The Next Time I Fall - Peter Cetera/Amy Grant (1987) 8/5/23

Today we have a case of "Great Song Serendipity"

In 1986, Singer/songwriter Bobby Caldwell and his collaborator Paul Gordon came up with a song they thought would be perfect for the group Chicago to record.

They quickly found out that lead singer Peter Cetera had left the group, so they pitched "The Next Time I Fall" to him personally.

As luck would have it, Peter was recording his solo debut album, and was looking for fresh material. He loved the song, but thought it would be better as a duet. Some big names were tossed around, but Peter wanted the a younger, relatively unknown "new voice" to partner with.

That's when someone suggested Amy Grant.

Peter knew she was a Christian music artist and admired her beliefs--as well as her voice, but was worried that she wouldn't be up for a secular love song.

As luck would have it, Amy was looking for a way to cross over into secular music, and the idea was intriguing.

She cautiously agreed...but ONLY after she vetted Bobby Caldwell, Paul Gordon AND Peter to make sure everything was clean and on the level. She, after all, had an image to protect. (Peter was quoted as saying that he was just as nervous about the whole thing as she was.!)

As luck would have it, they needn't have worried. In 1987, when the single was released from Peter's album "Solitude/Solitaire," It climbed straight to #1 on The Top 40 and Adult Contemporary Charts in both Canada and the US!

As luck would have it, the song was nominated for a Grammy (Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals), and in 2020, Billboard included it in their list of the Top 25 Love Song Duets."

Peter had a solo hit, Amy had crossed over, and everybody was happy (except some of Amy's fans who didn't think she should have done it--but that issue has long since faded away).

Truthfully, there really wasn't much luck involved--the combination of Bobby Caldwell, Paul Gordon, Peter Cetera and Amy Grant was the perfect mix to create a Great Song of 1986/87! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-ENYuomYzA

Tomorrow: Taylor slows it down.