Rita Coolidge
Encyclopedia
Rita Coolidge is a multiple Grammy Award
-winning American
vocalist. During the 1970s and 1980s, she charted hits on Billboard's Pop
, Country
, Adult Contemporary and Jazz
charts.
to write a song of the same name for her. In November of 1970, she met Kris Kristofferson at the LA airport when they were both catching the same flight to Tennessee and he got off in Memphis with her rather than go on his originally planned stop in Nashville; the two married in 1973. With him, she recorded several duet albums which sold well, and earned them a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
in 1974 for "From the Bottle to the Bottom", and in 1976 for "Lover Please". Willie Nelson
references her in Devil in a Sleepin' Bag on Shotgun Willie
, saying 'Just got back from New York City, Kris (Kristofferson) and Rita (Coolidge) done it all/ Bought perfection there for all the world to see/ Lord, I heard an angel singing in that Philharmonic Hall/ Rita Coolidge, Rita Coolidge, cleft for me'.
, Tennessee
. She is of Scottish
and Cherokee
Native American
ancestry.
Coolidge was married to Kris Kristofferson
from 1973–1980. They have one daughter, Casey. Coolidge previously had romantic liaisons with Stephen Stills
and Graham Nash
; her leaving Stills for Nash has been cited as a contributing factor behind the initial 1970 breakup of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
Coolidge now lives in Fallbrook
, a small town in southern California
. She is a member of Alpha Gamma Delta
sorority.
, a Native American
music trio, that also includes Coolidge's sister Priscilla and Priscilla's daughter Laura Satterfield. The trio released studio albums in 1997 (Walela) and 2000 (Unbearable Love), a live album and DVD (Live in Concert) in 2004 and a compilation album (The Best of Walela) in 2007. Walela means hummingbird
in Cherokee
.
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
-winning American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
vocalist. During the 1970s and 1980s, she charted hits on Billboard's Pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, Country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
, Adult Contemporary and Jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
charts.
Career
She became known as "The Delta Lady" and inspired Leon RussellLeon Russell
Claude Russell Bridges , known professionally as Leon Russell, is an American musician and songwriter, who has recorded as a session musician, sideman, and maintained a solo career in music....
to write a song of the same name for her. In November of 1970, she met Kris Kristofferson at the LA airport when they were both catching the same flight to Tennessee and he got off in Memphis with her rather than go on his originally planned stop in Nashville; the two married in 1973. With him, she recorded several duet albums which sold well, and earned them a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
The Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal was awarded from 1970 to 2011. The award has had several minor name changes:*In 1970 the award was known as Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group...
in 1974 for "From the Bottle to the Bottom", and in 1976 for "Lover Please". Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
references her in Devil in a Sleepin' Bag on Shotgun Willie
Shotgun Willie
Shotgun Willie is a 1973 album by Willie Nelson. The recording marks a change of style for Nelson, who later stated that the album "cleared his throat". When Nelson refused to sign an early extension of his contract with RCA in 1972, the label decided not to release any further recordings...
, saying 'Just got back from New York City, Kris (Kristofferson) and Rita (Coolidge) done it all/ Bought perfection there for all the world to see/ Lord, I heard an angel singing in that Philharmonic Hall/ Rita Coolidge, Rita Coolidge, cleft for me'.
Personal life
Coolidge was born in LafayetteLafayette, Tennessee
Lafayette is a city in Macon County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 3,885 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Macon County....
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. She is of Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
ancestry.
Coolidge was married to Kris Kristofferson
Kris Kristofferson
Kristoffer "Kris" Kristofferson is an American musician, actor, and writer. He is known for hits such as "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night"...
from 1973–1980. They have one daughter, Casey. Coolidge previously had romantic liaisons with Stephen Stills
Stephen Stills
Stephen Arthur Stills is an American guitarist and singer/songwriter best known for his work with Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills & Nash . He has performed on a professional level in several other bands as well as maintaining a solo career at the same time...
and Graham Nash
Graham Nash
Graham William Nash, OBE is an English singer-songwriter known for his light tenor vocals and for his songwriting contributions with the British pop group The Hollies, and with the folk-rock band Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Nash is a photography collector and a published photographer...
