John Bettis songs

[Vinylalbumcovers]

I don’t think we’ve ever broached the topic of John’s other songs outside of Carpenters. He could write in a variety of styles and do so extremely well. Let’s start here. He did this one for “Murphy Brown” and it surfaced on a Steve Dorff album. Here’s “Like the Whole World’s Watching”. He also co-produced this with Steve. It features Take 6:



What other Bettis songs do you know? There are some really obvious ones.

Ed

 

[ullalume]

Bettis spent time writing for TV and film in the mid 80's and my favourite is New Looks written for National Lampoon's European Vacation and performed by Dr. John. It's used in the Italian montage where the Griswolds are trying on new threads.

You can't find it anywhere on line, but it's on YouTube.

 

[Vinylalbumcovers]

John co-wrote this one with Walter Afanasieff for Peabo Bryson for the album of the same name. It topped the R&B charts in 1991 for two weeks.



Ed

 

[Vinylalbumcovers]

Bettis spent time writing for TV and film in the mid 80's and my favourite is New Looks written for National Lampoon's European Vacation and performed by Dr. John. It's used in the Italian montage where the Griswolds are trying on new threads.

You can't find it anywhere on line, but it's on YouTube.

It's so weird hearing Dr. John on a dance track. I never knew this existed. Solid find.

Ed

 

[Vinylalbumcovers]

Very much the same kind of thing as the Peabo track but this was for New Kids on the Block a little later in the year. It was the first tune they did without Maurice Starr and it got to #16 on the Pop charts. Again, written with Walter Afanasieff but this time joined by Trey Lorenz:



Ed

 

[ullalume]

It's so weird hearing Dr. John on a dance track. I never knew this existed. Solid find.

Ed

I know. This track has been ingrained in my mind since I saw it as a little kid, years before I knew who Bettis or The Carpenters were.

 

[newvillefan]

My favourite of all of the songs he's co-written outside his Carpenters work is the majestic 'One Moment In Time' by Whitney Houston.

 

[Vinylalbumcovers]

How about a little Billy Ray Cyrus. He collaborated with Country songwriting stalwart Brett James to come up with this. Pretty standard lyric but Billy sings it well:



Ed

 

[Harry]

"I'm coming To the Best Part Of My Life" - recorded by Mama Cass, written by Roger Nichols and John Bettis.


Roger Nichols and is Circle Of Friends also did it on a latter day album, FULL CIRCLE.

 

[Mark-T]

Then there's this forgotten one:




BTW- Fun thread, @Vinylalbumcovers!

 

[John Tkacik]

My favourite of all of the songs he's co-written outside his Carpenters work is the majestic 'One Moment In Time' by Whitney Houston.

Teamed up again with Albert Hammond.

 

[Chris]

Here's another by John and Walter Afanasieff about a broken heart. I heard Celine sing this one live in concert in 1993 and it was incredible. It's one that I think Karen would've handled well, particularly the verses.

 

[Matthew S]

This one too…

 

[newvillefan]

This one too…

Great song. Had forgotten about that one.

 

[newvillefan]

Then there's this forgotten one:

I always thought 'Carousel' (which was scrubbed from the final tracklist at the last minute to make way for 'Human Nature'), was a far superior track and would have fit on the album better. Still a lovely tune though. And Bettis hit the jackpot because Thriller has gone on to sell 30 million copies.

 

[Vinylalbumcovers]

He also did TV themes. Here’s “Growing Pains” - the full song - featuring BJ Thomas and Dusty Springfield:



Ed

 

[Vinylalbumcovers]

“My Sister Sam” - featuring Kim Carnes.



Ed

 

[Vinylalbumcovers]

Then there's this forgotten one:




BTW- Fun thread, @Vinylalbumcovers!

This is the first thing most people think of. John was brought in to make it a usable song. In its original form, it was about a kid who was bullying Steve Porcaro’s daughter:



Ed

 

[Mike Blakesley]

I always thought 'Carousel' (which was scrubbed from the final tracklist at the last minute to make way for 'Human Nature'), was a far superior track and would have fit on the album better.

I don't really see the appeal of "Carousel" vs. "Human Nature" - they are both similarly midtempo and catchy. One's as good as the other, IMHO. Of course I might prefer "Human" since I've heard it about ten billion times vs. one time for "Carousel" (just now).

"Human Nature" has a sort-of A&M connection besides John Bettis: Herb Alpert covered it on his album of the same name.

 

[CarpentersToYou]

Here's another by John and Walter Afanasieff about a broken heart. I heard Celine sing this one live in concert in 1993 and it was incredible. It's one that I think Karen would've handled well, particularly the verses.

This is one of my favorite Céline songs. She kills it. I'm still jealous you saw her live at the time.

 

[Matthew S]

He also did TV themes. Here’s “Growing Pains” - the full song - featuring BJ Thomas and Dusty Springfield:



Ed

And it’s spinoff, Just the Ten of Us, sung by Bill Medley.

 

[Matthew S]

“My Sister Sam” - featuring Kim Carnes.



Ed

One of my favorite TV themes!!

 

[Vinylalbumcovers]

Another heartbreak ballad from John - this one co-written and sung by Barry Manilow. He definitely did a few of these...



Ed

 

[Vinylalbumcovers]

John co-wrote this one with Richard Kerr - co-writer of "Looks Like We Made It." It's excellent advice for anyone who's had their heart broken. This is a lyric.



Ed

 

[Mark-T]

The Pointer Sisters.- John himself performed this song at the Karen tribute. He was actually very good - funny and charming as well.