written by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon

produced by Val Garay

​

I’m making this page July 20th, 2021, the 76th birthday of

Los Angeles-born/raised singer/songwriter Kim Carnes, who

made herself (most) famous with this song. Happy Birthday, KC!!

​

So Kim was born the same year as Blondie’s Debbie Harry, and a mere 19 days afterwards, making her just under three weeks younger than Debbie. To be precise, she—Kim (another blondie)—was brought up in Pasadena, California, and wanted to pen and sing songs since before even halfway through her single-digit years. Her folks didn’t exactly understand her love for music, singing and songwriting, but Kim couldn’t and didn’t let this deter her. Having written songs since her single-digits and 10s/teens,

she started doing so professionally in ’62, meeting and signing with producer Jimmy Bowen.

​

Kim spent the rest of the ’60s writing for other artists before landing her initial record deal, with Amos Records, and drummed up a standalone album with them in 1971, Rest On Me. It produced two singles, and Kim’s next activity came in 1975, with big-label name A&M, and her self-titled sophomore album. One of its singles made a splat on the US adult contemporary chart. Two albums and one charting single later, the ’70s were coming to a close and Kim had switched to EMI.

​

Kim opened the ’80s with a slew of material written for Kenny Rogers (with songwriting and life partner David Ellingson) which became his record Gideon, on which Kim sang “Don’t Fall In Love With A Dreamer” with him. 1980 also brought the release of Romance Dance and its lead single, a cover of Smokey Robinson & The Miracles’ “More Love,” which became her biggest hit yet. Smokey highly approved of the cover, and showed his appreciation by writing the song “Being With You” originally for her, but ending it recording it himself. This record’s other single, “Cry Like A Baby,” performed as well as her two charted songs from the ’70s did. ...And then came 1981.

​

It could perhaps be viewed as a bit ironic that Kim’s biggest hit by a landslide was not in fact written by her, but, we play the hands we’re dealt. Songwriters Jackie DeShannon and Donna Weiss wrote “Bette Davis Eyes” back in 1974, which found its way into Kim’s hands for her to record in late ’80. It pre-dated and promoted her next album, Mistaken Identity... seamlessly nailed #1 in the US, as well as Germany and Australia... and wound up the biggest hit of the year. It reached only #2 in New Zealand, but their chart did rank the Mistaken Identity album #1. Suddenly, Kim Carnes and her trademark raspy American-Rod Stewart-ish voice were familiar to everyone.

​

Two more Mistaken Identity singles followed, as did four additional EMI releases in the ’80s. In the midst of all of that, Kim was asked to be one of 46 artists to make up U(nited )S(upport of )A(rtists) For Africa and sing “We Are The World” in January 1985. She was the last singer through the course of the song to be given her own solo line, which ended the bridge: “...when we stand together as one.” (And she almost got totally drowned out by Cyndi at the very end of it there.)

​

Kim may never have matched the success she reached in the early ’80s again, but her love for the craft never evaporated, and she kept recording until 2004’s Chasin’ Wild Trains—after which she’s called it a day as of this writing, but also has come back out of retirement to record a couple of Rolling Stones covers. As for “Bette Davis Eyes” here, if you haven’t heard it, get out from under that rock and do so, and let those warm, soothing synth-waves and seductive lyrics enchant you.

​

Have notes to add? Let me know!

​

YT:

full version

music video

​

Kim’s official website