What About Me? (Kenny Rogers album)

What About Me? is the sixteenth studio album by American singer Kenny Rogers, released by RCA Records in 1984. The album's title track, "What About Me?", is sung in trio with R&B singer James Ingram and Kim Carnes, which reached number one on the AC charts and was also a pop and country hit,[2] giving co-writer Richard Marx his first number one hit as a writer. Marx's second number one hit as a writer was the song "Crazy", which was included on the album.

What About Me?
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 1984
Recorded1984
StudioLion Share Recording (Los Angeles, CA); Ocean Way Recording (Los Angeles, CA); Sunset Sound (Hollywood, CA); The Lighthouse (Hermosa Beach, CA).
GenreCountry
Length40:03
LabelRCA Victor
ProducerKenny Rogers, David Foster
Kenny Rogers chronology
Eyes That See in the Dark
(1983)
What About Me?
(1984)
Once Upon a Christmas
(1984)
Singles from What About Me
  1. "What About Me"
    Released: 1984
  2. "Crazy"
    Released: December 17, 1984
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]

Elsewhere on the album is "Two Hearts, One Love" by Byron Hill,[3] and "Pickin' Up Strangers," released on Johnny Lee's Lookin' for Love album, and "The Stranger" (a story song in the vein of Rogers' previous hits such as "The Gambler" and "Lucille"), "The Night Goes On" (a R&B influenced ballad).

This album continued Rogers' long Platinum streak, quickly selling over a million copies.[2]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."What About Me?" (with Kim Carnes and James Ingram)Kenny Rogers, David Foster, Richard Marx4:23
2."The Night Goes On"Paul Gordon, Tom Keane4:35
3."Dream Dancin'"Laura Allan, Robbie Long4:25
4."Two Hearts One Love"Mike Dekle, Byron Hill3:36
5."I Don't Want to Know Why" (with Cindy Fee)Guy Thomas4:06
6."Didn't We?"Graham Lyle, Troy Seals3:55
7."Somebody Took My Love"Marx, David Pomeranz3:52
8."Crazy"Rogers, Marx3:43
9."The Stranger"Dolly Parton3:46
10."Heart to Heart"Richard Feldman, Jimmy Scott[4]3:42

Personnel

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Production

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  • Producers – Kenny Rogers (Tracks 1, 3-6, 9 & 10); David Foster (Tracks 1, 2, 7 & 8).
  • Production Assistant – Debbie Caponetta
  • Engineered and Mixed by Humberto Gatica
  • Additional Engineers – Mark Attel, Steve Crimmel, Reggie Dozier, Larry Ferguson, Tom Fouce, John Guess, Paul Lani, David Leonard, Laura Livingston, Steve Schmitt and Steve Shelton.
  • Mastered by Wally Traugott at Capitol Mastering (Hollywood, California).
  • A&R – Marge Meoli
  • Art Direction – John Coulter
  • Photography – Mario Casilli and Reid Miles
  • Management – Ken Kragen

Charts

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Further utilization

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The song "The Night Goes On" was used as a love theme for the Eden Capwell and Cruz Castillo characters on the Santa Barbara TV series.[10]

References

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  1. ^ Allmusic review
  2. ^ a b "Kenny Rogers Charts and Awards". AllMusic.
  3. ^ Ruggeberg, Rand (1986). Rand Ruggeberg Songwriter's Market - Byron Hill. p. 161.
  4. ^ "Jimmy Scott Discography". Jimmy Scott. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
  5. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 256. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  6. ^ "Kenny Rogers | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  7. ^ "Kenny Rogers Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  8. ^ "Kenny Rogers Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  9. ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1985". Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  10. ^ "Santa Barbara".