Don't Know Much


"Don't Know Much" is a song written by Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil and Tom Snow. The original version of this song was recorded by Barry Mann in 1980 and was made famous when it was covered as a duet by Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville in 1989. Their version was a worldwide success, topping the Irish Singles Chart and reaching the top 10 in several territories.

History

The song first appeared on Barry Mann's self-titled 1980 album, released on Casablanca records. Bill Medley and Bette Midler then had minor chart success with it in 1981 and 1983, respectively.
In 1985, Audrey Landers recorded the song as "All I Need to Know" for her second album for the German market, Paradise Generation. Glenn Jones also included a version of the song on his best-selling 1987 self-titled album for Jive Records, and gospel singer Cynthia Clawson also has a version under this title on her 1990 album Words Will Never Do.
In 2000, Barry Mann re-recorded the song with Brenda Russell on his album Soul and Inspiration released on Atlantic records.

Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville version

The song was covered on Linda Ronstadt's triple-Platinum 1989 album Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind. It was introduced to Ronstadt and Neville by Steve Tyrell. Co-produced by Tyrell and Peter Asher, it was released as a single in the United States in 1989, peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1989, behind Phil Collins' "Another Day in Paradise", and number one on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. The single was Ronstadt's tenth top 10 hit and was certified Gold, eventually selling over 900,000 copies in the United States alone. In the United Kingdom, the song peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart. The song also hit number one in Ireland, number two in Australia, and the top five in Austria, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.
"Don't Know Much" won Ronstadt and Neville the 1990 Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and was nominated for Song of the Year.

Critical reception

The song received favorable reviews from music critics. Expressen called it "heavenly". They commented, "What a lovesong." Cary Darling from Orange County Register labeled it as a "soaring, wide-screen ballad". Jan DeKnock from Orlando Sentinel described the song as "a killer ballad". People Magazine wrote that "their voices fuse like sunlight beaming through a stained-glass window." James Hunter of Rolling Stones said that it is "brilliant". Santa Cruz Sentinel called it a "tender love ballad duet".

Music video

In the music video, both Neville and Ronstadt portray a middle-aged couple that are remembering their past and all the difficulties that they seem to have faced together.

Track listing

Personnel

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Chart Position
Australia 12
Belgium 70
Canada Top Singles 66
Canada Adult Contemporary 93
Netherlands 83
US Billboard Hot 10020

All-time charts