On this day in music history: February 22, 1982 - âForget Me Notsâ by Patrice Rushen is released. Written by Patrice Rushen, Freddie Washington and Terri McFaddin, it is the biggest hit for the singer, songwriter and musician from Los Angeles, CA. When her sixth album âPoshâ falls short of the Gold plus sales of the previous release âPizzazzâ, Rushen resolves to take more time working on her next project, as well as taking a more proactive role in its promotion and not rely solely on support from the record label. While working on material, Patrice comes up with a chord progression while playing electric piano in the studio. Her bassist âReadyâ Freddie Washington falls in behind her with a bass line, and along with songwriter Terri McFaddin, Rushen comes up with the chorus, melody and lyrics that become âForget Me Notsâ. Cut at Conway Studios in Hollywood, CA, the track features Rushen (electric piano, Â synthesizers, and background vocals), Washington (bass) Melvin Webb (drums), Gerald Albright (alto sax) and Roy Galloway (background vocals). Confident that they have a hit on their hands, Rushen and her co-producer Charles Mims, Jr. set up a meeting with executives at Elektra to play them âForget Me Notsâ and the rest of the new album. Expecting them to be just enthusiastic, both are shocked when the label tells them point blank that they think the song will flop. Still reeling from the meeting, Rushen calls up her friend, producer Quincy Jones and tell him about what had happened. Jones suggests that she hire her independent record promotion people to work âForget Me Notsâ at radio, and that if it takes off, the record company will change their tune. Patrice withdraws her life savings from the bank, and hires record promoters to work the single. The song is not only an immediate smash on R&B radio and club dance floors, but also receives play on Top 40 pop stations that have mostly shunned black artists after the demise of Disco. Elektra president Joe Smith quickly calls another meeting with Rushen, apologizing for being wrong, and giving her back all of the money she spent promoting her own record. âForget Me Notsâ spends six weeks at #4 on the Billboard R&B singles chart on May 8, 1982, three weeks at #2 on the Club Play chart on May 22, 1982, and peak at #23 on the Hot 100 on July 3, 1982. âForget Me Notsâ has a long life after its run on the charts, being sampled on Will Smithâs chart topping single âMen In Blackâ, and having its chorus being interpolated into George Michaelâs hit âFastloveâ. The success of âForget Me Notsâ turns the accompanying album âStraight From The Heartâ into the best selling album of Patrice Rushenâs career, moving more than a million copies in the US alone.
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