Maps of Music

They Don't Make Them Like They Used To (1986)

Where the lyrics of They Don't Make Them Like They Used To take you, and where it was really made.

The title track was the theme song of the box office hit Tough Guys, but the album's best-charting single was a different song, 'Twenty Years Ago'.

Key places

Recording at Conway Studios (1986)

Recording site Conway Recording Studios — The album's recording is listed at Conway Studios in Hollywood, California, a studio location in the source. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recording at Garden Rake Studio (1986)

Recording site Record One — The album's recording is listed at Garden Rake Studio in Sherman Oaks, California. The point sits at city-center level. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recording at Can-Am Recorders (1986)

Recording site Can-Am Studios — The album's recording is listed at Can-Am Recorders in Tarzana, California. The point sits at city-center level. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recording in Nashville (1986)

Recording site Nashville — The album's recording is listed at House of Gold and The Garage in Nashville, Tennessee. The point sits at city-center level. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• They Don't Make Them Like They Used To, also referred to as They Don't Make 'Em...
• The nineteenth studio album by American country music artist Kenny Rogers
• Released in 1986 through RCA Records
• Ten tracks, with songwriters and producers drawn from several different people
• Track 1 'This Love We Share' written by Jay Graydon and David Malloy
• Track 5 title track 'They Don't Make Them Like They Used To (Theme from Tough Guys)' written by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager
• Track 10 'Twenty Years Ago' written by Wood Newton, Mike Noble, Michael Spriggs and Dan Tyler

Background

• The title track was used as the theme song to the box office hit movie Tough Guys
• The title track was released as a single at the end of 1986
• 'You're My Love' was written by Prince under the pseudonym 'Joey Coco'
• 'You're My Love' features El DeBarge on backing vocals
• 'Just the Thought of Losing You' written by Michael Bolton and Jonathan Cain
• 'Anything at All' written by Dave Loggins
• Management credited to Ken Kragen

Recording

• Jay Graydon produced most tracks (1-4, 7-10) and also worked as engineer
• David Malloy produced tracks 1 and 6
• Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager produced track 5
• Kenny Mims produced track 10 and worked as engineer
• Ian Eales and Tom Singers credited as engineers
• Brian Malouf credited for mixing track 6
• Doug Sax mastered the album at The Mastering Lab in Hollywood, California
• Recording locations listed: Garden Rake Studio (Sherman Oaks), Conway Studios (Hollywood), Can-Am Recorders (Tarzana), House of Gold and The Garage (Nashville)

Cover

• Cover design by John Coulter
• Photography by Bernie Boudreau, who also handled photographic process development
• Lettering by Michael Manoogian
• Stylist Bill Whitten

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · it.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Kenneth Donald Ray Rogers was born on August 21, 1938, in Houston, Texas, and began his recording career in the late 1950s with the Houston group the Scholars.
• He was an American country singer-songwriter who moved from teenage rock and roll through psychedelic rock to become a country-pop crossover artist of the 1970s and 1980s.
• In 1967 he co-founded the First Edition with former New Christy Minstrels members, later renamed Kenny Rogers and the First Edition.

Members

• The First Edition's members included Mike Settle, Terry Williams, Thelma Camacho, and Kin Vassy.
• Rogers's backing band Bloodline has toured with him since 1976.

Career

• The First Edition scored hits including "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)" and "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town" before the group disbanded in 1976.
• As a solo artist he charted more than 60 top-40 singles, including the number-one hits "Lady" and "Islands in the Stream".
• He recorded duets with Dottie West, Dolly Parton, and Sheena Easton, and partnered with Lionel Richie as songwriter.
• His signature song "The Gambler" won a Grammy in 1980 and was selected for the National Recording Registry in 2018.
• He sold more than 100 million records worldwide and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013.
• He retired from touring in 2017 and died on March 20, 2020, at age 81.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Released in 1986 through RCA Records
• The title track was used as the theme song to the box office hit movie Tough Guys
• The title track was released as a single at the end of 1986

Records

• The album hit the top 20 on the country charts
• The album crossed over into the pop Billboard 200
• 'Twenty Years Ago' peaked at number two on the Hot Country chart
• 'Twenty Years Ago' peaked at number 15 on the Adult Contemporary chart
• The title track reached number 53 on the country charts
• Although it stayed low on country, the title track hit the Top 10 and Top 20 on the adult contemporary charts

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• 'You're My Love' was written by Prince under the pseudonym 'Joey Coco' and features El DeBarge on backing vocals.
• The title track was written by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager, and Bacharach also produced it.
• The closing track 'Twenty Years Ago' was written by Wood Newton, Mike Noble, Michael Spriggs and Dan Tyler.
• 'Just the Thought of Losing You' was written by Michael Bolton and Jonathan Cain.
• Ken Kragen is credited for management on the album.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · it.wikipedia.org

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