; her leaving Stills for Nash has been cited as a contributing factor behind the initial 1970 breakup of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
Coolidge now lives in Fallbrook
Fallbrook, California
Fallbrook is an unincorporated community in northern San Diego County, California. The Fallbrook census-designated place population was 30,534 at the 2010 census, up from 29,100 at the 2000 census....
, a small town in southern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. She is a member of Alpha Gamma Delta
Alpha Gamma Delta
Alpha Gamma Delta is an international women's fraternity, who are mainly sluts, founded in 1904 at Syracuse University. The Fraternity promotes academic excellence, philanthropic giving, ongoing leadership and personal development, and a spirit of loving sisterhood. Also known as "Alpha Gam" and...
sorority.
Walela
In 1997, Coolidge was one of the founding members of WalelaWalela
Walela is a Native American trio of singers. The group was founded in 1997 by sisters Rita Coolidge and Priscilla Coolidge, with Priscilla's daughter Laura Satterfield as the third member.-Biography:...
, a Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
music trio, that also includes Coolidge's sister Priscilla and Priscilla's daughter Laura Satterfield. The trio released studio albums in 1997 (Walela) and 2000 (Unbearable Love), a live album and DVD (Live in Concert) in 2004 and a compilation album (The Best of Walela) in 2007. Walela means hummingbird
Hummingbird
Hummingbirds are birds that comprise the family Trochilidae. They are among the smallest of birds, most species measuring in the 7.5–13 cm range. Indeed, the smallest extant bird species is a hummingbird, the 5-cm Bee Hummingbird. They can hover in mid-air by rapidly flapping their wings...
in Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
.
Albums (North American)
| Year | Album | Peak positions | Label | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US Country | CAN | |||
| 1971 | Rita Coolidge Rita Coolidge (album) -Side one:#"That Man is My Weakness" — 3:50#"Second Story Window" — 3:00#"Crazy Love" — 3:35#"The Happy Song" — 3:50#"Seven Bridges Road" — 5:55-Side two:... |
105 | — | 71 | A&M |
| Nice Feelin' Nice Feelin' Nice Feelin’ is the second album by Rita Coolidge. The backing band was The Dixie Flyers.-Side one:#"Family Full Of Soul" — 2:56#"You Touched Me In The Morning" — 3:20#"If You Were Mine" — 3:37... |
135 | — | — | ||
| 1972 | The Lady's Not for Sale | 46 | — | 27 | |
| 1974 | Fall Into Spring Fall Into Spring Fall Into Spring is a 1974 album by Rita Coolidge and was released on the A&M Records label.-Side one:#"Love Has No Pride" — 3:50#"That's What Friends Are For" — 4:55#"Cowboys and Indians" — 3:15... |
55 | — | 41 | |
| 1975 | It's Only Love It's Only Love (Rita Coolidge album) It's Only Love is a 1975 album by Rita Coolidge and was released on the A&M Records label.-Side one:#"Born To Love Me" — 3:38#"I Wanted It All" — 3:05... |
85 | — | — | |
| 1977 | Anytime...Anywhere | 6 | 23 | 4 | |
| 1978 | Love Me Again Love Me Again (Rita Coolidge album) Love Me Again is a 1978 album by Rita Coolidge and was released on the A&M Records label.-Side one:# "You" — 3:14# "Slow Dancer" — 4:01# "Sweet Inspiration" — 2:59... |
32 | — | 39 | |
| 1979 | Satisfied Satisfied (Rita Coolidge album) Satisfied is a 1979 album by Rita Coolidge, released on A&M Records. The album is notable for containing Coolidge's comeback single, "I'd Rather Leave While I'm In Love", as well as for its perceived unique musical direction at the time of its release.... |
95 | — | 58 | |
| 1980 | Greatest Hits Greatest Hits (Rita Coolidge album) Greatest Hits is a 1980 album by Rita Coolidge and was released on the A&M Records label. This was her first compilation album and contains all previously released material... |
107 | — | 47 | |
| 1981 | Heartbreak Radio Heartbreak Radio Heartbreak Radio is a 1981 album by Rita Coolidge and was released on the A&M Records label.-Side one:#"Walk On In" — 3:24#"One More Heartache" — 3:27... |
160 | — | — | |
