I feel like it’s so hard to follow up a massive hit - it’s bound to disappoint on some level. But I agree with your thoughts on Voyeur - maybe not the best subject matter for that time.
I really agree with you on this whole post! I did love the "Mistaken Identity"album but concur that it was all over the place. So many styles of music, all good, but without a clear sense of "identity." (Perhaps that's what was "mistaken!") From the follow-up album, "Voyeur" should have been a huge hit. I still put it on various playlists but the world just didn't connect with it. Carnes, like so many others after they won the Record of the Year Grammy (Seal, Shawn Colvin, Norah Jones, Dixie Chicks, Gotye, Daft Punk, Lizzo, & Miley Cyrus) never were able to re-capture that mainstream and critical attention. Mostly, that lack of interest in follow-up singles has been unwarranted. Could Record of the Year be a curse, much like Best New Artist?
I’ve always had a soft spot for Kim Carnes. Thanks for this! Hits aside, I highly recommend her 1988 release, ‘View from the House’ where she leaned into her country side. I added a couple of cuts off of it on the country station I programmed back then. Its highlight: she does a fantastic job on John Prine’s “Speed of the Sound of Loneliness” with Lyle Lovett on backing vocals.
Great write-up. It's indeed strange that she never was able to build on the success of Bette Davis Eyes & Mistaken Identity.
I need to check out more of her stuff as I really only know “Bette Davis Eyes” and (of course) the Streisand duet.
And welcome back! It’s good to see you!
Thanks! This post feels extremely Dan-coded. And you really do, esp the album I rave about in the piece!
Truly it is.
I feel like it’s so hard to follow up a massive hit - it’s bound to disappoint on some level. But I agree with your thoughts on Voyeur - maybe not the best subject matter for that time.
I really agree with you on this whole post! I did love the "Mistaken Identity"album but concur that it was all over the place. So many styles of music, all good, but without a clear sense of "identity." (Perhaps that's what was "mistaken!") From the follow-up album, "Voyeur" should have been a huge hit. I still put it on various playlists but the world just didn't connect with it. Carnes, like so many others after they won the Record of the Year Grammy (Seal, Shawn Colvin, Norah Jones, Dixie Chicks, Gotye, Daft Punk, Lizzo, & Miley Cyrus) never were able to re-capture that mainstream and critical attention. Mostly, that lack of interest in follow-up singles has been unwarranted. Could Record of the Year be a curse, much like Best New Artist?
I’ve always had a soft spot for Kim Carnes. Thanks for this! Hits aside, I highly recommend her 1988 release, ‘View from the House’ where she leaned into her country side. I added a couple of cuts off of it on the country station I programmed back then. Its highlight: she does a fantastic job on John Prine’s “Speed of the Sound of Loneliness” with Lyle Lovett on backing vocals.