From GROOVE ON
Written by Chris Farren, Jeffrey Steele & Vince Malamed – additional lyrics by L. Thompson
There are two things that huge hits like Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You,” All 4 One’s “I Swear” and “I Can Love You Like That,” plus Gerald Levert’s “I’d Give Anything” have in common: 1) they were all produced and arranged by David Foster and 2) before they became R&B/Pop smashes they were all big Country hits.Written and sung by Dolly Parton, “I Will Always Love You” reached #1 on the Country charts in 1974. John Michael Montgomery’s “I Swear” and “I Can Love You Like That” did the same in 1994 and 1995. Boy Howdy’s “She’d Give Anything” was a Top 5 in 1994. The ability to recognize the crossover potential of a country song is another side of David Foster’s notorious talent. His gift can be applied in reverse as well. Foster’s protégée, Kevin Sharp, scored big on the country charts with “Nobody Knows,” a cover of Tony Rich Project’s R&B/Pop/AC hit.
In 1994, “I’d Give Anything” was a big hit for Gerald Levert. The singing/songwriting son of Eddie LeVert Sr. (O’Jays) started his career as a member of LeVert, a highly successful R&B trio in the late eighties. This success led him to a great solo career that started in 1991 and has developed further over the years. He is also a successful producer and songwriter for artists like Barry White, Patti Labelle, Teddy Pendergrass, Stephanie Mills, and many others.
“I’d Give Anything” is a bittersweet ballad that greatly benefits from David Foster’s inspired arrangement. He gives the singer the perfect musical scenario for his powerful voice and intense performance. The track was a huge crossover hit reaching the Top 30 on Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on Billboard’s Hot R&B chart. This song’s parent album, “Groove On,” was a platinum seller that also rode high on the charts.
Listen
[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/i_d_give_anything.mp3|titles=I’d give anything|artists=Gerald Levert]
Lead Vocal: Gerald Levert
Keyboards: David Foster
Guitars: Michael Thompson
Synclavier Programming: Simon Franglen
Synthesizer Programming: Claude Gaudette & Tony Smith
Background Vocals: Warren Wiebe
Strings arranged by Bill Ross & David Foster
Produced & Arranged by David Foster
Lyrics
I’m waiting
for someone who could turn my life around
someone who could make me feel the way i used
to feel but she never comes
I’m searching
but there’s no one that I’d care to talk about
and all the lovers in the world don’t amount to much
’cause what I want is just one love
and I’d give anything
and everything
to fall in love
just this one time
I’d like to find
what I’ve been dreaming of
well I could find someone to hold me
but that wouldn’t be enough
but I’d give anything
to fall in love
now I lay here
I’d rather not be sleeping by myself
staring at the wall
I question it all
will she ever come
and I’d give anything
and everything
to fall in love
just this one time
I’d like to find
what I’ve been dreaming of
well I could find someone to hold me
but that wouldn’t be enough….
but I’d give anything
to fall in love
I’m gonna keep on making wishes
I’m gonna keep on being strong
I won’t settle for less than true love
I’m gonna keep on holdin’ on
I would give
and I’d give anything
and everything
to fall in love
just this one time
I’d like to find
what I’ve been dreaming of
well I could find someone
to hold me
but that wouldn’t be enough
but I’d give anything to fall in love
I’d give anything to fall in love
in love….