ARTIST SPOTLIGHT = Dionne Warwick (7 songs)
This singer-actress & TV show host became a United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food & Agriculture Organization, as well as a United States Ambassador Of Health.
#1
This song, written by Burt Bacharach & Hal David, was released November 1963 & became her 1st Billboard Hot 100 Top 10, reaching #8. It also reached #6 on the R&B & #2 on the Adult Contemporary charts. This single was her 2nd R&B Top 10 behind 1962’s “Don’t Make Me Over” (#5); it was her 1st Adult Contemporary chart entry. Elsewhere, this song peaked at #4 in 3 countries: Belgium, Netherlands & South Africa.
#2
This song, written by Burt Bacharach & Hal David, hit the airwaves 04/26/1964 & claimed #1 on the R&B chart, while peaking at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 & #7 on the Adult Contemporary charts. It also reached the Top 10 in England, notching at #9. Since, this song has been covered by a variety of artists, including Isaac Hayes (who guest starred with Warwick on an episode of TV’s “The Rockford Files”), Melissa Manchester, Cyndi Lauper, Seal, Aretha Franklin, The Beach Boys, Gloria Gaynor & The Jackson 5.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijhL9Y7skQs
#3
After success with such tunes as 1964’s “Reach Out For Me”, 1966’s “Message To Michael”, 1967’s “Alfie” & 1967’s “I Say A Little Prayer”, this song was released October 1967 from the soundtrack for the film version of Jacqueline Susann’s novel ‘Valley Of The Dolls’. Actress Barbara Parkins (starred in the film) suggested Warwick for the song, but it was originally offered to Judy Garland, who’d been fired from the film. Warwick’s version reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 & Adult Contemporary charts, while reaching #13 on the R&B chart. The single also reached #4 in Canada.
#4
Written by Burt Bacharach & Hal David, this song was originally written for the 1968 musical “Promises, Promises”. Introduced in that production by Jerry Orbach & Jill O’Hara, the song was nominated for the 1969 Song Of The Year Grammy. Since, the song has been covered by many artists, including Chet Atkins, The Carpenters, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Ella Fitzgerald, Bobbie Gentry, Isaac Hayes & Anne Murray. Warwick’s late 1969 version is arguably the most known, reaching #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 & claiming #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart in early 1970. It also notched at #3 in Canada. For Warwick, this single followed success in 1968’s “Do You Know The Way To San Jose” & 1969’s “This Girl’s In Love With You”.
#5
This song, released 07/13/1974, was her only widely-successful single while with Warner Brothers; ironically, it is also arguably one of her best-charting songs, claiming #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, #2 on the R&B & #3 on the Adult Contemporary charts. In Canada, it reached #7. While the song is credited as “featuring The Spinners”, it was, interestingly, technically released through The Spinners’ label, Atlantic Records.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMNAAZk4Bgk
#6
This song, by Richard Kerr & Will Jennings, was produced by Barry Manilow. 1st recorded by Kerr, this single became popular with Warwick’s version, released 07/15/1979. This song, credited with renewing her popularity after a virtual absence from the charts in the mid-late 1970s, peaked at #5 on both the Billboard Hot 100 & Adult Contemporary charts; it also reached #18 on the R&B chart, while notching at #6 in Canada.
#7
Released September 1982, this song was written by Bee Gees’ Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb. Warwick was not fond of it, but trusted the Bee Gees judgment; that trust was rewarded as the single became her most-successful solo hit of the 1980s, peaking in early 1983 at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100, #1 on the Adult Contemporary & #14 on the R&B charts. Internationally, the song notched in the Top 10 in 11 other countries, including Australia (#2), Denmark (#2), Ireland (#2), New Zealand (#4) & Spain (#3). Her last chart topper (on multiple charts) was 1985’s “That’s What Friends Are For”, with Elton John, Gladys Knight & Stevie Wonder.