1980 Eddie Money – Playing For Keeps

Playing For Keeps is the third studio album by American rock musician Eddie Money, released in July 1980, by Wolfgang Records and Columbia Records. It continues the expansion to include pop oriented tracks that began with the previous album.

The inclusion of the reggae-influenced “Running Back” as well as the syrupy duet “Let’s Be Lovers Again” with Valerie Carter are indicative of the attempt to maintain rocker status and successfully migrate into the pop charts at the same time.

Several of the tracks were written in conjunction with band member Randy Nichols who toured and recorded with Money at the time.

“Get a Move On”- also featured on the soundtrack from Americathon featuring John Nelson slide guitar – received AOR airplay as did “Trinidad”, but the singles chosen for release didn’t stir much excitement with reviewers or radio.

The album was briefly released on the CD format, but quickly withdrawn. It had not been reissued on CD until 2012 when the four first albums were remastered and re-released by a European label named Rock Candy.

Following the end of the tour supporting this album, Money experienced a collapse and subsequent hospitalization. A notable break allowing for recuperation followed.