come On Eileen” out of the #1 spot was Michael Jackson’s “Beat It”.  The next release by the Britons was “The Celtic Soul Brothers” which peaked at #86 on the U.S. charts.  The band eventually split and Rowland recorded as a solo artist, and future releases never again charted in America.  With a fusion of traditional soul and Irish folk, “Come On Eileen” goes down as one of the most definitive party/wedding songs of all-time.