from ST. ELMO’S FIRE
Written by David Foster & Richard Marx
In the early eighties, a very young but skilled Richard Marx began working as an assistant at David Foster’s Chartmaker Studios. Marx co-wrote some staples with the Hitman including “The Best Of Me,” recorded by Foster as a duet with Olivia Newton-John plus the Kenny Rogers, Kim Carnes and James Ingram hit, “What About Me?.”
Marx also wrote songs for Chicago (“Good For Nothing“), Fee Waybill (“Who Loves You Baby“) and the pop ballad “If I Turn You Away,” sung by newcomer Vikki Moss for the hit soundtrack of St. Elmo’s Fire.
Moss met Foster in her early twenties through her then-boyfriend and hockey superstar, Wayne Gretzki. Born in Edmonton , Canada , the young singer had the right looks and impressive vocal chops also seen in Sheena Easton or Olivia Newton-John. The super-producer first worked with Moss on the single “Hold Me Close” and eventually performed a duet with her on the track “Love At Second Sight” off his 1983 Best Of Me cd. Both were delicate pop ballads that nicely showcased Moss’ charming pop voice while being surrounded by Foster’s lush and catchy sounds.
Around 1985, those Foster/Moss collaborations produced “If I Turn You Away.” This track had the greatest potential of being included on a high-profile soundtrack. Musically, it was an extremely appealing ballad with captivating verses and a killer refrain delivered by an ear-candy arrangement. Moss’ vocals were on point. Her fresh, smooth singing was perfectly supported by Foster’s incredible programming and wall of keyboards that make up the skeleton of the song together with Mike Landau’s guitar and Dave Boruff’s trademark saxophone solo. The hit value of this song should have been rewarded with a single release. Nonetheless, “If I Turn You Away” remains one of the highlights of the St. Elmo’s Fire soundtrack.
Obviously, Moss didn’t become the new pop sensation. She did score a #1 on the Canadian Adult Contemporary chart with “Never Say Die,” a 1983 duet ballad with Tim Feehan.
Listen
[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/If-I-Turn-You-Away-Vikki-Moss-Warner-Canada-1985.mp3|titles=If I Turn You Away|artists=Vikki Moss]
Lead Vocals: Vikki Moss
Keyboards: David Foster
Guitars: Michael Landau
Saxophone: Dave Boruff
Produced & Arranged by David Foster
Lyrics
It won’t be hard to say goodbye I’ve seen this road before
And I’ve survived through every bend
You’re just a page I need to turn and I’ll be on my way
For me it’s over not the end.
Why should I stay and fight another lonely night?
I’ve got no reason to pretend.
You lied too many times and I’ve got too much pride
To let myself be fooled again.
So if I turn you away, it’s really nothing more
Than my way to say that it’s over.
If I turn you away, you’ll know the reason why
I just couldn’t stay anymore
Somewhere a stranger waits for me with eyes to warm my soul
His arms will hold me night and day.
You taught me everything I know ’bout breaking hearts and so
I think it’s time for me to say
You’ve had your way too long and I’ve been oh so wrong
To be a fool and not be gone.
I’ll tell you here and now, I’ll make it through somehow
I’ll find it easy to go on.
So if I turn you away, it’s really nothing more
Than my way to say that it’s over.
If I turn you away, you’ll know the reason why
I just couldn’t stay anymore
You lied too many times and I’ve got too much pride
To let myself be fooled again.
So if I turn you away, it’s really nothing more
Than my way to say that it’s over.
If I turn you away, you’ll know the reason why
I just couldn’t stay anymore
So if I turn you away, it’s really nothing more
Than my way to say that it’s over.
If I turn you away, (if I turn you away) you’ll know the reason why
I just couldn’t stay anymore
So if I turn you away (turn you away), it’s really nothing more
Than my way to say that it’s over.
If I turn you away, you’ll know the reason why
I just couldn’t stay anymore