When In Rome...

The 80s featured as many, if not more, one hit wonders as any other decade in pop music history. Among the 80s one hit wonders alumni are the U.K. trio When In Rome. Clive Farrington, Andrew Mann and Michael Floreale had prior form in a Manchester band called Leisure which at one time also boasted vocalist Corinne Drewery who went on to front Swing Out Sister (1987 top 10 hit 'Breakout').

The lads released one album only as When In Rome with 1988's self titled effort. 'The Promise' promised big things for the trio reaching #11 in the U.S. but surprisingly failed to make an impact in their native U.K. (#58). It is a very 'American' sounding track and not unlike The Outfield (see earlier post) When In Rome presented more of a U.S. commercial image.

A second single 'Heaven Knows' (not to be mistaken for the Robert Plant song released around the same time) only scraped into Billboard's Top 100, reaching #95 in early '89. When In Rome then went the way of the Roman Empire (only far more swiftly) and disappeared from view. But they did leave one lasting monument in song.

'The Promise' came to public attention once more when it was featured on the soundtrack to the 2004 comedy 'Napoleon Dynamite'.

You can check out the promo clip on the following YouTube link: