‘Reconsider Me’ – a hit or not in 1986?
 

If Stevie had swallowed her pride and allowed ‘Reconsider Me’ to be put on RAL, do you think it would have been a radio hit? Perhaps as the single after ‘I Can’t Wait’ (instead of ‘Has Anyone Ever…’)?

Don’t know how well it would have done, but I really like the song. What strikes me is how different sounding it is from the rest of RAL, which (except for ‘Has Anyone Ever…’) is so dated in its 1980’s-ness.

But I do have to wonder though if the version on ‘Enchanted’ was the final product, or did Jimmy Iovine intend to add production to it (drum machines and synthesizers) to make it more compatible with the rest of the songs on RAL. Back in 1986, it would‘ve stuck out like a sore thumb if left as it was.

Is there a version out there sung by Warren Zevon?

Roland

I think what we got was the finished product, at least it seems that way to me, it's beautifully done. I prefer having it as a secret gem, not released as a single.

Warren did record it - I have it on his Genius/greatest hits album and hear his version often on a local radio station.

I don't know think it would have been a hit back in 1986 but I could be wrong. It seems the more hard rocking, synthesized songs faired better. I personally adore this song and I don't think it would have stuck out like a sore thumb on the album. I Sing For the Things is very similiar in production, without drum machines or synthesizers.

It should have been on the album, and released as the second single between "Talk To Me" and "I Can't Wait".

As has been recently discussed in another thread, the studio recording "Has Anyone..." is way too uneven, and never should have been considered (at least in that configuration) as a single. Its a good song, but it just seems like it was destined to be released as the featured single on a live album- sort of like a "Silver Springs", if Stevie had a "Dance" equivalent ("Soundstage" doesn't count)

I disagree. RAL, despite the flotilla of producers, is surprisingly consistent in sound. Yes, it's dated, but if I didn't know better, I would have assumed that it was all helmed by the same producer. Where RAL explored a groovier, funk- and new wave-inspired side of Stevie, "Reconsider Me" sounds like it was ripped directly from a Roy Orbison album. It is kind of a corny, old-fashioned damsel-in-distress ditty that sounds like it could have been cobbled together by a Brill Building hack for a Doris Day movie. That doesn't mean it's a bad song; it just doesn't belong anywhere on such a moody, eclectic period piece like RAL.

It's hard to say how big of a hit "Reconsider Me" would have been. Certainly it would have fared better on the charts than HAEWAFY given its more traditional structure and commercial arrangement (along with Henley's backing vocals). I don't think it would have been a huge hit, though; it may have been a bit stale-sounding on the radio in 1986. Probably would have peaked about where "After The Glitter Fades" or "Nightbird" did, in the lower regions of the top 40.

I do think it would have fit in stylistically on RAL, though. Not every song featured ultra-80s production ("Imperial Hotel", "I Sing For The Things", "No Spoken Word").

I would say Not

The song sucks. No matter what year it is in.

The strange thing about the vocals is it sounds like it is from 1997. I don't think she tried to sing, but it was alot better than most of the other songs she had on that album. The producer was looking out for her best interest.

The song sucks or Stevie's version sucks? I think Warren's songs are great.

It' was originally on his 1987 album Sentimental Hygiene, which is a great album.

Stevie should have definitely included it on Rock A Little, it's a beautiful song. I think even she realises her mistake now.

She didn't even try to sing the song. You can tell she blew it off. The vocals are horrible and its a nice song.

I've never heard his version. Her vocal is terrible IMO.

I find her vocal on Reconsider Me to be top-notch. To my ears I can firmly place the vocal in Stevie's 84' to 85 era. When I heard it for the 1st time on the Enchanted box set, It made me long for the vocals of her heyday.
I think the song would have been a hit for Stevie in the mid 80's especially if it were the 1st release....It would have been more of a classic than TTM.

But after Jimmy left the sessions for RAL in 84', the recordings took a very different direction and the release was pushed back a year, I do not see Reconsider Me fitting in very well w/the final RAL release.

I think Reconsider Me could have replaced I Sing for the Things. I Sing for the Things has a more Bella Donna vibe to me. Perhaps it's because of the piano demo that I prefer to listen to (which is ten times better than the released version).

I don't think Reconsider Me would have made a good single though. With the exception of Leather and Lace, Stevie's softer songs (solo only) haven't faired well on the radio.

But if I really had my way, I would disregard I Sing for the Things and Reconsider Me and have added either Jimmy Come Back or She Loves Him Still.