"Don't Say No Tonight" by Eugene Wilde

Song#:  2556
Date:  12/07/1985
Debut:  97
Peak:  76
Weeks:  10
Genre:  R&B



Pop Bits:  Wilde scored a #1 R&B hit (#83 Pop) with "Gotta Get You Home Tonight," the first single from his 1984 self-titled debut album. With his name established on the charts, Wilde then quickly set out to record a follow-up. In less than a year's time, he was able to get his next LP, Serenade, out the door. This track was selected to be the first single and once again, it was able to reach the top of the R&B chart. Crossover success still eluded him and it only did slightly better than "Gotta Get" on the Pop chart. Although it would be his last single to reach the Pop chart, he had further success at R&B grabbing another Top 10 and five other middling entries. As with his debut album, Serenade would be a Top 20 entry on the R&B Album chart. Wilde would move to MCA Records for two albums, but neither did very well and that brought an end to his major label days.

ReduxReview:  Usually if an artist repeats themselves, the results are not as good. However, Wilde was able to grab a second R&B #1 with a song that was very similar to his first one. Both songs start exactly the same with a wind chime glissando followed by a smooth groove. The tunes also build in the same manner to a third act climax. The songs even share the word "tonight" in their titles! It's like this tune is part two of "Gotta Get." Basically, it sounds like Wilde ripped off Wilde. Oddly, this track isn't a lesser tune and is just as good as the first one. I guess the repeat performance didn't bother listeners.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  Wilde would later co-write a few songs that would get picked up by other artists. Sheena Easton would record one of his songs for her 1987 album No Sound But a Heart. He would also co-write the track "Dear Diary," which appeared on Britney Spears' 2000 LP Oops!...I Did It Again. His best effort as a songwriter came in 1995 when his co-write "I'll Never Break Your Heart" would be issued out as the Backstreet Boys' second single. That song would reach #1 at AC and #35 Pop.

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