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The Best of Me (David Foster song)

"The Best of Me"
Single by David Foster
from the album The Best of Me
ReleasedFebruary 1983
Recorded1982
Length4:06
Label
  • Atlantic
Songwriter(s)David Foster, Jeremy Lubbock and Richard Marx.

"The Best of Me" is the debut solo single by David Foster, released in February 1983. The ballad was later included as the title track for his debut solo album with the same title, released in November 1983.[1] The song was composed in 1982 by Foster, Jeremy Lubbock and Richard Marx. It has since been recorded by numerous artists, the most notable being Olivia Newton-John, whom Foster chose as his duet partner when he re-recorded the track in 1986, and Cliff Richard, who chose it for his 100th single milestone in 1989.[citation needed]

David Foster & Olivia Newton-John version

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"The Best of Me"
Record sleeve of a picture of David Foster and Olivia Newton John
Single by David Foster and Olivia Newton-John
from the album David Foster
Released1986
Length4:08
Label
  • Atlantic
Songwriter(s)David Foster, Jeremy Lubbock and Richard Marx.
Olivia Newton-John singles chronology
"Toughen Up"
(1986) 		"The Best of Me"
(1986) 		"The Rumour"
(1988)

David Foster re-recorded the track with Olivia Newton-John for his 1986 self-titled solo album. It was released as a single and made No. 6 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and No. 80 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Track listing

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  1. "The Best of Me" - 4:08
  2. "Sajé" - 3:08

Charts

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Chart performance for "The Best of Me"
Chart (1986) Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[2] 17
Canadian Adult Contemporary (RPM)|[3] 3
US Billboard Hot 100[4] 80
US Billboard Adult Contemporary[5] 6
US Cash Box Top Singles[6] 81

Cliff Richard version (100th single)

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"The Best of Me"
Record sleeve showing a gold background with bold white letters 'Cliff Richard 100th Single'
Front cover of standard edition
Single by Cliff Richard
from the album Stronger
B-side
Released30 May 1989
RecordedMarch–April 1989
GenrePop
LabelEMI
Songwriter(s)David Foster, Jeremy Lubbock, Richard Marx
Producer(s)Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard singles chronology
"Mistletoe and Wine"
(1988) 		"The Best of Me"
(1989) 		"I Just Don't Have the Heart"
(1989)
Music video
"The Best of Me" on YouTube
Alternative cover
CD single sleeve showing a gold background with embossed gold letters 'Cliff Richard 100th Single'
Front cover of special edition

English singer Cliff Richard selected the song for his milestone 100th single in 1989. Released on 30 May 1989, the song debuted at No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart and stayed there another week in its 7-week run on the chart.[7] It was certified silver by the BPI for sales over 200,000.[8]

Before releasing his 100th single, Richard invited 2,000 British fans to the London Palladium for a preview of six songs from his forthcoming album (which would be Stronger), to vote on which one they liked most as the possible 100th single. Ironically, "The Best of Me" came second to "Stronger Than That", but Richard had also revealed by mistake that the latter was composed by Alan Tarney who had written most of Richard's biggest hits since 1979. Regardless, it was enough confirmation for Richard to choose "The Best of Me" with its fitting lyrics as a tribute to his audience. Coming third in the vote was "I Just Don't Have the Heart", ahead of "Joanna" and "Lean on You".[9]

Charts and certifications

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Weekly charts

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Chart (1989) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[10] 59
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[11] 32
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[12] 55
Ireland (IRMA)[13] 2
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[14] 25
UK Singles (OCC)[7] 2
West Germany (GfK)[15] 61

Year-end charts

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Chart (1989) Position
UK Singles (OCC)[16] 84

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[8] Silver 200,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Other versions

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References

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  1. ^ "The Best of Me (1983 album) - David Foster" at AllMusic. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  2. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0710." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  3. ^ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 30 August 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. 5 July 1986. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  5. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. 12 July 1986. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  6. ^ "Cash Box Top Singles of 1986" (PDF). Cash Box. 21 June 1986.
  7. ^ a b "Cliff Richard: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  8. ^ a b "British single certifications – Cliff Richard – The Best of Me". British Phonographic Industry.
  9. ^ Edwards, Eileen (June 1989). "Cliff at the Palladium". Dynamite International (124): 1,3.
  10. ^ Scott, Gavin. "25 Years Ago This Week: August 13, 1989". blogspot.com. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  11. ^ "Cliff Richard – The Best of Me" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  12. ^ "Cliff Richard – The Best of Me" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  13. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Best Of Me". Irish Singles Chart.
  14. ^ "Cliff Richard – The Best of Me". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  15. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Cliff Richard – The Best of Me" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  16. ^ "Year End Singles". Record Mirror. 27 January 1990. p. 44.
  17. ^ "The Best of Me (Live) - Richard Marx". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  18. ^ "The Best of Me - Paul Potts". paulpottsofficial.com. Retrieved 26 December 2016.