1970s, Rock

We’ve Got Tonight

November 22, 2014

First recorded by Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band (US #13 1978 |UK #49 1979).
Other hit versions by Kenny Rogers & Sheena Easton (US #6/MOR #2/C&W #1/UK #28 1983), Lulu & Ronan Keating (UK #4/AUS #6 2002).

From the wiki: “‘We’ve Got Tonight’ was written by Bob Seger, from his 1978 album Stranger in Town, and became a hit single for Seger and the Silver Bullet Band. In 1983, Country-Pop star Kenny Rogers recorded the song as a duet with Pop star Sheena Easton. Their recording reached #1 on the Billboard Country Singles chart, #6 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #2 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. The duet also reached the Top 30 in the UK.

I Could Never Miss You (More Than I Do)

November 2, 2014

First recorded by Lulu (1979).
First single release (as “I Could Never Miss You More”) by Melba Moore (1980).
Also recorded (as “I Could Never Miss You”) by Bobbi Walker (1980).
Hit version by Lulu (US #18/UK #62 1981).

From the wiki: “‘I Could Never Miss You (More Than I Do)’ was written by Neil Harrison and first appeared on Don’t Take Love For Granted, Lulu’s 1979 album released on Elton John’s The Rocket Record Company label, produced by Mark London. London had been the co-writer of Lulu’s major hit, ‘To Sir, With Love’, and was also the husband of Lulu’s longtime manager, Marion Massey.

“Although ‘I Could Never Miss You’ was not issued as a single in 1979, the track garnered some attention after being covered in 1980 by both Melba Moore (as ‘I Could Never Miss You More’) and Bobbi Walker (as “I Could Never Miss You”). In the summer of 1981, after acquiring rights to the original recording, Alfa Records released the Lulu original as a single that charted in the US Top 20.”

Here Comes the Night

January 25, 2013

First released by Lulu (UK #50 1964).
Hit version by Them (US #24/UK #2 1965).

From the wiki: “‘Here Comes the Night’ was written by Bert Berns. Them had intended this song to be the follow-up to ‘Baby, Please Don’t Go‘ but Decca rush-released a recording of the song by Lulu (‘To Sir With Love’, ‘I Could Never Miss You More Than I Do‘) in November 1964.

“The band members of Them were said to be bitterly disappointed by this decision made by Decca and Decca Records co-owner (and Radio Caroline co-director) Phil Solomon. Session musician and songwriter Phil Coulter (‘Puppet on a String’, ‘Saturday Night‘) remarked: ‘They bitched to me a lot but they wouldn’t dare to have said anything to Solomon.’

“Them was said to have a ‘certain grim satisfaction’ as Lulu’s recording reached #50 and then dropped off the charts. Jimmy Page played guitar on Them’s arrangement. Andy White (best known for replacing Ringo Starr on drums on The Beatles’ first single, ‘Love Me Do’) and Tommy Scott performed backing vocals with Coulter on keyboards.

“Them’s ‘Here Comes the Night’ became the group’s second UK Top-10 and their first US Top-40 hit.”

Tagged: Lulu