What About Me? is the sixteenth studio album by American singer Kenny Rogers, released by RCA Records in 1984. The album's title track, "What About Me?", is sung in trio with R&B singer James Ingram and Kim Carnes, which reached number one on the AC charts and was also a pop and country hit,[2] giving co-writer Richard Marx his first number one hit as a writer. Marx's second number one hit as a writer was the song "Crazy", which was included on the album.
| What About Me? | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 1984 | |||
| Recorded | 1984 | |||
| Studio | Lion Share Recording (Los Angeles, CA); Ocean Way Recording (Los Angeles, CA); Sunset Sound (Hollywood, CA); The Lighthouse (Hermosa Beach, CA). | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 40:03 | |||
| Label | RCA Victor | |||
| Producer | Kenny Rogers, David Foster | |||
| Kenny Rogers chronology | ||||
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| Singles from What About Me | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
Elsewhere on the album is "Two Hearts, One Love" by Byron Hill,[3] and "Pickin' Up Strangers," released on Johnny Lee's Lookin' for Love album, and "The Stranger" (a story song in the vein of Rogers' previous hits such as "The Gambler" and "Lucille"), "The Night Goes On" (a R&B influenced ballad).
This album continued Rogers' long Platinum streak, quickly selling over a million copies.[2]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "What About Me?" (with Kim Carnes and James Ingram) | Kenny Rogers, David Foster, Richard Marx | 4:23 |
| 2. | "The Night Goes On" | Paul Gordon, Tom Keane | 4:35 |
| 3. | "Dream Dancin'" | Laura Allan, Robbie Long | 4:25 |
| 4. | "Two Hearts One Love" | Mike Dekle, Byron Hill | 3:36 |
| 5. | "I Don't Want to Know Why" (with Cindy Fee) | Guy Thomas | 4:06 |
| 6. | "Didn't We?" | Graham Lyle, Troy Seals | 3:55 |
| 7. | "Somebody Took My Love" | Marx, David Pomeranz | 3:52 |
| 8. | "Crazy" | Rogers, Marx | 3:43 |
| 9. | "The Stranger" | Dolly Parton | 3:46 |
| 10. | "Heart to Heart" | Richard Feldman, Jimmy Scott[4] | 3:42 |
Personnel
edit- Kenny Rogers – lead vocals, backing vocals
- Erich Bulling – keyboards, synthesizer programming
- Jimmy Cox – keyboards
- David Foster – keyboards, arrangements
- John Hobbs – keyboards
- Tom Keane – keyboards
- Randy Kerber – keyboards
- Marcus Ryle – keyboards, synthesizer programming
- Dann Huff – guitars
- Paul Jackson Jr. – guitars
- Michael Landau – guitars
- Fred Tackett – guitars
- Kin Vassy – guitars, backing vocals
- Billy Joe Walker Jr. – guitars
- Dennis Belfield – bass
- Joe Chemay – bass
- Nathan East – bass
- Neil Stubenhaus – bass
- Ed Greene – drums
- John Robinson – drums
- Sheila E. – percussion
- Steve Forman – percussion
- Michael Temple – percussion
- Gary Herbig – saxophone
- Jeremy Lubbock – string arrangements and conductor (3, 5, 8)
- Kim Carnes – lead and backing vocals (1)
- James Ingram – lead and backing vocals (1)
- Kenny Cetera – backing vocals
- Cindy Fee – backing vocals, lead vocals (5)
- Portia Griffin – backing vocals
- Richard Marx – backing vocals
- Herb Pedersen – backing vocals
- Kenny Rogers II – backing vocals
- Terry Williams – backing vocals
Production
edit- Producers – Kenny Rogers (Tracks 1, 3-6, 9 & 10); David Foster (Tracks 1, 2, 7 & 8).
- Production Assistant – Debbie Caponetta
- Engineered and Mixed by Humberto Gatica
- Additional Engineers – Mark Attel, Steve Crimmel, Reggie Dozier, Larry Ferguson, Tom Fouce, John Guess, Paul Lani, David Leonard, Laura Livingston, Steve Schmitt and Steve Shelton.
- Mastered by Wally Traugott at Capitol Mastering (Hollywood, California).
- A&R – Marge Meoli
- Art Direction – John Coulter
- Photography – Mario Casilli and Reid Miles
- Management – Ken Kragen
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
|
Year-end chartsedit
|
Further utilization
editThe song "The Night Goes On" was used as a love theme for the Eden Capwell and Cruz Castillo characters on the Santa Barbara TV series.[10]
References
edit- ^ Allmusic review
- ^ a b "Kenny Rogers Charts and Awards". AllMusic.
- ^ Ruggeberg, Rand (1986). Rand Ruggeberg Songwriter's Market - Byron Hill. p. 161.
- ^ "Jimmy Scott Discography". Jimmy Scott. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 256. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Kenny Rogers | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
- ^ "Kenny Rogers Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
- ^ "Kenny Rogers Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
- ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1985". Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
- ^ "Santa Barbara".