Top 10 Brenda Russell Songs

Brenda Russell Songs

Feature Photo: Oleksandr Nagaiets / Shutterstock

Our Top 10 Brenda Russell Songs list will look at a legendary singer, songwriter, musician and producer. The talented singer has composed many classic songs including “Piano in the Dark,” “Get Here” and “If Only For One Night.” She has a talent to shift between musical genres when it comes to her writing. Her music has been sampled by many artists. Some of the artists who have worked with her, covered her songs or sampled her songs are Luther Vandross, Babyface, Michael McDonald, Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, Bow Wow, Donna Summer, Earth, Wind & Fire, Ray Charles, Joe Cocker, Roberta Flack, Al Jarreau and Johnny Mathis. Brenda Russell has been nominated for Grammy and Tony Awards. She has won one Grammy Award.

Brenda Russell was born Brenda Gordon on April 8, 1949. She has music in her blood. Her father was a member of the Ink Spots. Her mother was a singer and songwriter. Brenda Russell was destined to be in the music industry. Like most artists, she was in a band called The Tiaras. In 1968 they released a single called “Where Did All the Time Go.” The single was unsuccessful. Brenda Russell had a natural talent to play the piano. She learned how to play when she was a teenager.

In the 70s, she and her manager were sending her demos to producers. She was signed to Horizon Records. She married a musician named Brian Russell. They were in the band Dr. Music. They produced the single “Please Pardon Me” by Rufus. She and her husband provided background vocals on Neil Sedaka’s hit “Laughter in the Rain.” They were background vocalists for one of Elton John’s concerts. The Russells released two albums together called Word Called Love (1976) and Supersonic Lover (1977). They worked with Robert Palmer on his album Double Fun. When the Russells got divorced, she decided to pursue a solo career.

Brenda Russell released her self-tilted album in July 1979. It peaked at number 26 on the r&b charts and 65 on Billboard 200. The album features the singles “So Good, So Right,” “Think It Over,” “In the Thick of It” and “Way Back When.” She worked on Earth, Wind & Fire’s albums Faces and Raise!. Brenda Russell released Love Life in March 1981. The album peaked at number 42 on the r&b charts. Love Life features the singles “Something I Like to Do,” “If You Love (The One You Lose),” “Thank You” and “Rainbow.” She worked with Patrice Rushen on her Straight From The Heart album and Donna Summer’s self-titled album.

Brenda Russell released Two Eyes in May 1983. The album peaked at number 16 on the UK r&b charts. The album features the singles “I Want Love to Find Me,” “It’s Something,” “Stay Close” and “I’ll See You Again.” Get Here was released in 1988. The album peaked at number 20 on the r&b charts. Get Here features the singles “Piano in the Dark,” “Gravity” and “Get Here.” Kiss Me with the Wind was released in August 1990. The album peaked at number 65 on the r&b charts. The album features the singles “Stop Running Away,” “Dinner with Gershwin,” “Good for Love” and “Kiss Me with the Wind.” She went on to produce Phil Perry’s album The Heart of a Man in 1991. Soul Talkin’ was released in 1993. The album features the singles “Got to Love,” “No Time for Time,” “You’ll Fall in Love Again” and “Matters of the Heart.” She went on to release other albums throughout her career.

Brenda Russell is a talented singer, songwriter and producer. She is an underrated artist who deserves her flowers. She has competed with other artists such as Patrice Rushen, Randy Crawford, Angela Winbush, Will Downing, Regina Belle, Anita Baker, Jody Watley, Jeffrey Osborne, Roberta Flack, Heatwave, Mtume, Al Jarreau, as well as other artists. Our Top 10 Brenda Russell Songs list will give us the chance to give her the recognition she deserves for her contribution in music.

# 10 – If Only for One Night

The first song on our Top 10 Brenda Russell Songs list is “If Only for One Night” from her self-titled album. “If Only for One Night” was released in 1979. You may have heard Luther Vandross’ version of the song and thought that he recorded it first. Brenda Russell actually recorded the song first. She wrote the track for her self-titled album. The touching ballad is about a woman who wants to have a passionate night with the man she loves. She wants them to forget about their problems and have one special night together. She wants them to be together without judgment. It is a beautiful expression of longing.

The music in Brenda Russell’s version sounds pretty. She is an excellent pianist and she showed off her skills in this song. The rest of the musicians do a great job with the musical instrumentation. It starts off with just the piano until the midway point when the rest of the musicians come in and join her. The melody of the music is romantic. It will make you want to get close to someone. Not only is she a gifted musician, she is a gifted singer. She makes you feel the words that she is singing in this song. Her vocals are flawless. She sings every word clearly so you can understand everything she is saying. If you love the Luther Vandross version, you should definitely check out Brenda Russell’s version.

# 9 – If You Love (the One You Lose)

The next song on our Top 10 Brenda Russell Songs list is “If You Love (the One You Lose)” from the Love Life album. “If You Love (the One You Love)” was released in 1981. The emotional ballad is about a woman who loves someone who walked away. She tells the story about how she felt when she first met the man. She didn’t think she would fall in love until he came along. Once they got together, he showed her how to love. She has never met anyone like him. She was blown away by the things he could do. He manages to walk away, but never leaves. He can leave physically, but he will never leave emotionally. She doesn’t regret the time she had with him.

