"One More Time for Love" by Billy Preston and Syreeta

Song#:  0205
Date:  06/14/1980
Debut:  90
Peak:  52
Weeks:  10
Genre:  R&B



Pop Bits:  Preston had big success in the 60s and 70s as a session/touring musician and hit the charts himself with five Top 10 hits including the #1's "Will It Go Round In Circles" and "Nothing From Nothing." But the chart hits dried up in the late 70s and he moved over to the Motown label for a jump start. The change initially paid off when his duet with Syreeta, "With You I'm Born Again," hit #4 (from the film "Fast Break"). However, it would be his last Top 40 hit. This follow-up duet was from Syreeta's 1980 self-titled album, but it failed to repeat the success of "With You."

ReduxReview:  I can see why this song didn't do too well. When you decide to follow up such a beautiful song as "With You I'm Born Again," it had better be something terrific, and this song ain't it. It's a bland R&B tune that tries to incorporate the theatrical aspects of "With You" into a slinky groove. It just doesn't work. It's definitely not an epic fail; just pales in comparison.

ReduxRating:  4/10

Trivia:  Double Shot!  1) This is well-known, but just in case...Preston is only one of two artists to share billing on a Beatles single when "Get Back" was credited to The Beatles with Billy Preston. The other artist was Tony Sheridan.  2) Syreeta Wright was married to Stevie Wonder for eighteen months. Wonder encouraged her to write music and together they collaborated on several of his tracks including "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)" (#3) and "If You Really Love Me" (#8).

_________________________________________________________________________________