Aaron Neville f/ Linda Ronstadt "Close Your Eyes"

Originally a hit in 1955, Aaron Neville and his singing buddy Linda Ronstadt re-recorded The Five Keys signature tune in 1992. While not a hit on the radio, soft rock radio stations give it some love.

Aaron Neville "Crazy Love"

Recorded for the Phenomenon Soundtrack, Aaron Neville's rendition of "Crazy Love" found its way onto Adult Contemporary radio stations in 1996. His take on the Van Morrison classic took a backseat to the soundtrack's biggest hit: "Change the World" from Eric Clapton.

Main Ingredient "Everybody Plays the Fool"

When my high school sweetheart broke up with me to "focus on her studies" and then turned around and got engaged to a her friend from college who always used to call her and ask if she was still dating "that guy" (me), I experienced my first real heartbreak. The breakup kicked me in the balls and knocked me down for a number of years -- after all, I envisioned us marrying and having a couple kids and cats. It was my first real girlfriend and the sting of life without her paralyzed me. I refused to move on because I was convinced she was "the one". Like most wounds, time helped heal mine and I eventually moved on but, man, those were some dark years where I hid from the dating world by working seven days a week. I later adopted the mantra "I don't want to play the fool" thanks to the lyrics from the Main Ingredient song (though I first learned of the tune from Aaron Neville) and those words would later come back and bite me again...and again. Happy April Fool's Day!

Aaron Neville "Somewhere, Somebody"

Most DJ's avoid the radio station's phone lines at all costs...instead they answer only when they're conducting a contest. I, for one, always enjoyed answering the phones because you just never knew who was going to call...especially when working the overnight shift (midnight until 5am). After the bars closed, you'd get your drunken requests for songs, sobbing teenagers who just broke up with their significant others and freaky calls from curious perverts with creepy voices who asked if I liked my back scratched by long painted fingernails (true story). Most radio stations also had their "regulars" -- folks who knew everyone by name and checked in daily. Somewhere in Chicago, somebody named Margie places daily phone calls to my radio station and (for the past 20 years) has said the same three things (usually followed by giggles):

• "Hey, good looking, thanks for the weather."
• "Are you gonna be here tomorrow?"
• "Will you play The Carpenters?"

Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby"

Linda Ronstadt once again teamed up with her go-to duet partner Aaron Neville for "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby". The ballad peaked at #5 on the Adult Contemporary Chart in 1990 and is one of four duets with Neville on Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like The Wind.

Aaron Neville "Everybody Plays the Fool"

It's a tried-and-true formula from Adult Contemporary artists: remake a classic R&B/Motown tune and then sit back and watch the money roll in. In Aaron Neville's case, he did not call on his old buddy Linda Ronstadt, but instead dusted off the sheet music to The Main Ingredient's "Everybody Plays the Fool" and watched it go to #8 on the Hot 100 (#1 on the Adult Contemporary Chart).  

Aaron Neville - "Can't Stop My Heart From Loving You (The Rain Song)"

Adult Contemporary disc jockeys had a mouthful to say when talking about Aaron Neville's "Can't Stop My Heart From Loving You (The Rain Song)".  That title just rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?

Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville - "All My Life"

Stick a microphone in front of Linda Ronstadt and she'll belt out something worth hearing.  Stick a microphone in front of Linda Ronstadt AND Aaron Neville and you best just stand back and watch the magic unfold.  Heck, the duo already found success with "Don't Know Much", so they figured what the hell--Aaron Neville isn't doing anything...let's get the band back together.  The result: "All My Life"...another #1 Adult Contemporary hit in 1990.

Aaron Neville - "Don't Take Away My Heaven"

Horatio Sanz could've busted out "Don't Take Away My Heaven" while impersonating Aaron Neville on Saturday Night Live, but instead chose one of Neville's bigger hits.  One of Aaron Neville's final songs to chart on the Adult Contemporary charts was a slightly remixed version of "Don't Take Away My Heaven" in 1993.

Aaron Neville & Linda Ronstadt - "Don't Know Much"

Bill Medley and Bette Midler couldn't pull off what Aaron Neville and Linda Ronstadt did.  Both duos recorded "Don't Know Much" (Medley and Midler in 1981 and Neville and Ronstadt in 1989), but only Neville and Ronstadt could say that they took the song to #1 on the Adult Contemporary charts.