"I'll Always Love You" by Taylor Dayne

Top 10 Alert!

Gold Record Alert!

Song#:  3545

Date:  06/11/1988

Debut:  82

Peak:  3

Weeks:  30

Genre:  Pop, Blue-Eyed Soul

Pop Bits:  Dayne's debut album, Tell It to My Heart, was already a gold seller by this point thanks to a pair of #7 Pop hits that included the title track and "Prove Your Love." Both of those were Hi-NRG dance tracks so for the LP's third single this change of pace ballad was issued out. The song would be a slow burner taking its time climbing the chart. It would eventually peak at #3 on the Pop chart in its sixteenth week and stay for an additional week. Then the tune took nearly the same amount of time descending the chart. The lengthy thirty weeks on the chart played into sales and the single would be certified gold. The hit would also send the LP to its peak of #21 and by November of '88 it would go platinum. The song would also get to #2 at AC and #21 R&B. It would be Dayne's only single to reach the R&B chart. Although it wasn't a big R&B hit, the song would earn Dayne a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female.

ReduxReview:  This was such a lovely, well-written song that was a perfect vehicle to showcase Dayne's amazing voice. It was a smart single choice as it indicated that Dayne was a lot more than just a dance music diva. Indeed it expanded her audience and that would help turn her debut LP into a double-platinum seller down the road. She also got a well-deserved Grammy nod for her performance. Dayne was on a roll and she wasn't done yet.

ReduxRating:  9/10

Trivia:  This song was written by Jimmy George. George attempted a solo career in the 60s recording a few singles, but nothing clicked. He then moved on as a musician supporting many acts and was also a staff songwriter for a couple of labels. His tunes would get recorded by artists like Dobie Gray, Nancy Sinatra, Tavares, and The Temptations. He would have two of his compositions reach the Pop Top 10. In 1987, Smokey Robinson recorded "Just to See Her," a song written by George and Lou Pardini. It would get to #8 Pop/#1 AC/#2 R&B. It would also earn Robinson his first solo Grammy award for Best R&B Performance, Male, while earning George his first Grammy nod for Best R&B Song. The following year, George's "I'll Always Love You" would find its way to Taylor Dayne. It would be a major hit that got George his second Grammy nod in the Best R&B Song category.

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