Kenny Rogers (October 23, 1986) – They Don’t Make Them Like They Used To Album: CD/LP/MC
They Don’t Make Them Like They Used To is the nineteenth studio album by Kenny Rogers. Released by RCA Records, the album is particularly significant within the Prince-associated catalogue because it contains You’re My Love, a composition Prince supplied under the pseudonym Joey Coco.
Rogers’ management approached Prince seeking material for the project. Prince responded with You’re My Love, a song originally recorded in 1982 and later considered for The Family. The composition marked the first use of the Joey Coco pseudonym.
Prince did not participate directly in Kenny Rogers’ released recording of the song.
RECORDING
The album was recorded across several studios in California and Tennessee: Garden Rakes in Sherman Oaks, Conway and Oceanway in Hollywood, Can/Am in Tarzana, House Of Gold in Nashville and The Garage in Nashville.
The released version of You’re My Love was performed by Kenny Rogers and the musicians involved with his album rather than Prince.
STYLE & THEMES
As a country artist, Kenny Rogers represented an unusual destination for a Prince composition during this period.
The connection came through Rogers’ management rather than a direct collaboration between the two artists, resulting in a Prince composition becoming part of a mainstream country album while retaining its connection to Prince through the Joey Coco songwriting credit.
RELEASE HISTORY
They Don’t Make Them Like They Used To was released on October 23, 1986 through RCA Records.
The compact disc edition was released at the same time as the LP.
Two singles were issued from the album: They Don’t Make Them Like They Used To and Twenty Years Ago. Neither single contained a Prince contribution.
CHARTS & CERTIFICATIONS
AMERICA
USA Billboard Top Pop Albums Chart: No. 137
Chart Entry: December 13, 1986
Weeks On Chart: 15
USA Billboard Country Albums Chart: No. 16
Chart Entry: January 24, 1987
Weeks On Chart: 7
PERSONNEL
Kenny Rogers – lead vocals
El DeBarge – background vocals
Carlos Vega – drums
Abraham Laboriel – bass guitar
Robbie Buchanan – piano, synthesizer
Michael Landau – guitar
PRODUCTION
Produced by: Jay Graydon
Arranged by: Robbie Buchanan
Engineered by: Jay Graydon, Ian Eales, Tom Singers, Kenny Mims
Mastered by: Doug Sax at Mastering Lab, Hollywood, California
Production Assistants: Valerie Hoebei, Gail Pierson
A&R Coordination: Marge Metill
Photography / Photographic Process: Bernie Boudreau
Design: John Coulter / John Coulter Design
Styling: Bill Whitten
Lettering: Michael Manoogian
Management: Ken Kragen / Kragen & Company
Public Relations: PMK
Label: RCA Records
Release Date: October 23, 1986
Running Time: 41:29
Recorded At: Garden Rakes, Sherman Oaks, CA; Conway, Hollywood, CA; Can/Am, Tarzana, CA; Oceanway, Hollywood, CA; House Of Gold, Nashville, TN; The Garage, Nashville, TN
PRINCE CONNECTION
You’re My Love was written by Prince under the pseudonym Joey Coco.
The song had originally been recorded in 1982 and was subsequently considered for The Family before being supplied to Kenny Rogers after Rogers’ management requested a song from Prince.
Prince had no direct involvement in the version released on the Kenny Rogers album.
NOTES
• Nineteenth studio album by Kenny Rogers.
• Released October 23, 1986.
• Includes the Prince composition You’re My Love.
• You’re My Love marked the first use of Prince’s Joey Coco pseudonym.
• Prince did not perform on the released version.
• CD and LP editions were released at the same time.
• The back cover presents the songs in a different order from the actual running order.
• They Don’t Make Them Like They Used To and Twenty Years Ago were released as singles from the album.
• Reached No. 16 on the US Billboard Country Albums Chart.
• Reached No. 137 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums Chart.
RELEASE VARIANTS TABLE
Artist | Title | Label | Date | Format |
Kenny Rogers | They Don’t Make Them Like They Used To | RCA Records | October 23, 1986 | LP / MC |
Kenny Rogers | They Don’t Make Them Like They Used To | RCA Records | October 23, 1986 | CD |
TRACKLIST TABLE
LP / MC | CD |
SIDE ONE • This Love We Share • If I Could Hold On To Love • You’re My Love – 4:06 • Time For Love • They Don’t Make Them Like They Used To SIDE TWO • Life Is Good, Love Is Better • Just The Thought Of Losing You • Anything At All • After All This Time • Twenty Years Ago | • This Love We Share • If I Could Hold On To Love • You’re My Love – 4:06 • Time For Love • They Don’t Make Them Like They Used To • Life Is Good, Love Is Better • Just The Thought Of Losing You • Anything At All • After All This Time • Twenty Years Ago |
SOURCES Prince Vault, Discogs, sleevographia2.
All single artwork, photographs, labels, and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.
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