The Motels! Their 1982 Hit, "Only The Lonely!"

I heard this song the other day and I felt like Scottie beamed me right back to the 80s. I then went to my time machine called, YouTube, and played it at least a dozen times. Wow! The Saxophone and Bass parts are just the coolest! One of the most underrated bands of the 80s.

If ever there was a group that should get back together in its original line up, it’s these LA guys.

“Only the Lonely” was a 1982 hit single from The Motels' third Album called, All Four One. The album felt like the 'fourth album' to the band, because it’s mostly a re-recording of an unreleased album entitled Apocalypso.

Here’s how it came about. After the mild success of their second album Careful, The Motels went back into the studio in early 1981 to record album three. Wanting to stretch the limits as to what they could do artistically and musically, the band recorded some of its most heavy music to date. Despite having a new producer for the album, the songs were basically arranged and handled by the band. The results were mixed. While some arrangements on the tracks were outstanding rock numbers, some were a little too experimental and not as well produced ("Only the Lonely"). Neither the band nor their new producer ever submitted any of the recordings to Capitol Records while the recording process was going on. When the band submitted the final tapes to Capitol, the label rejected it stating that it was "not commercial," essentially meaning it was a dead record.

Unwilling to give up, the members went back into the studio with their producer at the controls. This time he had more liberty to mold the band's sound to a more commercial venue. Studio musicians were added to fill specific voids for several of the tracks (because their lead guitarist, Tim McGovern had left), as well as to flesh out the sound of the recordings.

The album was re-titled All Four One because the band had recorded four albums but one would not be released, and also because the four remaining members had stayed together to complete the album ("all for one and one for all!"). It was released in April 1982 on Capitol Records. The result was the biggest selling album for The Motels.

It wouldn't last.

On February 13, 1987, Martha Davis approached each member of the band to notify them that she had decided to dissolve the band and go solo.

Today, Martha Davis still performs/tours with various musicians under the name, “The Motels featuring Martha Davis”, playing new material and acoustic versions of their old hits. Although all of the members of the 1982—1987 line-up of the band reunited in 2004 for an appearance on VH1's Bands Reunited, again, it wouldn’t last.

The good news??


Martha has stated there will be more music released in the future. Lets hope it’s with the original line up to bring the magic back!