Retro Video of the Week: "Somebody's Watching Me" by Rockwell

Yesterday was the 40th anniversary of the release of Rockwell's debut album, Somebody's Watching Me.  As you may or may not know, Rockwell's real name is Kennedy Gordy, and he is the sixth of Motown founder and CEO Berry Gordy's eight children.

Not yet 19 when Somebody's Watching Me was released, Rockwell had been kicked out of his father's house and was staying with one of his dad's former wives when he started working on the album, and in particular the title track.  It got the attention of a producer at Motown, who wanted to record the song.  Rockwell got childhood friend Michael Jackson and his brother Jermaine on board to sing the chorus and backing vocals, respectively.  The song was recorded without Berry Gordy's knowledge, but he was a fan when he heard the unreleased song.

Rockwell didn't want to rest on the laurels of his famous last name, which is why he took a stage name.  The album did very well, reaching #15 on the Billboard album chart and #5 on the Billboard R&B album chart.  That success is due in large part to the title track, which was a huge hit, both domestically and abroad.  In the U.S., it reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent five weeks at #1 on the Billboard R&B singles chart.  Internationally, it topped the pop charts in Belgium, France, and Spain, and it was a Top 10 hit on eleven other international pop charts.

The video is a classic mid '80s video, with Rockwell being paranoid in his house and for some reason showing with shorts on.  Turns out his paranoia was warranted, as some sort of cult that makes suckling pigs has invaded his house.