Don't Know Much
| "Don't Know Much" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Linda Ronstadt feat. Aaron Neville | ||||
| from the album Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind | ||||
| Released | September 12, 1989 | |||
| Recorded | March–August, 1989, Skywalker Ranch, Marin County | |||
| Genre | Adult contemporary, Pop, Duet | |||
| Length | 3:35 | |||
| Label | Elektra | |||
| Writer(s) | Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil & Tom Snow | |||
| Producer | Peter Asher & Steve Tyrell | |||
| Certification | Gold | |||
| Linda Ronstadt feat. Aaron Neville singles chronology | ||||
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"Don't Know Much" is a song written by Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil and Tom Snow and made famous when performed as a duet by Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville on Ronstadt's 1989 album Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind. The title is a phrase from its refrain, I don't know much, but I know I love you, and that may be all I need to know.
Contents |
[edit] History
The song had a rich history prior to its blockbuster success in 1989. It first appeared on Mann's 1980 album, Casablanca. Bill Medley and Bette Midler (under the title "All I Need to Know") then had minor chart success with it in 1981 and 1983, respectively.
In 1985, Audrey Landers recorded the song as "All I Need to Know" for her second album for the German market, Paradise Generation, and gospel singer Cynthia Clawson also has a version under this title on her 1990 album Words Will Never Do.
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 U.S. in 1989, peaking at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December, 1989[1] and #1 on both the Adult Contemporary chart and pop sales charts. The single was Ronstadt's third to achieve Gold certification in the United States. In the UK, the song peaked at #2 on the British pop chart. The song also hit #1 in Canada, Australia, Ireland and several other countries.
"Don't Know Much" won the 1990 Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and was nominated for Song of the Year.
[edit] Music video
In the video, Neville and Ronstadt portray a middle-aged couple that are remembering their past and all the difficulties they seem to have faced together. The song is a symbolic representation of growing old together and being unsure of the future, only knowing that it has been the love which is so clear between them.
[edit] Charts
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[2] | {{{2}}} |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 75)[3] | 3 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[4] | 4 |
| Canada (RPM)[5] | 5 |
| Ireland (Irish Singles Chart)[6] | 1 |
| Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)[7] | 6 |
| New Zealand (RIANZ)[8] | 4 |
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[9] | 2 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[10] | 1 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[11] | 2 |
[edit] Personnel
- Linda Ronstadt - Vocals
- Aaron Neville - Vocals
- Don Grolnik - 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
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.billboard.com/#/charts/hot-100?chartDate=1989-12-23
- ^ "Australian-charts.com – Linda Ronstadt feat. Aaron Neville feat. Aaron Neville – {{{song}}}". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Hung Medien.
- ^ "Linda Ronstadt feat. Aaron Neville – Don't Know Much – Austriancharts.at" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Hung Medien.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Linda Ronstadt feat. Aaron Neville – Don't Know Much" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
- ^ "Top Singles - Volume 51, No. 10, January 20 1990". RPM. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.6658. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
- ^ "Irish Singles Chart – Search for song". Irish Recorded Music Association. http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Linda Ronstadt feat. Aaron Neville – Don't Know Much" (in Dutch). Mega Single Top 100. Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
- ^ "Charts.org.nz – Linda Ronstadt feat. Aaron Neville – Don't Know Much". Top 40 Singles. Hung Medien.
- ^ "Archive Chart" UK Singles Chart. Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Linda Ronstadt feat. Aaron Neville Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs for Linda Ronstadt feat. Aaron Neville. Prometheus Global Media.
- ^ "Linda Ronstadt feat. Aaron Neville Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Linda Ronstadt feat. Aaron Neville. Prometheus Global Media.
| Preceded by "Healing Hands" by Elton John |
Billboard Adult Contemporary (chart) number-one single October 28, 1989 (5 weeks) |
Succeeded by "Another Day in Paradise" by Phil Collins |
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