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Don't Know Much

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Wikipedia article




"'Don't Know Much'" is a song written by Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil and Tom Snow. Mann was the first to record the song in 1980, gaining a minor chart hit in the US. The song was made famous when it was covered as a duet by Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville in 1989. Their version was a worldwide success, topping the Irish Singles Chart and reaching the top 10 in several territories.

History



The song first appeared on Barry Mann's self-titled 1980 album, released on Casablanca records. Bill Medley scored a 'Billboard' Hot 100 chart success with it rising to number 88 in April 1981. The next month, the song hit number 29 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Bette Midler recorded a version with changed lyrics under the title "All I Need to Know", charting at number 77 in 1983.

In 2000, Barry Mann re-recorded the song with Brenda Russell on his album 'Soul and Inspiration', released on Atlantic Records.

Bill Medley version



In 1981, American singer-songwriter Bill Medley covered the song for his eighth studio album Sweet Thunder. Medley's version was a minor hit, reaching Number 88 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Number 29 on the US Adult Contemporary chart.

Charts



Bette Midler version



In 1983, American actress and singer Bette Midler covered the song for her 1983 album No Frills under the name "All I Need to Know", with changed lyrics. Midler's version reached Number 39 on the Billboard Hot Adult contemporary chart, Number 77 on the Billboard Hot 100, and Number 5 on the RPM Adult contemporary chart, having its highest peak there.

Charts



Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville version



{{Infobox song

| name = Don't Know Much

| cover = Linda Ronstadt Don't Know Much.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Linda Ronstadt featuring Aaron Neville

| album = Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind

| released = September 12, 1989

| format =

| recorded =

| studio = Skywalker Ranch, Marin County

| venue =

| genre = Pop

| length = 3:35

| label = Elektra

| writer =

| producer =

| chronology = Linda Ronstadt

| prev_title = Wildflowers

| prev_year = 1988

| next_title = All My Life

| next_year = 1989

| misc =

}}

The song was covered on Linda Ronstadt's triple-platinum 1989 album 'Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind'. It was introduced to Ronstadt and Neville by Steve Tyrell. Co-produced by Tyrell and Peter Asher, it was released as a single in the United States in 1989, peaking at number two on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 and number one on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. The single was Ronstadt's 10th top-10 hit and was certified Gold, eventually selling over 900,000 copies in the United States. In the United Kingdom, the song peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart. The song also peaked at number one in Ireland, number two in Australia, and reached the top five in Austria, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.

"Don't Know Much" won Ronstadt and Neville the 1990 Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and was nominated for Song of the Year.

Critical reception

The song received favorable reviews from music critics. A reviewer from 'Billboard' deemed it "a strong send-off." Swedish newspaper 'Expressen' called it "heavenly". They added, "What a lovesong."'Expressen'. November 6, 1989. Cary Darling from 'Orange County Register' labeled it as a "soaring, wide-screen ballad." Jan DeKnock from 'Orlando Sentinel' described the song as "a killer ballad." 'People Magazine' wrote that "their voices fuse like sunlight beaming through a stained-glass window." James Hunter of 'Rolling Stone' said that it is "brilliant". Californian newspaper 'Santa Cruz Sentinel' called it a "tender love ballad duet."

Music video

In the music video, both Neville and Ronstadt portray a middle-aged couple that are remembering their past and all the difficulties that they seem to have faced together.

Track listing



Personnel

* Linda Ronstadt - Vocals

* Aaron Neville - Vocals

*Don Grolnick - Piano

* Mike Landau - Electric guitar

* Lee Sklar - Bass

*Carlos Vega- Drums

* Michael Fisher - Percussion

* Robbie Buchanan - Keyboard

* Skywalker Symphony Orchestra - arranged and conducted by David Campbell

Charts



Weekly charts



Year-end charts



All-time charts



Certifications



References



Category:1980 songs

Category:1981 singles

Category:1989 singles

Category:Linda Ronstadt songs

Category:Aaron Neville songs

Category:Bill Medley songs

Category:Bette Midler songs

Category:Malefemale vocal duets

Category:Songs written by Tom Snow

Category:Songs written by Barry Mann

Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles

Category:Songs with lyrics by Cynthia Weil

Category:Elektra Records singles

Category:Song recordings produced by Peter Asher

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