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BAD SEED

from KIM CARNES
Written by Kim Carnes, Dave Ellingson, Mentor Williams & Eddie Reeves

Kim Carnes is an American singer/songwriter mostly known for her beautiful husky voice and her 1981 #1 classic, “Bette Davis Eyes.”

In the course of her long career, Carnes has released thirteen studio albums and placed more than a dozen solo singles on Billboard’s Hot 100. She reached the Top Ten in 1980 with “Don’t Fall In Love With A Dreamer,” a duet with country/pop superstar Kenny Rogers and two duets in 1984, one again with Rogers and another with R&B singer James Ingram. Carnes and Ingram scored on the Top 20 with “What About Me?,” a ballad co-written and produced by David Foster. Foster and Carnes crossed paths earlier in their careers.

The future Hitman played keyboards on Carnes’ 1975 self-titled sophomore release. Kim Carnes presented mostly originals co-written by Carnes that walked a fine line between country and traditional pop. The material was solid and handled well by veteran producer Mentor Williams. Williams enlisted a string of session aces to ensure top-notch quality on the instrumental tracks. The album was split between ballads and mid-tempo pop stuff. Carnes’ vocal performances were very good and, paired with her noteworthy songwriting talent, gave excellent indication of her potential. Three singles were taken from Kim Carnes including two evocative ballads, “Somewhere In The Night” which later became a Barry Manilow hit and “You Are A Part Of Me” that became a minor hit on the Adult Contemporary chart. The Song of the Week was the third single, a catchy mid-tempo called “Bad Seed.”

“Bad Seed” showed echoes of Sir Elton John’s sophisticated pop writing and had a breezy feel, a killer pop refrain plus great vocal and instrumental performances that should have made it a Top 40 hit. Foster’s piano was up-front here, like on most of Kim Carnes, and was joined by other studio legends including Jim Keltner on drums, Dean Parks on guitar and Lee Sklar on bass. The superior level of this recording wasn’t really a surprise. Kim Carnes may not have been a masterpiece, but it was a sign of the best popular music of the seventies delivered through tasteful songwriting and great performances.


Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/02-Bad-Seed.mp3|titles=Bad Seed|artists=Kim Carnes]

Lead, Backing Vocals & Fender Rhodes: Kim Carnes
Piano, Clavinet & Fender Rhodes: David Foster
Organ & Moog Synthesizer: Mike Utley
Bass: Lee Sklar
Drums: Jim Keltner
Guitars: Dean Parks
Percussion: Steve Forman
Background Vocals: Maxine Willard Waters & Julia Tillman Waters

Produced by Mentor Williams


Lyrics

When does a lover ever learn to say goodbye
When does a lover finally stop giving it one more try
If holding you for a night or two
Is all I’m ever gonna see of you
You’d better love me up and on the way back down
Give me something I need
Something I ain’t found

Just like a bad seed in the wind
You keep blowing back again
When everybody’s turned you out I’ll take you in
You’re a bad seed in the wind
And you’ve just got to have a friend
Come on and take my love and you can break my heart again
Darlin’ come on and take my love and you can break my heart again

I see the memories in your eyes do they keep you company
And I hear your temporary sighs callin’ out to me
Givin’ in is all I do
I give you more and you take it too
If that’s the way that it’s got to be
Come and take what you need
And take it good from me

Just like a bad seed in the wind
You keep blowing back again
When everybody’s turned you out I’ll take you in
You’re a bad seed in the wind
And you’ve just got to have a friend
Come on and take my love and you can break my heart again
Darlin’ come on and take my love and you can break my heart again

Damn that ol’ dream that you keep chasin’
So many things that I could have done
But I keep waiting waiting

Just like a bad seed in the wind
You keep blowing back again
When everybody’s turned you out I’ll take you in
You’re a bad seed in the wind
And you’ve just got to have a friend
Come on and take my love and you can break my heart again
Darlin’ come on and take my love and you can break my heart again