Remembering Songwriting Great Cynthia Weil

/by

Cynthia Weil

Cynthia Weil, one of the greatest American song lyricists in history, died recently (June 1) in Los Angeles.

Renowned as the co-writer of such standards as “On Broadway,” “Somewhere Out There” and “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling,” Weil also co-wrote “Here You Come Again.” That song took Dolly Parton from country stardom to million-selling pop success in 1977. It was named BMI’s most-performed country song of the year.

The songwriter is also behind a half dozen other country classics. More than 30 country stars have recorded her works, a tally that exceeds those of many Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame members.

Weil is an inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as well as the national Songwriters Hall of Fame. “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” is the most performed BMI song of the 20th century.

Cynthia Weil was a native New Yorker. She was trained as an actress and dancer, but she found her show-biz footing among the so-called “Brill Building” songwriters. They included such future stars as Neil Diamond, Carole King, Neil Sedaka, Paul Simon and Bobby Darin. Teamed with the group’s Barry Mann, she helped to create rock & roll songwriting.

In 1961 Mann and Weil penned “Bless You,” the first hit by Tony Orlando. They also married that year. In 1962, the collaborators scored a No. 3 country smash when Leroy Van Dyke recorded their song “If a Woman Answers (Hang Up the Phone).” They continued to have an impact on country music in the decades to come.

The team found its unified voice in such gritty urban tales as The Animals’ “We Gotta Get Out of This Place,” Gene Pitney’s “Looking Through the Eyes of Love,” The Crystals’
“Uptown” and “He’s Sure the Boy I Love,” The Vogues’ “Magic Town,” Jody Miller’s “Home of the Brave,” The Drifters’ “On Broadway” (revived by George Benson), Jay & The Americans’ “Only In America” and Paul Revere & The Raiders’ “Hungry.” These songs depicted working-class struggle and aspiration.

The early years of her songwriting career also included “Walking in the Rain” (The Ronettes), “I’m Gonna Be Strong” (Gene Pitney), “Blame It On the Bossa Nova” (Eydie Gorme), “My Dad” (Paul Peterson), “Soul and Inspiration” (The Righteous Brothers) and “Kicks” (Paul Revere & The Raiders). She became adept with intensely romantic lyrics such as “I Just Can’t Help Believin’” which was popularized by B.J. Thomas, Elvis Presley, David Rogers, David Frizzell, Ronnie Milsap and dozens of others in the 1970s.

Heartache laments were also in Weil’s wheelhouse. In 1974, Johnny Rodriguez had a top-10 country hit with “We’re Over,” and in 1978 Donna Fargo had top-10 country success with “Another Goodbye.” Martina McBride went to No. 1 on the country charts in 1998 with Weil’s co-written “Wrong Again.” “Here You Come Again” won Parton a country Grammy Award.

Linda Ronstadt memorably sang two of Weil’s works, 1989’s “Don’t Know Much” (with Aaron Neville) and “Somewhere Out There” (with James Ingram), which won the 1987 Grammy Award as Song of the Year. Lionel Richie was Weil’s songwriting collaborator on “Running With the Night” (1984) and “Love Will Conquer All” (1986). Massive pop songwriting success continued with “Just Once” (James Ingram), “He’s So Shy” (The Pointer Sisters), “Somewhere Down the Road’ (Barry Manilow) and “If Ever You’re In My Arms Again” (Peabo Bryson). B.J. Thomas returned to Weil’s catalog for 1972’s “Rock and Roll Lullaby.” All of this occurred after Mann and Weil relocated to the West Coast in the late 1960s.

The most prominent country versions of “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” were recorded by Barbara Fairchild (1975) and by Kenny Rogers & Dottie West (1979). Cynthia Weil’s songs have also been sung by such country stars as Crystal Gayle, Lynn Anderson, Don Williams, Eddy Arnold, Debbie Boone, The Bellamy Brothers, Juice Newton, Marie Osmond, Vince Gill, Wynonna, Shelby Lynne, Billy Joe Royal, Glen Campbell, Kelly Lang, T.G. Sheppard, The Kendalls and Roy Clark.

Her Songwriters Hall of Fame induction was in 1987. Ten years later, Cynthia Weil was in the pop top 10 again with Hanson’s million-selling “I Will Come to You.” Induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame occurred in 2010. She has more than 30 BMI Awards.

The songwriter died at her home in Beverly Hills at age 82. No cause of death has been revealed. She is survived by husband Barry Mann, daughter Jenn Mann and two granddaughters. Dolly Parton participated via video at Weil’s memorial service in Los Angeles on Sunday (June 11).

Robert K Oermann
Latest posts by Robert K Oermann (see all)