With a name like Eddie Rabbitt, you know you're in for some excitement. If by "excitement," you mean "early '80s MOR country."Rabbitt first achieved prominence as a songwriter, when two of his tunes were recorded by Elvis Presley during the King's legendary 1969 "comeback" sessions. "Kentucky Rain" was the hit single, but I'm actually more partial to "Inherit The Wind":
Rabbitt's own success was confined to the country charts until he opened for Kenny Rogers, and then opened for ... wait for it ... Dolly Parton. Suddenly Rabbitt was singing hit theme songs for Clint Eastwood/ orangutan movies:
Even all the '90s "hat" acts like Garth Brooks and Clint Black and Alan Jackson, if they didn't sound like genuine classic country music, at least recognizably sounded like '90s imitation country music. Eddie Rabbitt did not sound, in any obvious way, like a country singer. He didn't sound not country, either. I don't know what he sounded like.
Just a week after Dolly topped the pop charts with "9 to 5," Rabbitt did the same with "I Love A Rainy Night." According to Wikipedia, this was "the last time, to date, that the pop chart featured back-to-back country singles in the number one position." When future historians pinpoint the precise moment when American civilization crested, this may be the moment they name.
Also, during the 1996 presidential campaign, Bob Dole harbored hopes of using an Eddie Rabbitt song. Rabbitt, a registered Republican, granted Dole permission "with pleasure." Well Bob Dole, at least you had Eddie Rabbitt's vote!
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