One day, David asked me over to his house in Toluca Lake where he was writing a new song with a brilliant orchestral arranger named Jeremy Lubbock. Jeremy had done the arrangements on “Hard To Say I’m Sorry” and “Love Me Tomorrow” which David had produced for the band, Chicago. David’s success as a record producer was really in its early stages at this point, but he’d had many hits as a writer and musician.

So there we were in David’s basement music room, and Jeremy started playing this gorgeous melody on the electric piano. I chimed in on a few melodic lines, and David suggested a change or two, but the music is mostly Jeremy’s. We loved the tune, and because it was a typically lovely, sunny afternoon, we decided to head out on David’s boat to see if we could figure out a lyrical idea. Somewhere out there on the Pacific, Jeremy and I sat down and started writing the words and by the time we docked back in Marina Del Rey, “The Best of Me” was done.

David was doing his first solo album, all instrumentals, for a Japanese record label. He loved this song so much, however, that he thought he’d try cutting it and singing it, as well. Now, don’t get me wrong….David is one of the most talented people I’ve ever known…..but as a singer,…..well, as a singer, he’s a great pianist. You know?

His first attempt at a vocal on this song was pretty brutal, and he nearly gave up on it. But then he called his friend, the legendary Maurice White, lead singer of Earth, Wind and Fire, who came to the studio and produced a vocal that was immensely better. The song not only made this little indie Japanese album, it became the title track.

Through the years, this song has been recorded by Kenny Rogers, Phil Perry, Barry Manilow, and others. David and Olivia Newton-John did a duet of it that resulted in a top 20 Adult Contemporary hit in the 80s, and Cliff Richard had a #1 record with it in the UK. More recently, Michael Buble has been performing it in concert, although I’m not sure if he’ll ever record and release it.

To this day, it’s a song I’m extremely proud to have my name on as a co-writer. Speaking of which, when David’s Japanese album was released, I was obviously pretty psyched to finally see my name on an actual record. I got the album in the mail, opened up the credits, and there it was: “Written by D. Foster, J. Lubbock and P. Mark.”

I swear to God.

Enjoy. Many more to come your way.

RM

But not tonight.

The lights stayed down a few more minutes…the band took the stage…and ….Paul McCartney walked out. They did “Birthday” and it was like it was 1966 all over again.

None of us there will ever forget it.

Holy shit….
RM