"Baby, What About You" by Crystal Gayle

Song#:  1602
Date:  09/10/1983
Debut:  88
Peak:  83
Weeks:  5
Genre:  Country



Pop Bits:  Gayle was in the spotlight late in 1982 thanks to her #6 duet with Eddie Rabbitt, "You and I." Issued around the same time was Gayle's first album for Elektra Records, True Love. Although the album failed to include "You and I," that hit helped propel three of her album's tracks to #1 at Country. The first two missed the Pop chart, but this third single managed a short run while taking off for #9 at AC. However, despite boasting three #1 singles, True Love stopped short of the Country Top 10 peaking at #14. It was her first to miss the Top 10 since 1975.

ReduxReview:  I like this song, but I'm not sure the arrangement is right. It sounds to me like a lost girl group song that should have been produced by Phil Spector. Or even something in the Buddy Holly vein. It's definitely a quality tune, but I would have liked to have it amped up just a bit. It just leans slightly toward the dull side of things. However, Gayle sounds great as usual and her vocal delivery fits the arrangement. A good effort that I think could have been even better.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  Before Gayle left Columbia Records for Elektra, she had one more project to do. Film director Francis Ford Coppola tapped Tom Waits to write the songs/soundtrack to his film One from the Heart. Coppola was inspired by a 1977 Waits duet with Bette Midler called "I Don't Talk to Strangers" and got Waits to work on the film project. Midler was not available to be a duet partner, so Waits turned to Crystal Gayle. Most of the songs were recorded live in the studio with a mix of duets and solo vocals from Waits and Gayle. The film was release early in 1982, but is was quickly sunk by poor reviews and uninterested audiences. Most folks would agree that the best part of the film was the soundtrack and the Oscars agreed giving Waits a nod for Best Original Music Score. Although the original soundtrack LP didn't chart, it has grown in popularity over the years thanks to glowing reviews and Waits' ever-growing fan base. A side note for Waits fans - Waits met his wife Kathleen Brennan during the recording of this album. She was working at the studio at the time. (My aside:  I absolutely love this album. Gayle's angelic voice worked so perfectly with Waits' music and his gruff voice. Gayle should have sung a lot more Waits songs over the years. If you are not familiar with this album, seek it out. Specifically, listen to Gayle's reading of "Take Me Home." So beautiful.)

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