Synch - "Where Are You Now?"

(Not Available on iTunes)

(Debuted March 1, 1986, Peaked #77, 12 Weeks on the Chart)

The numbers above may seem odd. Readers may remember this song as being a little more recent than 1986, and definitely making the Top 40. And they're right on both counts.

Synch was a band from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania fronted by Lou Butwin. Jimmy Harnen was the drummer, but was given the chance to sing vocals for "Where Are You Now" since he wrote the song. The power pop tune was a big hit around the band's home base and in a few other markets, but not enough to carry the song into the Top 40. When no more hits came, their label dropped them and the band eventually disbanded.

In 1989, "Where Are You Now" was rediscovered and began to pick up some airplay. Since power pop was much more in vogue, it eventually spread wider than it did in its initial chart run. Unfortunately, Synch had broken up and wasn't available to seize the moment, so Columbia re-released the single as "Jimmy Harnen with Synch" and Harnen was signed as a solo artist. The second wind was quite fortunate, as the song sailed into the Top 10. However, success didn't follow him again and Harnen was a two-time "One-Hit Wonder."

So...where is Jimmy Harnen now? He's still in the music business as an executive.

So...someday, I'll be really lazy when I'm working on songs from 1989 and toss this one in again. I promise, though, it won't be anytime soon.