Representative Songs: "Welcome to the Boomtown", "Ain't So Easy", "Swallowed by the Cracks"
Biography
Although they only recorded one album, the California duo of David Baerwald and David Ricketts made some of the finest mainstream pop of the '80s. With its slick surfaces and memorable melodies, 1986's Boomtown was deceptively smooth; beneath the production, the songs were tales of despair and broken dreams in the Reagan era. David & David scored a surprise hit in 1986 with "Welcome to the Boomtown"; it was their only single that charted. Baerwald began a critically acclaimed solo career in 1990; Ricketts has not released anything since Boomtown. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Boomtown was produced by Davitt Sigerson. It peaked at #39 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold in the U.S. by the RIAA. The followup single, "Swallowed By the Cracks" reached #14 on the Billboard Top Rock Tracks chart, while "Ain't So Easy" peaked at #51 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #17 on the Billboard Top Rock Tracks chart.
David & David disbanded shortly after Boomtown and Baerwald and Ricketts continued to work with other musicians. They both collaborated with Sheryl Crow on her debut LP, Tuesday Night Music Club.