Songs with Earlier Histories Than the Hit Version

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Right Time of the Night

Written and first recorded by Peter McCann (B-side 1976).
Hit version by Jennifer Warnes (US #6/MOR #1/C&W #17 1977).

From the wiki: “‘Right Time of the Night’ had been recorded by its composer Peter McCann for his 1976 self-titled album, and served as B-side for his own 1977 Top Ten hit ‘Do You Wanna Make Love’.

“When it came time for Jennifer Warnes to record material for her 1977 self-titled album, Jennifer Warnes, her first on the Arista label, ‘Right Time of the Night’ was not among the original tracks recorded. Arista president Clive Davis later told Billboard: ‘If a [singer such as] Jennifer Warnes submits an album which is great but lacks a hit single, I and my A&R staff will say: ‘Listen, you need a hit. Because you’re not really going to break off FM airplay’ … So we gave her ‘Right Time of the Night’.’

“Prior to the release of Warnes’ version of ‘Right Time of the Night’, Bette Midler had expressed an interest in recording the song but asked that the song bridge be reworked, a stipulation McCann was still working on when Warnes’ version reached the charts at which point work on a Midler recording was dropped.

“Released in January of 1977, ‘Right Time of the Night’ marked Warnes’ first appearance in her nine-year recording career on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The recording also became the first Arista release to reach the US Country Singles chart.”

Jennifer Warnes, “Right Time of the Night” (1977):

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