Single flashback

Sheriff - When I'm With You [1983]

Sometimes a tune can chart more than once, years apart from the original release.

And sometimes a band can split into two new bands and they both have some success.

But have both things ever happened off the back of one single?

In this case, the answer is a resounding YES.

Let’s start with the single. In this case, it’s ‘When I’m With You’ by Sheriff.

Released the first time from their 1982 self-titled debut, this tune was the follow-up to the lead single ‘You Remind Me’ - which did just fine, charting at #28.

This sounds great, and uhh… quite a bit like Boston?

In any event, this straightforward rocker did not drop any clues to the power balladry that was to follow.

Storming the singles chart, ‘When I’m With You’ spent four weeks in the Top 10, peaking at #8.

It also features The Note.

Because with all the amazing history of this tune and Sheriff’s members having success with two new bands, singer Freddy Curci also holds a Guinness World Record for the nearly 20 second note he hits at the end of this song.

Try and hold this, I dare you.

Several years later, a Las Vegas DJ started spinning the song to huge listener feedback, and soon other stations were doing likewise.

The single was re-released at hit #1 on Billboard, peaking at #29 in Canada for round two.

Inquiries went out to the former band members to get back together and support the single, but an agreement could not be found.

Sheriff’s lineup was:

• Arnold Lanni (keyboards, vocals)

• Wolf Hassel (bass, vocals)

• Freddy Curci (lead vocals)

• Steve de Marchi (guitar)

• Rob Elliott (drums)

After splitting up in 1985, two new projects emerged - Lanni & Hassel formed Frozen Ghost, and Curci & de Marchi created Alias with some of Heart’s former members.

Both did well, but Alias get the bragging rights, with their tune ‘More Than Words Can Say’ hitting #1 in Canada and #2 in the States.

Frozen Ghost called it quits in 1993 and Lanni went on to a successful career as a producer with CanCon bands like Finger Eleven and Our Lady Peace.

Hassel has since joined Alias, who still tour occasionally, and who no doubt perform ‘When I’m With You’ every chance they can.

I wonder if Freddy can still hold that note…?