Tuesday, September 2, 2014

"Teach Me Tonight" by Al Jarreau

Song#:  0971
Date:  04/03/1982
Debut:  90
Peak:  70
Weeks:  7
Genre:  Crossover Jazz, R&B



Pop Bits:  Jarreau reaches back to his jazz vocal roots for this standard that served as the third single from his hit LP "Breakin' Away." The oldie couldn't make much headway on the pop chart, but with a sound that is typically more appreciated by adults, the song got to #19 on the AC chart.

ReduxReview:  Jarreau takes the standard and gives it a nice, updated retro sheen. The modern pop/AC arrangement helps the song along but really it is Jarreau's voice that takes it to another level. It's not the type of song you'd expect to hear on pop radio back then and so the #70 showing is pretty admirable. Most likely the attention it got at AC provided the push.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  This song was written by Sammy Cahn and Gene De Paul in 1953 and has since become known as a pop standard. It has been recorded by many artists over the years with five versions reaching the pop chart in the modern rock era (1955-present). The DeCastro Sisters, a trio of siblings from Cuba, had the biggest hit with the song when their version reached #2 in 1955. The Sisters re-recorded the song as a cha-cha in 1959 and that single reached #76.

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