This is a cleverly written song about love and heartbreak. She may not be with the one she loves, but she doesn’t regret the time she had with him. She feels like she is still in love as long as he is in her heart. Most women aren’t that kind to men who walk away from them. They usually sing bitter songs about the men who leave. This is an upbeat song about losing the one you love. The music is a good mix of jazz and r&b. The music will stay in your head after you finish listening to it. It is something you can listen to in a jazz club. Brenda Russell sounds great in this song. She sounds like Donna Summer in this track. The music is soft, but she belts in the midway point. The background singer does a great job supporting her in the background.

# 8 – Way Back When

The eighth song on our Top 10 Brenda Russell Songs list is “Way Back When” from her self-titled album. “Way Back When” was released in 1980. The upbeat song is about knowing someone before they became successful. She saw something in her friend before the success came. She knows they want validation for their success. She doesn’t want the person to pretend that success doesn’t mean anything to them. The narrator lets her friend know that they shouldn’t credit other people or where they grew up for why they were successful. The person had it in them all along. She wants the friend to know that she believed in them “way back when.”

The arrangement of the song was brilliantly done. The strings and synthesizers are amazing. They bring the music to life. The orchestra is mesmerizing. The music will give you chills. Brenda Russell sounds different in this track. She sings this in a deeper tone. She sounds like she is having the time of her life in this song. She doesn’t hold too many notes, but she does vocalize in the song. The background singers do their job and support her throughout the track. This song might be hard to find, but if you do find it, you should check it out. It is an underrated track that deserves some attention.

# 7 – Gravity

The seventh song on our list is “Gravity” from the Get Here album. “Gravity” was released in 1988. The catchy song is about her gravitating towards the one she loves. She talks about not being able to resist the man she loves. He is a charming man and she became hooked on him. He has a gravitational pull on her. There is something about him that draws her to him. He makes her think about enjoying life. They weren’t on the same page about things at first and decided to go their separate ways. His gravitational pull dragged her back into his orbit. She found herself running into him once again. The gravity and chemistry are undeniable.

There are plenty of songs about love. In fact, you could lose count on how many songs you can hear about love on the radio. Brenda Russell managed to do something different with this theme. She talked about appreciating life and love. Not only does she want you to appreciate life, she wants you to appreciate love. Her story gives you hope that you can have the love of your life back in your life again. They broke up, but found their way back to each other.

This song gets overlooked because it is on the same album as “Piano in the Dark,” but it is a good song. It has a great late 80s r&b and pop beat. She released this song during the height of Janet Jackson and Whitney Houston’s popularity, but she proved that she was no slouch when it came to creating a good song. Brenda Russell showed versatility in this track because she has a double. One is singing in a higher pitch while the other is in a lower pitch. Both pitches work for the song. Her voice sounds pretty in this song.

# 6 – Something About Your Love

“Something About You” is from the Paris Rain album. “Something About Your Love” was released in 2000. This heartwarming song is about a woman who talks about a man who got away. She loves him and realizes that he has a hold on her. She knows that love plays with your heart. There was something about him that made her realize that she wanted to be with him again. She can’t seem to get over the man who walked way. The narrator goes down memory lane talking about what happened.

She was convinced that she was done with love. His love made her realize that she wasn’t done like she thought. She wanted to be with him again. She wants to take another chance on love. She can’t give up on him the way she thought. She knew she shouldn’t have been with him in the first place, but his love made her realize that she couldn’t resist him. She thought she should have known better, but she had no choice but to fall in love with him.

There is something about this song that makes you fall in love with it. The legendary singer and songwriter covered the very thing that most of us feel when it concerns love. She hit the nail on the head with this track. It’s hard to let go of someone who makes your heart skip a beat. This is a track that will have you in your feelings especially if you have been in this situation. Brenda Russell proved that she wasn’t past her prime with this track. This song proved the opposite. She sounds like she was on top of her game. She sounds better than ever on this song. She hits notes like you’ve never heard her hit before. It was a treat to hear her vocals soar the way they do on this track. She wants the world to take notice of her beautiful instrument. It’s hard not to pay attention to her while she sings this track. She sounds like an angel on this song. This is a song that you will want to hear more than once.

# 5 – Get Here

The next song on our Top 10 Brenda Russell Songs list is “Get Here” from the album of the same name. “Get Here” was released in 1988. This moving song is about finding ways to get to a person. She doesn’t care how the person gets to her. She just wants them to get there if they can. This song is versatile. You can use it for anyone you love and/or miss in your life. The person you want to “get here” doesn’t have to be living anymore. The song can be for anyone. The lyrics will touch your heart and soul. If you are in the situation, you will understand the lyrics. They will hit home for you.

