#10: This Night Won’t Last Forever by Michael Johnson

City: Fredericton, NB
Radio Station: CFNB
Peak Month: October 1979
Peak Position in Fredericton: #3
Peak position in Vancouver ~ #29 (CKLG Playlist)
Peak Position on Billboard Hot 100 ~ #19
YouTube: “This Night Won’t Last Forever”
Lyrics: “This Night Won’t Last Forever”

Michael Johnson was born in Alamosa, Colorado, in 1944. He began to play guitar at age 13. In 1965, he won an international talent contest. In 1966 he toured with Randy Sparks in the folk group New Society. When the group split in 1967, Johnson joined the Mitchell Trio (formerly named the Chad Mitchell Trio before Chad left in 1965). He co-wrote songs with fellow member John Denver. The trio morphed into Denver, Boise & Johnson. They released a single titled “Take Me Tomorrow” with a B-side titled “The ’68 Nixon (This Year’s Model)”.

Hi there voters, how do you feel?
Tired of the same old vote appeal?
Well look who’s back with a brand new style
A brand new look and a brand new smile

It’s the ’68 Nixon, everything is new
A brand new image just created for you
A dozen different finishes and so much finesse
He’s got a brand new doggie, not Checkers but Chess….

When the trio dissolved, Johnson moved to New York and was in an Off-Broadway play that debuted in January 1968 titled Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris. The musical ran for four years.

Johnson turned to a solo career and in 1973 released his debut album, There Is A Breeze. In 1975, he released For All You Mad Musicians, and in 1977 Ain’t Dis Da Life.

In 1978, Johnson released The Michael Johnson Album. It became his only album release to crack the Top 100 on the Billboard 200 Album chart. The debut single from the album was a #12 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 titled “Bluer Than Blue”. This was followed up with “Almost Like Being in Love”, a show tune from the 1947 musical Brigadoon. The cover became a #4 Adult Contemporary chart hit in the USA.

In 1979, Michael Johnson released his fifth studio album, Dialogue. “This Night Won’t Last Forever” was the debut single from the album.

“This Night Won’t Last Forever” was cowritten by Bill LaBounty and Roy Freeland. LaBounty was born in the early 50s in Wisconsin and learned to play keyboards and sing. He released his first studio album in 1975. In 1980, his song “Hot Rod Hearts” was a #15 hit for Robbie Dupree. In 1985, Sawyer Brown had a number-one country hit with “Used to Blue”. In 1990, “The Domino Theory” was a Top Ten country hit for Steve Warner. In 1993, he penned a number-one country hit titled “Rock My World (Little Country Girl)”. That year Tanya Tucker and Delbert McClinton had a Top Ten country song with “Tell Me About It”. In 1995, “Tequila Talkin'” was a Top Ten hit for the country band Lodestar. And in the mid-90s, Shenandoah had two Top Ten country hits with “I Want to Be Loved Like That” and “Somewhere in the Vicinity of the Heart”. Though he released an album in 1978 titled The Night Won’t Last Forever, his album and title song release got little notice. LaBounty released his ninth studio album in 2014. He continues to perform and write as a singer-songwriter.

Roy Freeland was born Roy Freirich. He’s written songs recorded by Gino Vannelli, Laura Branigan, Barry Manilow and others.

“This Night Won’t Last Forever” concerns a guy who’s found out the gal in his life has been lying to him from day one. So, he’s not enjoying the party, while his ex-girlfriend plays the same old songs they used to enjoy. He wonders, “who is takin’ her home?”

“This Night Won’t Last Forever” peaked at #1 in Denver and Milwaukee, #2 in St. Louis, #3 in Fredericton (NB) and Presque Isle (ME), #5 in Easton (PA) and Machias (ME), #6 in Philadelphia and Nashville, #9 in Buffalo, Tampa (FL), and Bangor (ME), #11 in Akron (OH), and #12 in Minneapolis/St. Paul, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

On RCA Records, Johnson scored five Top Ten country hits from 1986 to 1989. These included the chart-toppers “Give Me Wings” and “The Moon Is Still Over Her Shoulder.” In 1995, Johnson co-wrote the song “Cain’s Blood” which became a Top 30 country hit for the band 4 Runner.

In 2012, Johnson released his 16th studio album Moonlit Déjà Vu. He died in 2017 at the age of 72.

October 26, 2024
Ray McGinnis

References:
Stephen L. Betts, “‘Bluer Than Blue’ Singer Michael Johnson Dead at 72,” Rolling Stone, July 27, 2017.
“Bill LaBounty: “I always tried to approach my music as an artist regardless of my status in the business,” Yuzu Melodies, November 3, 2011.

CIHI 1260-AM Fredericton (NB) Top Ten | October 19, 1979