| 1983 | Never Let You Go Never Let You Go (album) Never Let You Go is a 1983 album by Rita Coolidge and was released on the A&M Records label. The album originally did not contain the song "All Time High" from the movie Octopussy... |
— | — | — | |
| 1984 | Inside the Fire Inside the Fire (Rita Coolidge album) Inside the Fire is a 1984 album by Rita Coolidge and was released on the A&M Records label. This would prove to be Rita's last studio album with her longtime label, A&M Records. The album features the top 15 adult contemporary hit Something Said Love and the Richard Kerr/Will Jennings ballad I... |
— | — | — | |
| 1992 | Love Lessons | — | — | — | Caliber/Critique |
| 1996 | Out of the Blues | — | — | — | Beacon |
| 1998 | Thinkin' About You | — | — | — | Innerworks |
| 2005 | And So Is Love | — | — | — | Concord |
Albums with Kris Kristofferson
| Year | Album | Peak positions | Label | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | US | CAN | |||
| 1973 | Full Moon Full Moon (Kris Kristofferson album) Full Moon is a duet album by Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge, released in 1973 on A&M Records. It is the first of three duet albums by the couple, who married the year before the album's release... |
1 | 26 | 7 | A&M |
| 1974 | Breakaway Breakaway (Kris Kristofferson album) Breakaway is the second duet album by Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge, released in 1974 on Monument Records. It is one of three duet albums by the couple. Unlike Kristofferson solo albums, it features several covers... |
19 | 103 | 81 | Monument |
| 1978 | Natural Act Natural Act Natural Act is the third and final duet album by Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge, released in 1978 on A&M Records. The couple would divorce the following year... |
24 | 106 | — | A&M |
International albums
| Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Fire Me Back | Attic |
| 1991 | Dancing with an Angel | |
| 1993 | For You | Alpha |
| 1995 | Behind the Memories | Pony Canyon |
Compilation albums
| Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | All About Rita Coolidge (Japanese release) | A&M |
| 1980 | Greatest Hits Greatest Hits (Rita Coolidge album) Greatest Hits is a 1980 album by Rita Coolidge and was released on the A&M Records label. This was her first compilation album and contains all previously released material... |
|
| 1987 | Classics Volume 5 | |
| 1991 | A&M Gold Series (West German release) | |
| 1994 | All Time High: Best of Rita Coolidge | |
| 1995 | The Collection (Australian release) | Spectrum |
| 1999 | Master Series | A&M |
| 2000 | 20th Century Masters - The Millenium Collection | |
| 2001 | Universal Masters Collection | |
| 2004 | Delta Lady - The Rita Coolidge Anthology |
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
US AC Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States... |
US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
CAN | CAN AC | CAN Country | UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
|||
| 1969 | "Turn Around and Love You" | 96 | — | — | — | — | — | — | single only |
| 1971 | "I Believe in You" | — | — | — | 38 | 16 | — | — | Rita Coolidge |
| 1972 | "Fever Fever (1956 song) "Fever" is a song written by Eddie Cooley and Otis Blackwell, who used the pseudonym John Davenport. It was originally recorded by Little Willie John in 1956. It has been covered by numerous artists from various musical genres, notably Peggy Lee in 1958.... " |
76 | — | — | — | — | — | — | The Lady's Not for Sale |
| 1973 | "My Crew"A | flip | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "Whiskey, Whiskey" | 106 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "A Song I'd Like to Sing" (w/Kris Kristofferson Kris Kristofferson Kristoffer "Kris" Kristofferson is an American musician, actor, and writer. He is known for hits such as "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night"... ) |
49 | 12 | 92 | 53 | 3 | 54 | — | Full Moon | |
| 1974 | "Loving Arms" (w/Kris Kristofferson) | 86 | 25 | 98 | 83 | 9 | — | — | |
| "Mama Lou" | — | — | 94 | — | — | — | — | Fall Into Spring | |
| "Rain" (w/Kris Kristofferson) | — | 44 | 87 | — | 40 | — | — | Breakaway | |
