David Foster with Peter Cetera co-wrote some giant Chicago hits like “Hard To Say I’m Sorry” and “You’re The Inspiration.” After the 1986 departure of Chicago ’s former lead singer/songwriter/bassist, their first top five hit was “Will You Still Love Me. ” Foster would co-pen this tune with his frequent collaborator Tom Keane. Back in the seventies, Keane was half of the successful teen duo, The Keane Brothers. Keane would go on to build a solid career in the eighties as a songwriter and producer by working with several music stars when he hooked up again with Foster.

2001 saw Keane release a cd for the Japanese market titled “Smoove & Juicy Covers.” As the title suggested, this project included Keane’s own performances of songs he co-wrote for big names like Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, George Benson, Chaka Khan and Al Jarreau. The aforementioned “Will You Still Love Me” was also a part of the track list and made for a great listen. This rendition presented a more intimate setting, quite stripped down compared to the sonic grandeur of Foster’s Chicago version. In the best Foster tradition, Keane kept the song focused on his multi-layered keyboards that supported a top-notch vocal performance. Keane’s mellow tenor gently caresses the romantic lyrics written by Richard Baskin. The overall result is a delicate gem of a ballad with superior class. Jason Scheff of Chicago can be heard as a guest on the track playing bass. Scheff was also the bass player in Keane’s pop/rock band in the early eighties and the two have been great friends ever since.

“Will You Still Love Me” was Scheff’s first major hit with the legendary horn band. To read our past review of Chicago ’s “Will You Still Love Me” and listen to that milestone, just click here.

Listen

Lead Vocals, Keyboards & Programming: Tom Keane
Bass & Upright Electric Bass: Jason Scheff

Arranged by Tom Keane
Produced by Kaz Matsumoto

Lyrics

Take me as I am
Put your hand in mine now and forever
Darling here I stand, stand before you now
Deep inside I always knew
It was you, you and me
Two hearts drawn together bound by destiny
It was you and you for me
Every road leads to your door
Every step I take forever more

[Chorus]
Just say you’ll love me for the rest of your life
I gotta lot of love and I don’t want to let go
Will you still love me for the rest of my life?
Cause I can’t go on
No, I can’t go on
I can’t go on
If I’m on my own

Take me as I am
Put your heart in mine, stay with me forever
’cause I am just a man who never understood
I never had a thing to prove
Till there was you
You and me
Then it all came clear so suddenly
How close to you that I want to be

[Chorus]

Do you believe a love could run so stong?
Do you believe a love could pass you by?
There was no special one for me
I was the lovely one, you see
But then my heart lost all control
Now you’re all that I know

[Chorus]