Song#: 1563
Date: 08/13/1983
Debut: 85
Peak: 40
Weeks: 16
Genre: R&B, Pop
Pop Bits: Lattisaw's second and third albums were R&B Top 10's thanks to three Top 10 hits. She scored another hit with her fourth album, but it signaled a dip in popularity when the album stalled at #11. Staying with producer Narada Michael Walden, Lattisaw recorded her fifth disc, Sixteen (titled after her age at the time). This first single seemed on track to turn things around, but the tune couldn't get into the R&B Top 10 peaking just shy at #13. The song got a boost at Pop becoming her third and final Top 40 entry, but that still wasn't enough and the album faltered at #26 R&B, #160 Pop.
ReduxReview: Now that she was 16, I think Walden and Lattisaw had a plan to start ditching the cute teenage tunes in favor of more mature material. It was a smart thing to do, and this first single was a good step. However, it may have been a bit too pop-oriented to fully hit at R&B. I'm actually surprised this did not chart at AC as it seemed tailor made for the format. At least Pop gave it some support. While it is not an outstanding ballad, it is a quality piece with a nice vocal turn from Lattisaw.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: This song was co-written by Gary Benson and Frank Wildhorn. Wildhorn would go on to co-write Whitney Houston's 1988 #1 hit "Where Do Broken Hearts Go," but it would be his compositions for Broadway shows that would make him famous. His first show, Jeckyl & Hyde, would reach Broadway in 1997 and run for four years. During that run, he would compose scores for two more shows that would reach Broadway - The Scarlet Pimpernel and The Civil War. In 1999, all three shows were playing on Broadway. Wildhorn would receive Tony nods for Best Original Score for Scarlet and Civil. Both shows would also receive nods for Best Musical.
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