Who Did It Better? Steal Away Again

Who Did It Better?

Steal Away Again

Don't you love surprises? I do. Especially musical ones. Today's Who Did It Better? selection sort of demonstrates the old line about how creators can sometimes be too close to their work to realize its full potential. Or? Not. You decide.  

Steal Away Again is a ballad written by Carole Bayer Sager, Bruce Roberts, and Bette Midler. It was written during the same session that also created the song You're Moving Out Today - which will be the subject of a future Who Did It Better? post.

Steal Away Again was recorded in 1977 by Bayer Sager as part of her self-titled debut album on Elektra. 

That same year, Roberts recorded it as part of his self-titled debut album, also on Elektra. He'd use Steal Away Again as the B-side for the album's lead single Starmaker.

In 1979, actress/singer Lisa Hartman (now Lisa Hartman Black) recorded it for her second album on the Kirshner label. 

Joey Travolta would also record a version for his debut album, but unfortunately it is not available on YouTube, so can't be considered as part of this competition. 

And that's the whole story.

Now? On to the competition!

The Song: Steal Away Again

The Competitors: Bayer Sager vs. Roberts vs. Hartman

Steal Away Again - Carole Bayer Sager

Steal Away Again - Bruce Roberts

Steal Away Again - Lisa Hartman

Carole Bayer Sager

I sure love this song. 

There's a sweetness and a simplicity about it which I find very pleasing.

A short, clean simple piano intro and Carole is in. Her vocals are an acquired taste. I appreciate her fragility, that waver. Her sense of phrasing might be derived from the fact she's a lyricist, so words are important. Here, she's hitting the head of those notes with every syllable. 

She goes very airy whenever she attempts to hold a note. Its something that, if you choose to be charmed, becomes quite endearing. I also appreciate her articulation. 

Musically, she puts great emphasis on 'would', which I don't think wise. And all those cracks in her vocals - again, fragility can be endearing. 

The arrangement is fine. Kept in check, with the piano leading the way. I believe it's Bruce Roberts playing the piano. 

Not sure what to think of that all-star backing chorus. It's a bit much, though, I guess it buoys things up and is a nice contrast to Carole sitting on top. 

Speaking of all-stars. This album has quite an impressive line-up: Marvin Hamlisch, Peter Allen, Melissa Manchester, Nicky Hopkins and Bruce Roberts all play piano on it, while backup vocalists include: Melissa Manchester, Bette Midler, Peter Allen, Bruce Roberts, Madeline Kahn, Tony Orlando, Johnny Vastano and Brenda Russell. 

So, while lightweight in sound, thanks to Brooks Arthur's production work (Janis Ian, Bette Midler, Bernadette Peters), they went heavyweight when it came to the talent.

Second chorus, she gets a bit screechy for my taste. That almost-speaking singing thing? Rarely a fan. 

She seems really strident, punching words and notes like she's afraid of dropping something or missing the top of a note. It doesn't make for the smoothest of readings. 

Nice guitar work. The all-star choir... sure feels out of focus to me. And a nice, simple string arrangement. Very clean.

Nice entrance from Carole on the final chorus. Ugh, flutes. This may be her best vocals thus far. 

A minute and 17 second play out. You can really hear Bette. 

Well... 

I think the arrangement was supportive of the singer and the production work was actually a little hit and miss. That backing choir really needed some focus. 

Still. This is pleasant. I like it. 

Oh, and she actually released this as a single. 

Bruce Roberts

Virtually, the same intro as CBS's version, in a different key. Bruce is in fine form. He sounds like he's floating in the clouds above everything. The acoustic guitar is a nice touch and ends up taking more focus than the piano. Lovely strings dovetailing in very nicely. And that marvelous tremolo he gives the word 'light'? I like it. 

Tom Dowd produced this. He produced a lot of albums for the likes of Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Kenny Loggins, Dusty Springfield, Bee Gees, Eagles, Rod Stewart, etc. It's a long list.

Bruce is a great vocalist. Maybe a little nasal, but his pitch is amazing and when it comes to singing he doesn't have any bad habits. He actually places his sound in a great place - right between his eyes. His breath support is admirable, and yet he gets a lot air - as in volume - into his sound while keeping things intimate. It's a very difficult thing to do  and he does it so naturally. "Say would you like it?" - one could argue with what he does with 'say'. 

I love those strong strings pumping up as we go into verse two. The piano and guitar are doing some very intricate pairings with those fills and counter melodies. It's a bit busy, but then Bruce is a strong enough singer that he can still ride on top. The strings get really busy, too. 

And then a nice break... Bruce sounds great. I think the strings are coming on a little strong.

Huh. The bridge. On the one hand, I like the muscular strings, but there's too much happening from my comfort level with the acoustic guitar and piano and backing vocals.

And yet, Bruce sails on, intertwining with the acoustic guitar at times... it's nice. 

And a nice dramatic moment after "dumb enough..." 

Again, I like the string line on the outro. There's lots of odd space between all the parts here, but I think it's good. More lively than CBS's playout? 

Lisa Hartman

Same intro. Keeping the piano in focus. Hartman is in whispery/little girl mode. It's moody and airy.

I must say, she's a very underrated singer. She did such a nice job switching into a fuller voice. Great transition. Love her articulation. 

And I like the arrangement. It's very real. Basic. 

Aww. But then she messes with the melody on the second verse and, man... that bums me out. I understand why singers do it to established songs, but this one never got established, so... I think it does a great disservice to the song. Oh, listen to her Cher-like purr on "early dawn." Kind of lose her in the mix at the tail end of verse two

Hmm. That plucked guitar working the counter melody bothers me. Sounds cheap and busy. 

Huh. I like her bridge. It's the one that works. There's something very uplifting about it. 

She sings like a flute. There's a flutter there that I really like. I have a feeling she's going for an Olivia Newton John kind of thing here. It's working.

The bridge and the play-off remind me of some R&B singles from 1979 or so - Maxine Nightingale's Lead Me On, for example. 

Nice, dramatic ending... well handled by Hartman. I hate the strings at the very end, but it was of it's time. 

The Verdict

Huh. 

Not what I had thought. 

Carole Bayer Sager's version is nicely produced. She's not much of a singer, but acquits herself nicely. The backing choir bugged me a lot until the play-out, when it worked very well. 

Bruce Robert's version isn't the homerun I remember. I really take issue with the weird distance between the various parts and then things begin competing with one another. Roberts is in fine form throughout and his is actually the strongest vocal performance of the three. 

But... Hartman surprised me so very much. Like... I thought of her as an also ran, but... she sort of runs away with this. I don't care for parts of the arrangement... it's all cut from the same cloth, but what they did with the bridge and the play-out; that's the game changer. 

Hartman is a very strong vocalist, but here, she's pulled back into R&B kitten mode and it works. She interprets the hell out of this. No, it's not a textbook perfect reading, the way Robert's vocals are, but she brings this thing a different kind of light... pop. It really worked for me. 

So... slap me with a giant cod - I'm going with Hartman.

--- ---

And that's enough of me. 

Okay, your turn. Leave your choice and thoughts in the comments section. Love to hear about what you're hearing.

Until next time...

Thanks for reading... and listening!

Steal Away Again - Sam Smith

(A Song For Charly)