| 1975 | "Lover Please" (w/Kris Kristofferson) | — | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1977 | "(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher" | 2 | 5 | — | 1 | 3 | — | 48 | Anytime...Anywhere |
| "We're All Alone We're All Alone "We're All Alone" is a song written by Boz Scaggs, who introduced it on his 1976 album Silk Degrees; in 1977, "We're All Alone" was a top-ten hit for Rita Coolidge in the US and the UK.-Early versions:... " |
7 | 1 | 82 | 5 | 1 | — | 6 | ||
| 1978 | "The Way You Do the Things You Do The Way You Do the Things You Do "The Way You Do the Things You Do" was covered in 1989 by the band UB40. It was the sixth single from their 1989 album Labour of Love II. The song was released in 1989 in the major of the European countries .-Track listings:7"-Single... " |
20 | 9 | — | 16 | 6 | — | — | |
| "Words Words (Bee Gees song) "Words" is a song written and sung by the Bee Gees, released in the beginning of 1968. Barry Gibb said in 1996 on the VH1 Storytellers television show that it was written for their manager Robert Stigwood. It was originally intended for Cliff Richard, but he never got round to recording the track... " |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 25 | ||
| "You" | 25 | 3 | — | 17 | 1 | — | — | Love Me Again | |
| "The Jealous Kind" | — | — | 63 | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Love Me Again" | 68 | 20 | 83 | 73 | 35 | — | — | ||
| 1979 | "Hello, Love, Goodbye" | — | — | — | — | 27 | — | — | |
| "One Fine Day One Fine Day (song) "One Fine Day" has been recorded by a diverse array of artists including Susie Allanson, the Carpenters as part of the oldies medley on their album Now and Then, Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods, Even in Blackouts, Kids Incorporated, David Lasley, Natalie Merchant , the Mountain Goats, Aaron Neville,... " |
66 | 15 | — | 89 | 4 | — | — | Satisfied | |
| "I'd Rather Leave While I'm in Love" | 38 | 3 | 32 | 87 | 1 | 24 | — | ||
| 1980 | "Somethin' Bout You Baby I Like" (w/Glen Campbell Glen Campbell Glen Travis Campbell is an American country music singer, guitarist, television host and occasional actor. He is best known for a series of hits in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as for hosting a variety show called The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour on CBS television.During his 50 years in show... ) |
42 | 39 | 60 | — | 36 | 23 | — | Somethin' Bout You Baby I Like (Glen Campbell album) |
| "Fool That I Am" | 46 | 15 | 72 | — | — | 52 | — | Coast to Coast Coast to Coast (1980 film) Coast to Coast is a 1980 comedy film starring Dyan Cannon and Robert Blake, directed by Joseph Sargent. The screenplay was written by Stanley Weiser. The original score was composed by Charles Bernstein. The film was shot in Stockton, California... soundtrack |
|
| 1981 | "The Closer You Get" | 103 | — | — | — | 16 | — | — | Heartbreak Radio |
| 1983 | "All Time High All Time High "All Time High" is a 1983 single release by Rita Coolidge introduced as the theme song for the James Bond film Octopussy.-Background:"All Time High" marked the return of regular James Bond theme composer John Barry after his absence from the For Your Eyes Only soundtrack... " |
36 | 1 | — | 38 | 1 | — | 75 | Octopussy soundtrack Octopussy (soundtrack) Octopussy is the soundtrack for the eponymous thirteenth James Bond film. The score was composed by John Barry, the lyrics by Tim Rice. The opening theme, "All Time High" is sung by Rita Coolidge and is one of five musical themes or songs that are not named after film's title, the others being... |
| "Only You Only You (Yazoo song) -Track listing:7": Mute/7 MUTE 20 # "Only You" - 3:10# "Situation" - 3:447": Sire/9 2-98447 # "Only You" - 3:10# "Winter Kills" - 4:0112": Mute/12 MUTE 20 # "Only You" - 3:10# "Situation" - 5:20CD: Mute/CD MUTE 20... " |
— | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | Never Let You Go | |
| 1984 | "Something Said Love" | — | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | Inside the Fire |
| 1990 | "I Stand in Wonder" | — | — | — | 49 | 21 | — | — | Fire Me Back |
- A B-side of "Fever"