"I've Been Waiting for You All of My Life" by Paul Anka

Song#:  0568
Date:  04/18/1981
Debut:  88
Peak:  48
Weeks:  9
Genre:  Pop, Adult Contemporary



Pop Bits:  As a teen idol, Anka wrote and recorded several hits in the late 50s/early 60s including the #1's "Diana" (1957) and "Lonely Boy" (1959). But his star faded in the 60s with the onset of rock and the British Invasion and by the early 70s he had not had a Top 10 hit since 1961. But he experienced a career resurgence in 1974 and 1975 when he nabbed four Top 10 hits including the #1 "(You're) Having My Baby." Again, the hits faded but by that time Anka was already a legend and a fixture in Las Vegas. Occasionally he would get on the chart with a tune and this one from his album "Both Sides of Love" almost got him back in the Top 40.

ReduxReview:  Anka is a solid composer/songwriter, but he didn't write this one. Which is a good thing because it is kind of...well, not good. It sounds a bit hokey and I'm not sure if it was meant to be pop, AC, or even country crossover. Regardless, it is just not working for me. It sounds very dated now, and I think it sounded dated back then too. The chorus is on the verge of being something nice, but as a whole it's just no very good.

ReduxRating:  3/10

Trivia:  In addition to his own hits, Anka has written songs that went on to be standards in music. Most notably he wrote the theme to "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" and put English lyrics to the French song "Comme d'habitude," which eventually became one of Frank Sinatra's signature tunes, "My Way." He also wrote Tom Jones' biggest hit with the #2 "She's a Lady" (1971).

_________________________________________________________________________________