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Tag: Paul Anka

LEARNING TO LOVE AGAIN

from HEADLINES
Written by David Foster & Paul Anka

 

In 1979, traditional pop star Paul Anka released his new album titled Headlines. It was the Canadian icon’s second album for RCA Victor after Listen To Your Heart the previous year. Torn between the disco craze and the new punk/rock sounds, the record company didn’t push the album properly. To his credit, the veteran singer/songwriter tried to modernize his trademark conservative pop music with a couple of disco-influenced numbers and a collaboration with an up-’n’-coming music-maker named David Foster. Foster had appeared on a couple of Mr. Anka’s past releases playing keyboards and co-writing songs.

DON’T EVER SAY GOODBYE

Written by David Foster, Paul Anka & David Wolfert

The romantic ballad “Don’t Ever Say Goodbye” was one of the first collaborations by veteran singing star Paul Anka with a young and supremely gifted David Foster. “Don’t Ever Say Goodbye” was originally included on Anka’s 1978 album, Listen To Your Heart. The song also bore the signature of David Wolfert who produced Listen To Your Heart along the lines of the most sophisticated easy listening of the late seventies. One of the most sought-after music-makers of the genre, Wolfert wrote, arranged and produced significant stuff for the likes of Barbra Streisand, Melissa Manchester, Dusty Springfield, Dolly Parton and Cher .

DO I LOVE YOU?

from A BODY OF WORK
Written by Paul Anka, Yves Dessca, Maxine Piolot, Alain Chamfort, Michel Pilay

Veteran pop star Paul Anka found another beautiful French melody as he did a few years earlier with Claude Francoise’s “Comme D’habitude” that became, with his ingenious lyrics, the immortal “My Way.” This time, Anka added some gorgeous love lyrics around a composition by the team of Alain Chamfort and Michel Pilay. The result was “Do I Love You?” that was first recorded by the Canadian legend on his 1971 self-titled album. The song was released as a single and became a minor hit for Anka. In 1977 under the title of “Do I Love You (Yes In Every Way),” the song was resurrected by country singer Donna Fargo who brought it to #2 on the Country charts in the US and #1 in Canada.

TAKE ME IN YOUR ARMS

from WALK A FINE LINE

written by David Foster & Paul Anka

“Walk A Fine Line” was released in 1983 and was one of the best albums of Paul Anka’s legendary career. The recording saw the veteran singer/songwriter joining forces with brilliant new minds of quality pop like Michael McDonald, Jay Graydon and David Foster. That meeting resulted in an elegant pop/rock collection crafted in the same musical vein as big sellers like Kenny Loggins’ “High Adventures” or McDonald’s “If That’s What It Takes.” Foster was one of dominant figures on the Anka sessions and co-wrote the two singles off the album – the romantic ballad “Hold Me ‘Til The Mornin’ Comes” and the catchy up-tempo “Second Chance.” Both songs were Adult Contemporary hits at #2 and #14 respectively. “Hold Me ‘Til The Mornin’ Comes” was a gorgeous duet with Peter Cetera and was the last Top 40 hit of Anka’s career.

STAY WITH ME

from SOMEBODY LOVES YOU

written by Paul Anka, Carole Bayer Sager & Gerry Goffin

In the Eighties, the great Paul Anka released a couple of very good albums in an adult contemporary vein filled with refined songwriting and superior playing. The first record was, in 1983, “Walk A Fine Line” that’s an absolute masterpiece for the lovers of quality pop.