Friday's Flashback

Kim Carnes shot to superstardom with 1981's mega hit Bette Davis Eyes. Originally recorded in the mid seventies by songwriter Jackie DeShannon, the track remained an obscure album cut until Carnes covered it for her LP Mistaken Identity. The rest, as they say, is history.

The legendary Bette Davis herself was quite flattered by the song. It's immense popularity sparked renewed interest in her and her career, and she and Carnes posed for a photo shoot together. The song's sultry lyrics, delivered in breathless anticipation, really hit a nerve with record buyers and disc jockeys alike. It shot up the Billboard Hot 100 to the #1 spot - where it remained for nine consecutive weeks -  and won a Grammy. Audiences just couldn't get enough of those Bette Davis Eyes.

This one is still played to death on radio. It's one of those tunes you can't forget because it's refrain repeats in your head, years after the first time you hear it. Carnes was never able to repeat the commercial success of her signature song but with a hit like this under her belt, she hardly needed to top it.