from TWO OF A KIND
written by David Foster & Boz Scaggs
After the massive, platinum plus success of albums like “Silk Degrees,” “Middle Man” and string of big hits like “Lowdown,” “We’re All Alone,” “Jojo” and “Look What You’ve Done To Me,” Boz Scaggs decided to go on hiatus in the early eighties.
During those years, the singer/songwriter opened a club and lived a quiet family life with just a couple of special musical appearances. Then in 1988, he released his comeback album “Other Roads.”
Scaggs first sang a cover of “Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing” with R&B diva Angela Bofill for her record “Too Tough” in 1983. Later that year, he walked into a studio to record “The Perfect One,” a song to be included on the soundtrack of the John Travolta/Olivia Newton-John movie, “Two Of A Kind.” “The Perfect One” was clear proof that Scaggs’ quality pop was still top notch and his vocal talent intact. The song is a fantastic pop ballad co-written with David Foster and, like all the previous Scaggs/Foster collaborations, is an example of taste and class. Scaggs’ familiar voice is beautifully served by the elegant, intimate arrangement, smooth instrumental performance (a special mention for Steve Lukather’s intense guitar solo), soothing strings courtesy of Marty Paich and pristine production. Here Foster shared the production duties with other two Scaggs’ alumni; David Paich and Jeff Porcaro of Toto. Given the superior talents, we can state that this magnificent ballad couldn’t be called anything else but “The Perfect One.”
Listen [audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/the _perfect_one.mp3|titles=The perfect one|artists=Boz Scaggs]
Lead Vocals: Boz Scaggs
Drums: Jeff Porcaro
Keyboards: David Foster & David Paich
Guitar: Steve Lukather
Strings Arrangement by Marty Paich
Produced by David Foster, David Paich & Jeff Porcaro
Lyrics
Echoes across the frozen lake
The stillness’ still much more than I can take
I hear the final hours chime
And wonder if this note will arrive in time
Stop! Right where you begin
We might as well give in
‘Cause we’re tumblin’ anyway
Whoa, start, right where it should end
But start again like friends
Let our hearts refine the way
May you, you and I
Never be undone
May you, you and I
Be a perfect one
Find that face within a crowd
And watch it slip away behind a cloud
Funny how a smile can stray
And end up half a universe away
Stop! Right where you begin
You might as well give in
‘Cause we’re tumblin’ anyway
Whoa, start, right where it should end
But start again like friends
Let our hearts refine the way
May you, you and I
Never be undone
May you, you and I
Be a perfect one
May you, you and I
Be a perfect one