"After You" by Dionne Warwick

Song#:  0106
Date:  03/29/1980
Debut:  86
Peak:  65
Weeks:  6
Genre:  Pop, Adult Contemporary



Pop Bits:  Warwick had a very successful run in the 60s, mainly with the writing team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. A big chunk of her Top 10 hits were written by the pair including classics like "I Say a Little Prayer" and "Walk on By." In 1971, she signed a contract with Warner Bros. for $5 million - the highest paid to female vocalist at the time. Bacharach and David would be on board to write and produce her albums. They got one album out the door but a year later the writing duo had a fall-out and split leaving Warwick in the lurch. She had obligations to Warner, so she continued on recording albums with other producers to little success. She then sued the writing due for breach of contract and settled. Her only success during this period was her first #1 pop chart hit "Then Came You," a duet with the Spinners. Once she fulfilled her Warner contract, she got picked up by Clive Davis and moved to Arista, which was also the home of Barry Manilow. Davis put the two together and the result was the best selling album of her career. Anchored by the singles "I'll Never Love This Way Again" (#5, gold) and "Deja Vu" (#15), Warwick was hot once again. This song was the third single from the very successful "Dionne" album.

ReduxReview:  In the 80s, Warwick would have several singles in this pop/AC vein. Some work and some are just not memorable - like this one. Putting Manilow and Warwick was a terrific idea and it paid off with two great singles and a couple of other good album tracks, but this big ballad is just a pleasant AC tune that doesn't resonate for very long.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  Warwick was the first female artist to win both Pop Vocal and R&B Vocal Grammys in the same year. She won pop vocal for "I'll Never Love..." and R&B vocal for "Deja Vu" (which incidentally was co-written by Isaac Hayes).

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