Oleta Adams’ version of the song is the most recognized version of the song, but she didn’t record it first. Brenda Russell recorded the song three years before Oleta Adams. The melody in Brenda Russell’s version is slightly different from the one in Oleta Adams’ version. The music in Brenda Russell’s version is soft and calming. Brenda Russell is an amazingly talented songwriter. She wrote such a touching song that many people can relate to. She sings this song with a lot of passion. She sounds like Randy Crawford in this track. She pushes herself to reach a higher key when the music gets louder. She holds notes towards the end of the song that should not be missed. You may be more familiar with Oleta Adams’ version of the song, but Brenda Russell’s version is worth checking out.

# 4 – Stop Running Away

“Stop Running Away” is from the Kiss Me with the Wind album. “Stop Running Away” was released in 1990. This song is about a woman who wants her man to stop running away from love. She lets him know that she won’t bite him. She tells him they have nothing to lose by being together. She assures him that she will be there for him. The narrator wants him to take a gamble on love. He doesn’t want to admit how he feels but she knows that he has feelings for her. He can’t stop his heart from falling in love even if he won’t bring himself to admit to how he feels. She reassures him that she won’t play games with his heart. She just wants them to be together.

This song is about taking risks when it comes to love. One-sided love is something people can relate to all too well. You can play this song to get them to admit how they feel. She wrote the perfect scenario for people who have trouble admitting their feelings. The music has a late 80s early 90s feel. Here is a fun fact about the song. Narada Michael Walden co-wrote this song with Brenda Russell. This song sounds like something Whitney Houston would have recorded during this time. Narada Michael Walden worked with Whitney Houston so it’s not a surprise this song sounds like something she could have recorded. This is the type of song you would want to sing along with her if you have been in this situation. Speaking of singing, Brenda Russell sounds like a combination of Whitney Houston, Regina Belle and Cherrelle in this track. Brenda Russell doesn’t hold back while she is singing this song. She knocks it out of the park.

# 3 – I Know You By Heart

Coming in at number three on our list is “I Know You By Heart” from the Sun and the Moon album. “I Know You By Heart” was released in 2004. This is a romantic song about a woman who knows her man by heart. He can’t keep anything from her because she already knows everything about him. She can recognize him in the dark because she knows his body. No matter where he is, she will recognize him. Their connection is so strong that she will know him from anywhere. It doesn’t matter if he is near or far from her. She loves him so much that she could look at him forever. She could spend the rest of his life staring into his eyes.

The lyrics are so emotive they will touch your soul. It is a pretty song about a strong connection between a couple. She captured the essence of love with this track. She made the song sound romantic and not cheesy. The music sounds like the perfect music to listen to when you are in a romantic mood. You might want to send the kids to bed when you hear the beat. The musical arrangement is breathtaking. This would be the perfect track for quiet storm radio. It is a smooth and sexy song. Brenda Russell sounds seductive in this track. Her vocals are smoky and sensual. At this point, Brenda Russell had been singing for years, but she sounds just as good as she did on her debut album. This song is proof that she is still needed in the music industry. Her sound is missing from the music industry. She keeps the song simple and to the point. She doesn’t try to hook us with vocal gymnastics. Her gorgeous voice is enough to sell the song.

# 2 – So Good, So Right

“So Good, So Right” is from the self-titled album. “So Good, So Right’ was released in 1979. This song is about a woman in love. She talks about the way he makes her feel when they are together. She talks about how good it feels to be with him. He makes her feel alive. He makes her feel young when he plays around with her. She never wants to lose this feeling. She wants to stay in love this way. She expresses how much she wants to be with him. She feels that being with him is so good and right. He makes her feel special and loved the way no other man could make her feel.

Brenda Russell will make any person wish they had someone like the man she describes in the song. She tells a hopeful story about being with a man who makes you feel good. The song is told from a woman’s point of view, but men can relate to the song as well. Brenda Russell’s songs can reach out to men as well as women. Men want to feel the way she does in her songs. Her lyrics will make you believe that she is being treated right by her man. Brenda Russell sounds like a woman in love in this track. Brenda Russell’s voice sounds soothing. Her voice is so infectious that you may find yourself singing along with her. She starts the song softly and surprises the listeners by belting towards the middle of the song. This is the type of track that will never get old. It could have been number one on our list, but another song took the title.

# 1 – Piano in the Dark

The number one song on our Top 10 Brenda Russell Songs list is “Piano in the Dark” from the Get Here album. “Piano in the Dark” was released in 1988. The song is about an indecisive woman. She is ready to end her relationship with the man she is seeing. She is bored with him and ready to leave. When she wants to go, he stops her. He stops her by playing the piano. She loves the way he plays the piano. He plays the piano “in the dark.” His talent on the piano is what keeps her from leaving. She is drawn to his music. The music is why she won’t leave him.

We couldn’t wrap this list up without including Brenda Russell’s biggest hit single. This is one of the song that helped her get a wider audience of fans. As soon as you hear the first couple of notes, you know what the song is. There is no mistaken how great the music is in this song. It is a great blend of r&b and soul music. The song was recorded in the 80s, but it doesn’t sound dated. This song could still be played on the radio today. Brenda Russell’s vocals are phenomenal. She knows when to belt and when to hold back. You can feel her voice in your soul. This masterpiece is timeless. This song will stay in your head long after it is over. Good songs like “Piano in the Dark” will never go away.

Top 10 Brenda Russell Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2023

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