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Tonight, I Celebrate My Love
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Wikipedia article
"'Tonight, I Celebrate My Love'" is a romantic ballad written by lyricist Gerry Goffin with Michael Masser and recorded by Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack for their 1983 album of duets, 'Born to Love', issued as the lead single. The trackproduced by Masserbecame a million-selling international hit.
Overview
"Tonight, I Celebrate My Love" was one of two Michael Masser/ Gerry Goffin co-writes produced by Masser for the 'Born to Love' album. Although the 'Born to Love' sessions marked the first time either Peabo Bryson or Roberta Flack had been produced by Masser, Flack had previously recorded two Masser/ Goffin co-writes: "Independent Man" (album 'Roberta Flack'/ 1978) and "Stay With Me" (album 'Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway'/ 1980): also Masser's Ron Miller co-write "After You" was featured on Flack's 1977 album 'Blue Lights in the Basement'. Flack's first recording of a Gerry Goffin composition had been a remake of his earliest evocation of nocturnal intimacy, Flack's version of the Shirelles' classicco-written with Carole King"Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow"featured on the 1971 album 'Quiet Fire'in fact becoming Flack's first solo single to appear on the Hot 100 in 'Billboard' magazine also serving as Flack's solo debut on 'Billboard's R&B chart (Flack had previously reached both the Hot 100 and R&B charts with two duet singles with Donny Hathaway).
Despite Flack having recorded three of Masser's compositions, the singer would recall that when Masser previewed "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love" for her, it was with the advisement that he hoped to place the song, rejected by RCA for Diana Ross, with Barbra Streisand:(Roberta Flack quote:)"[But] I told him I think I can sing that." Flack brought Bryson over to Masser's house for the composer to preview "Tonight, I Celebrate..." for Bryson who would recall (Peabo Bryson quote:) "Even though it's a great song, I [then] didn't [appreciate] it was" since "Michael's not the greatest singer in the world...I only [agreed] to do it because Roberta really wanted to[, but] after the first take in the studio I got [the song's appeal] too."'Palm Springs Desert Sun' 10 March 2002 "Masser Writes the Songs" by Bruce Fessier pp.E1, E5 The second Masser/ Goffin co-write on 'Born to Love': "Comin' Alive", described by Masser as "an uptempo synthesized song", was considered by Masser for single release rather than "Tonight, I Celebrate...": (Michael Masser quote:) "but I just felt that there are people out there who want to be touched by a romantic acoustic ballad...Each year, through whatever else is the particular fashion or mode, there are always great ballads that break through."'Billboard' Vol 95 #48 (3 December 1983) "'Celebrate My Love' producer Masser: 'Ballads are always in'" by Paul Grein p. 62
Bryson and Flack had previously appeared on the R&B chart in 'Billboard' with two duet singles: "Make the World Stand Still" and "Love is a Waiting Game", both from their collaborative 1980 'Live & More' double album. However, "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love" would be the first Bryson/ Flack duet single to rank on the 'Billboard' Hot 100: with a Hot 100 peak of #16 in November 1983: "Tonight, I Celebrate..." would also rank on the 'Billboard' R&B chart (#5) and on the magazine's Adult Contemporary chart (#4). In the UK, "Tonight, I Celebrate..." would peak at #2 in September 1983, affording both Bryson and Flack their alltime best UK chart showing. "Tonight, I Celebrate..." was afforded further international success charting in Australia (#10), Canada (#4), Finland (#13), Flemish Belgium (#8), Ireland (#5), the Netherlands (#16), New Zealand (#11), Norway (#8), and South Africa (#4).
A promotional videoFlack's video debutwas prepped for "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love". Directed by Martin Pitts, the video was a straightforward performance video showing Flack and Bryson singing the songshe playing the piano and he seated on a stool at her sidewhile session musicians may be seen in the background: the clip was taped at the Capitol Studios in Hollywood, the 'Born to Love' album being recorded for Capitol RecordsBryson's home labelwith Flack on loan from Atlantic Records (the track "Tonight, I Celebrate..." was in fact recorded at A&M Studios with Randy Kerber on piano: Flack did not play piano on any tracks on 'Born to Love').
"Tonight, I Celebrate My Love" would be the only top 40 hit duet for Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack as the only subsequent single from 'Born to Love' to chart on the Hot 100: "You're Looking Like Love to Me", peaked at #58. "Tonight, I Celebrate..." would also be the only major hit duet for Bryson and Flack in the UK where "Heaven Above Me" was issued as the follow-up single to chart no higher than #84. Bryson's only solo hit single after "Tonight, I Celebrate..." would be the Michael Masser co-write "If Ever You're in My Arms Again" which peaked at #10, his only solo top 40 hit. Bryson would however score two more top 10 hit duets in 1991 and 1992, with "Beauty and the Beast" and "A Whole New World" respectively; the latter a number one on the 'Billboard' Hot 100.
Personnel
* Roberta Flack vocals
* Peabo Bryson vocals
* Randy Kerber Fender Rhodes, acoustic piano
* Paul Jackson Jr. guitar
* Nathan East bass
* Carlos Vega drums
* Michael Nasser rhythm arrangements
* Gene Page orchestration, rhythm arrangements
Critical reception
'The Telegraph' listed the song as one of the "50 best love songs of the 1980s", writing "Mmm! Dig those tinkly Eighties keyboards. Almost tasteful, considering its schlockbusting potential." The song is, according to 'The Telegraph', Roberta Flack's favourite song from her 1980s repertoire. 'The Monthly' describes it as a "big romantic ballad."
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
In popular culture
During the 1980's, the song was the love theme for Days of Our Lives super couple, Bo Brady and Hope Williams.GREPPI, MICHELE, Michele Greppi Staff Writer. (1986, June 29). Sticking to our guns, day job and peanut butter. The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution, p. T/50. Available from NewsBank: Access World News: https://infoweb-newsbank-com.ccclez.idm.oclc.org/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/0EB7C22CBB90AF0C.
References
Category:1983 singles
Category:Roberta Flack songs
Category:Peabo Bryson songs
Category:Songs with lyrics by Gerry Goffin
Category:Songs written by Michael Masser
Category:Malefemale vocal duets
Category:Pop ballads
Category:Contemporary R&B ballads
Category:1983 songs
Category:Capitol Records singles
Category:Quiet storm songs
Category:1980s ballads
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