SATURDAY'S SINGLES : BONNIE RAITT and WHITNEY HOUSTON

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Good morning gang and welcome to the return of Saturday's Singles. In the last month, we've seen a lot of deaths in the music world including Graeme Edge from the Moody Blues, Philip Margo from The Tokens, Keith Allison from Paul Revere & The Raiders, Billy Hinsche from Dino, Desi, And Billy, Melvin Parker from James Brown, country music performer Stonewall Jackson, UK guitarist John Miles, Ralph Tavares from Tavares, Robbie Shakespeare from Sly And Robbie, Gil Bridges from Rare Earth, Mike Nesmith from The Monkees, and last but not least, songwriter and backup vocalist, David Lasley. Our Hearts, Thoughts, and Prayers go out to the Families, Friends, and Fans.

David Lasley was born Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, on August 20, 1947. IOn his teens he and his sister  Julie along with Joan Hughes formed a acapella singing group called The Utopias. Over his 6 decade career he worked with performers such as Todd Rundgren, Melissa Manchester,  Bonnie Raitt, Luther Vandross,  Lenny Kravitz,  the band Rosie,  James Taylor, Crystal Gayle,  Dionne Warwick,  Patti LaBelle, Sheena Easton,  Whitney Houston,  Peaches & Herb,  Dusty Springfield, Boz Scaggs,  Maxine Nightingale, Patti Austin, Rita Coolidge, Tim Curry, Kiki Dee,  Aretha Franklin, Chaka Kahn, and Anita Baker. He passed away December 9, 2021, age 74, from cancer.

Today we take a look and a listen to two of those. Bonnie Raitt released the single "Something to Talk About" in 1991 on the Capital label. It hailed from her 11th album, Luck of the Draw, and was produced by Bonnie Raitt and Don Was. It peaked at #12 on the Mainstream Rock charts, #5 on the Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts, and #3 in Canada. "One Part Be My Lover" is the B-side. Our copy is on cassette single and has both songs on both sides. David provides backing vocals on both tracks.

Bonnie Raitt – lead vocals, backing vocals , acoustic guitar , electric guitar , slide guitar,  electric piano 

Stephen Bruton – acoustic guitar

Scott Thurston – keyboards

Benmont Tench – Hammond C3 organ

James "Hutch" Hutchinson – bass

Curt Bisquera – drums

Ricky Fataar – drums

Debra Dobkin – percussion

Paulinho da Costa – percussion

Phil Cunningham – penny whistle

Sweet Pea Atkinson – backing vocals

Sir Harry Bowens – backing vocals

David Lasley – backing vocals

Arnold McCuller – backing vocals

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Our second Saturday's Singles single is "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" by Whitney Houston. The tune was released November 7, 1995 on the Arista label and was produced by Babyface. The song is featured on the soundtrack for the film Waiting to Exhale, in which Houston also stars in. The single reached #1 in Canada, Spain, the Hot 100, and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It's B-side is  "Dancin' on the Smooth Edge", which David wrote. This copy is also on cassette single.

"Exhale (Shoop Shoop)"

Babyface – writer, producer
Whitney Houston – vocals

"Dancin' on the Smooth Edge"

David Lasley – writer
Robbie Long – writer
Narada Michael Walden – producer, vocal arrangement
Whitney Houston – vocals

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