40 years ago this week Huey Lewis and the News leapt onto the national music scene with the release of their self-titled debut album. The official release date was June 25, 1980.

When the band first signed their record deal, they were called Huey Lewis and the American Express. But foreseeing potential lawsuits with the credit card company of the same name, they were persuaded to change the band name before the album’s release.

Huey Lewis and the News was not a commercial success by any measure but did receive favorable reviews from some in the industry.

Two singles were released from the album and neither managed to punch through the charts. “Some of My Lies Are True (Sooner Or Later),” was the stronger of the two tracks and the video for the song is below.

It’s wasn’t until their second album, Picture This, came out in 1982, were they able to make their presence known to a wider audience. Three singles from that album charted, with the most memorable being “Do You Believe in Love.”

Then, of course in 1983, their album Sports, turned the band into a household name. Five songs from the album received radio airplay, with the first single, “Heart and Soul,” reaching the top spot of the Billboard Top Rock Tracks.

Get the latest from Huey Lewis and the News on their official website.

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