Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight

Album: One Man Dog (1972)
Charted: 14
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Songfacts®:

  • This was the lead single from One Man Dog, a concept album about fame primarily recorded in Taylor's home studio. He explained to Mojo magazine July 2009: "I wrote a number of songs that talked about being uneasy about fame. There are things about it that are odd, and should be questioned."
  • This song finds Taylor asking a girl to spend the night to fend off his loneliness. He comes off a bit desperate and very capricious, at one point telling her that he's not going to beg, but then preceding to do so. It sounds a lot like the manipulations of an addict, which Taylor was at the time. The song was released the same year he married Carly Simon (they divorced in 1983).
  • The Isley Brothers covered this in 1973. Eric Clapton recorded it in 2001 for his album Reptile.
  • Jazz giant Michael Brecker is featured on tenor sax. He was a popular session player on many rock and pop songs in the '70s and '80s.

    Taylor sang on a version that was included on Brecker's 2001 solo album Nearness of You: The Ballad Book. This version earned Taylor a Grammy win for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.

Comments: 3

  • AnonymousEverything Happens To Me ? - Chet Baker - ( & others )
  • April from Shelby, OhCheck out Eric Clapton's version of this on his REPTILE album....absolutely AWESOME!
  • Brian from Chicagoland, United StatesJames re-did this great song on Michael Brecker's Jazz CD "Ballads" that came out a few years ago on Verve. It is a great version as it has a new arrangement.
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