They Don't Make Them Like They Used To
Encyclopedia
They Don't Make Them Like They Used To (also referred to as They Don't Make 'Em ...) is a 1986 album by country music superstar Kenny Rogers
.
and George Strait
were competing for chart placings with Rogers and his sound was certainly a far cry from these artists.
With many country fans now going back to roots music, Rogers still had a large fan base and the album sold well enough to go gold, with its strongest chart placing being in the country market, where it hit the top 20. The single "Twenty Years Ago
" also helped to further the album's status, itself a #2 Country hit.
The album's title cut was used as the theme tune to the box office hit movie Tough Guys
.
The song "You're My Love" was written by Prince under the pseudonym "Joey Coco" and features El DeBarge
on background vocals.
in 1987, however, Rogers returned to the top five at #2, matching this feat in Canada as well.
Kenny Rogers
Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...
.
Overview
The album was generally regarded among country fans as a huge departure from his usual style. In the sleeve notes of a 2003 CD re-issue it claims this was the reason it didn't fare as greatly on the charts as his previous releases. However, it is fair to point out Rogers had been recording AOR-style songs long before this and enjoyed great success. However, by the time 1986 rolled around new-traditionalists such as Randy TravisRandy Travis
Randy Travis is an American country music singer and actor. Since 1985, he has recorded 20 studio albums and charted more than 30 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, 22 of which were number one hits...
and George Strait
George Strait
George Harvey Strait is an American country music singer, actor, and music producer. Strait is referred to as the "King of Country," and critics call Strait a living legend. He is known for his unique style of western swing music, bar-room ballads, honky-tonk style, and fresh yet traditional...
were competing for chart placings with Rogers and his sound was certainly a far cry from these artists.
With many country fans now going back to roots music, Rogers still had a large fan base and the album sold well enough to go gold, with its strongest chart placing being in the country market, where it hit the top 20. The single "Twenty Years Ago
Twenty Years Ago
"Twenty Years Ago" is the title of a song recorded by American country music artist Kenny Rogers. It was released in January 1987 as the second single from the album They Don't Make Them Like They Used To. The song reached #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. It was written by...
" also helped to further the album's status, itself a #2 Country hit.
The album's title cut was used as the theme tune to the box office hit movie Tough Guys
Tough Guys
Tough Guys is a 1986 comedy starring Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Eli Wallach and Dana Carvey. It was directed by Jeff Kanew.Lancaster and Douglas made several films together, including I Walk Alone , Gunfight at the O.K. Corral , The Devil's Disciple , and Seven Days in May , becoming something...
.
The song "You're My Love" was written by Prince under the pseudonym "Joey Coco" and features El DeBarge
El DeBarge
Eldra Patrick "El" DeBarge is an American R&B/pop falsetto singer and was the focal point and lead singer of the family group DeBarge throughout the early to mid-1980s....
on background vocals.
Track listing
- "This Love We Share" (Davis, Jay GraydonJay GraydonJay Graydon is a Los Angeles songwriter, recording artist, guitarist, singer, producer, arranger, and recording engineer. He is the winner of two Grammy Awards with twelve Grammy nominations, among them the title "Producer of the Year" and "Best Engineered Recording". Jay Graydon has mastered many...
, David MalloyDavid MalloyDavid Ernest Malloy is an American Country Music and Pop songwriter, record producer and A&R executive with 41 Number One Billboard Hits. He has received multiple Grammy nominations, as writer and/or producer, and has worked with many artists and projects including USA for Africa, superstars Tim...
, Morgan) [4:32] - "If I Could Hold on to Love" (Randy GoodrumRandy GoodrumRandy Goodrum is an American songwriter. Goodrum has written numerous popular songs, including Anne Murray's #1 hit "You Needed Me" and "Broken Hearted Me" , Michael Johnson's "Bluer Than Blue" , England Dan & John Ford Coley's "It's Sad to Belong" , Steve Perry's "Oh Sherrie" , DeBarge's "Who's...
, Steve LukatherSteve LukatherSteve "Luke" Lukather is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger, and record producer best known for his work with the rock band Toto. Lukather has played with many artists, released several solo albums, and worked as a composer, arranger, and session guitarist on more than 1,500 albums...
) [4:16] - "You're My Love" (Joey CocoPrince (musician)Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
) [4:09] - "Time for Love" (Anthony La Peau, Randy Stern) [3:24]
- "They Don't Make Them Like They Used To" (Burt BacharachBurt BacharachBurt F. Bacharach is an American pianist, composer and music producer. He is known for his popular hit songs and compositions from the mid-1950s through the 1980s, with lyrics written by Hal David. Many of their hits were produced specifically for, and performed by, Dionne Warwick...
, Carol Bayer Sager) [4:32]
(Theme from Tough GuysTough GuysTough Guys is a 1986 comedy starring Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Eli Wallach and Dana Carvey. It was directed by Jeff Kanew.Lancaster and Douglas made several films together, including I Walk Alone , Gunfight at the O.K. Corral , The Devil's Disciple , and Seven Days in May , becoming something...
) - "Life Is Good Love Is Better" (Steve Davis, David Malloy, Dennis Morgan) [3:59]
- "Just the Thought of Losing You" (Michael BoltonMichael BoltonMichael Bolton is an American singer and songwriter. Bolton originally performed in the hard rock and heavy metal genres from the mid 1970s to the mid 1980s, both on his early solo albums and those recorded as the frontman of the band Blackjack...
, Jonathan Cain) [4:14] - "Anything at All" (Dave LogginsDave LogginsDavid Allen "Dave" Loggins is a singer, songwriter and musician. He is widely remembered for his 1974 composition "Please Come to Boston", which was a top-10 hit in the U.S. for him, and was subsequently covered by numerous other artists. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame...
) [4:36] - "After All This Time" (Peter Beckett, Steve DorffSteve DorffSteve Dorff is an American songwriter and composer whose work is mainly in the field of country music.Dorff has written several songs for other artists, including "Hypnotize the Moon" and "My Heart Will Never Know" for Clay Walker, "The Man in Love with You" and "I Cross My Heart" by George Strait,...
) [4:18] - "Twenty Years Ago" (Wood Newton, Michael Noble, Michael Spriggs, Dan Tyler) [3:44]
Chart performance
| Chart (1986) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 16 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 137 |
| Canadian RPM Top Albums | 81 |
Singles
Two singles came from this album. The title cut, released at the end of 1986, only made #53 in the country charts though it did well by hit #10 on the contemporary charts. When RCA released Twenty Years AgoTwenty Years Ago
"Twenty Years Ago" is the title of a song recorded by American country music artist Kenny Rogers. It was released in January 1987 as the second single from the album They Don't Make Them Like They Used To. The song reached #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. It was written by...
in 1987, however, Rogers returned to the top five at #2, matching this feat in Canada as well.