He studied Opera when he was a teen. When he had his first audition they ask him if he knew any Van Halen and he had no idea who they were. Thus was born a rock star
Saw Sheriff in my hometown at a local bar in spring of 1982, they ended the night with this song. Was a hit in Canada in 82/83, long before it took off in the US some years later.
I'm 58..and clearly remember this song as a minor hit in the U.S. in '83. Then in '89 it was much bigger. It hit me at two different points in life and that is why I love it so much. Listen to that closing note..over 19 seconds! O Canada!! I know you all are not our biggest fans, but most of us south of the border love Canada!
Songfacts®: "When I'm With You" is certainly the most unlikely US #1 hit of the '80s. The song was seven years old, the band had long since broken up, it had no music video, and the album was long out of print and not available on CD. Still, for one magical week in 1989 (February 4), the song reached the top spot. Sheriff, a five-member Canadian band, formed in 1979 and released their only album, Sheriff, in 1982. Their first two singles were rockers that went nowhere; the third single was the ballad "When I'm With You," which went all the way to #61 in America in the summer of 1983. It wasn't enough to move the needle, and in 1985 band split up amid some degree of acrimony. In the '80s, radio stations would sometimes re-introduce a long-forgotten song in the hopes that it would connect with listeners if given a second chance; it happened with "Into The Night" by Benny Mardones and with "Red Red Wine" by UB40. And it happened again with "When I'm With You." According to the Billboard Book Of One-Hit Wonders, it was Jay Taylor, music director at KLUC in Phoenix, that put the song back on the air in 1988. As he hoped, it got a great response from listeners, so they kept it in rotation as if it were a new song. Other stations around the country got wind of it and added it to their playlists, leading Sheriff's old record company, Capitol, to re-release the single. This would have been a great time for the band to re-form, but two of the five members wanted nothing to do with it, and that was enough to quash the reunion. Sheriff never got back together, but those two holdouts - lead singer Freddy Curci and guitarist Steve DeMarchi - formed Alias and had a hit in 1990 with "(I Need You Now) More Than Words Can Say." Sheriff's guitarist, Arnold Lanni, wrote this heartfelt ballad as a Valentine's Day gift for a girl he was dating. It worked: She loved the song and they got married two years later. He worked up the song with the band, but they didn't think it would end up on the album. When their producer, Stacy Haydon, asked near the end of the sessions if they had anything else, they played him the song and he decided it should go on the tracklist. When the song went to #1, two members of the group, Arnold Lanni and Wolf Hassel, were in a new band called Frozen Ghost, which had a minor hit in 1987 with "Should I See." Lead singer Freddy Curci was working as a courier, he recalled delivering packages to an office when the song came on. He told the receptionist it was him singing the song, but she didn't believe him. When this hit #1 in America, Sheriff became the first Canadian band since Bachman-Turner Overdrive with "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" in 1974 to reach the top spot.
Well written - - except that Arnold Lanni was the keyboardist in Sheriff (who were previously known as the Police - - until that British band came along🙃) and alsothe lead singer in Frozen Ghost. He went on to have a very successful career as a producer.
Graduated in 88 and loved this song back then. Now having just celebrated our 25th anniversary I'm sitting here in a puddle of tears. What an awesome love song!!
This song was first released in 1982 but didn't really do much--until it hit #1 in the U.S. during my senior year of high school in 1989. I LOVE this song to this day!
When this song was first released in the early 1980's it didn't chart high and the group went back to their delivery service jobs. When it was re-released in 1988 it went all the way to #1. No one could believe that these guys with the current #1 hit were delivering packages to people's doors.
Our university vocal coach used this song as her master class in pitch and control. At the end it's just a straight hold with little or no vibrato and no runs.
This was a number one hit in a number of countries including Canada and the U.S.. lead singer singer Freddie Curci later was the lead singer of another band called Alias and sang on a number one hit for them as well called “More Than Words Can Say”
Super special song to me personally- I was dedicated to me by someone very special back in the day- ❤️. And the note at the end is said to be the longest ever held- I think I read it’s in Guinness World Records- I just love it!💖✌️👍
This song was a number one hit in the U.S. in 89. That was a fantastic year for ballads like "Eternal Flame" by the Bangles, "I Don't know Much" by Linda Ronstadt and I can't remember the guys name, but the list goes on and on.
Thank you. I was a radio announcer when "I Don't Know Much" was in the top 10 so I had to play it once every 3 hours. I have no idea why I couldn't remember Aaron Neville's name. Ronstadt and Neville had another great ballad that hit 14 on the charts that same year. 89 was a fantastic year for music.
When you start the timer at the very end when he begins to sing "When I'm with you..." and carries the note in the same breath, it lasts almost 27 seconds.
They split in late 1983 - the bassist and the writer/keyboardist on this song formed Frozen Ghost in 1986. Frozen Ghost's guitarist has filled the lead guitarist position with Bon Jovi for the last 9 years Alias was formed by the guitarist and the singer (along with former members of Heart) in late 89. The guitarist went on to perform with the Cranberries.
Great song from a band that I believe could be referred to as one hit wonders. Like Dennis Jacks I was familiar with this song from the early 80's here in Canada, long before it broke in the US. And speaking of Canada, I am pleased to say, Angela, that you are now officially ready to react to Blue Rodeo singing "Try"!
I'd love to see a reaction to Blue Rodeo! I'm partial to "Rose Colored Glasses" and "Heart Like Mine," from the "Outskirts" album, but all their stuff was fantastic.
You should learn how Freddie Curci, the lead singer, found out it was a hit. The song was recorded years before and the band was broken up. He was a package delivery guy and walked into an office building and when it came on the radio he told the receptionist he was the singer. She didn't believe him. Anyway he ended up being lead singer for the band Alias later.
I don't remember the exact details but one of Sheriffs' members went on to help form a band called Alias. I saw Alias' self named album CD in a music shop shop OH must be 25 years ago and took a chance on it and it was BRILLIANT!! That is all I heard about Alias and NOTHING about Sheriff untill the dawn of the Internet and RU-vid. In fact this is the first song of Sheriff's I've listened/viewed anywhere and I'm 51 years old. Both bands seemed to stay well under the radar, well over here in Northern Ireland anyway. This song and band look and sound EPIC 🎹🎸🥁🤘
Lead singer Freddy Curci and Alias had hits with Perfect World and More than Words while Albert Yanni and Frozen Ghost had Dreams come True and Pauper in Paradise among others
I think this was synced with the studio recording because he looked like he was taking breaths during that note!! Unless he knows how to prolong a note while taking breaths!! Love this song
after Sherrif broke up some formed Frozen Ghost and had huge hits especially Dream Come True which rapidly became classed as best love song ever and big choice for wedding song but Should I See about censorship and political tyranny was big too
Angela - I tell you what this song makes me think of. Think about being on a dance floor with someone (like me). A couple that is on the verge of taking a leap. Listen to the words A LOT closer next time. This is a song I promise you made couples fall in love.
Sheriff is from eastern Canada 🇨🇦 They broke up too soon. 💔 Same key as Heaven played by Warrant. Not the same song sung by Bryan Adams, who wrote it with Jim Vallance. 🇨🇦 Suggested next video Alias plays More Than Words Can Say. Same lead singer, Freddy Curci. 🇨🇦
Angela: Please, please, please do Blue Rodeo "Try" Jim Cuddy of the perfect pitch will blow you away with his vocals. "House of Dreams" is another amazing vocal from him. You might even find you like Greg Keelor of Blue Rodeo as much or maybe even more. His style is different from Jim's but that man can deliver as well.
