Dan Hartman wrote a beautiful song in the early 80s. Catchy hook, great beat, and a happy story. But as Clint Eastwood said in Magnum Force, “A man has got to know his limitations.”

The real Dan is below. His song was used in the film Streets of Fire and a fictional group called The Sorels made Dan’s song a heck of a lot cooler by keeping Dan out of it. Dan didn’t have the right moves.

Well played, Hollywood. Dapper Dan does appear in this version that also received ample airplay on MTV. It was a story within the story. Now everybody has a moment to shine.

Dan Hartman died in 1994 of a brain tumor associated with AIDS. He was a prolific songwriter and entertainer who rocked out with the likes of Rick Derringer and the Edgar Winter Group. Hartman wrote and sang the monster radio hit “Free Ride” for Edgar Winter.

There’s your pop knowledge drop for tonight.