"Don't Fall in Love With a Dreamer" by Kenny Rogers & Kim Carnes

Top 10 Alert!

Song#:  0113
Date:  03/29/1980
Debut:  56
Peak:  4
Weeks:  19
Genre:  Pop, Country Crossover, Adult Contemporary



Pop Bits:  Rogers was at the peak of his career when the 80s began. He was coming off of his fourth #1 country album and his seventh #1 country song, all done with producer Larry Butler. His previous single "Coward of the County" was his fourth Top 10 hit on the pop chart. As artists tend to do, Rogers decided to make a change and follow-up one of his best-selling LP's ("Kenny") with a concept album. "Gideon" is a song cycle that provides snapshots from the life of a Texas cowboy named Gideon Tanner. This duet would be the album's only chart hit, and the first Top 10 for Kim Carnes - helping her popularity which would lead to a major solo hit the following year.

ReduxReview:  This is a beautifully written and performed song. Carnes' gravelly voice is a perfect fit with Rogers' gruff tones. Carnes has written lots of great songs, but this is one that would be near the top of the list of her best. Many years later, I got to see them in concert together. Carnes opened for Rogers, but during his set she came out and they did this song. It was the best moment of his set.

ReduxRating:  9/10

Trivia:  While still produced by Larry Butler, all songs for the album were written by Kim Carnes and her husband Dave Ellingson. Rogers and Carnes may seem like a bit of an odd combo, but they already had a history of performing together. Both joined the New Christy Minstrels in 1966 as replacement members. The following year, Rogers left the group with three other members and formed The First Edition. That group amassed ten pop chart songs including two Top 10 hits before the group disbanded and Rogers went solo in 1975.

_________________________________________________________________________________