4 Reasons Unknown “4 Reasons Unknown”

For reasons unknown, I really like this record – it is one of my biggest guilty pleasures. This is a band from Dallas who won a contest on MTV called “Basement Tapes” in 1986, the prize of which was a record deal. Major label Epic released the band’s one and only album in 1988, this self-titled effort:

4 Reasons Unknown played quintessential 80s music. Melodic pop that is synth heavy with guitar licks peppered in for good measure. Bands like this were a dime a dozen at the time, but 4 Reasons Unknown wrote really catchy tunes often drenched in gorgeous harmony vocals. I would compare them to Richard Marx, Johnny Hates Jazz, or Mr. Mister...and they should have reached the same level of success.

While Paul Nugent handled most of the vocal duties, the group also boasted a recognizable baritone, singing like Brad Roberts from Crash Test Dummies before it was cool. My favorite song on the CD, “Love Parade”, is actually a duet between the two singers.

Epic foot the bill for a music video in support of the record, a tasty slice of melodic pop called “I Will Surrender”.

Another great cut is the melancholy ballad, “Does Anybody (Need Anyone Anymore)”. Packed with tunes that were just as good or better than what was on the radio at the time, it is really surprising this record just fizzled and died.

For the curious, here is the song, “Visual Signs”, that won the band the “MTV Basement Tapes” contest – complete with Martha Quinn’s introduction! (This song did not make the record).

Another fun piece of trivia:  which hard rock band from Boston did they just barely defeat to win the contest? Hint: they went on to score a huge #1 hit in 1991.

The answer is here.