"No question about the voice: it's worn, aged, soulful, defiant, utterly lacking smooth edges, an enormously compelling instrument to anyone enamoured of blue-eyed soul." - David McGee, Rolling Stone

‘Universal Songs’ marks the first time Kim Carnes has been compiled into a box set and it covers all the albums she recorded for A&M, EMI America and MCA from 1975-1988. This 10-disc set comes in a rigid slipcase, with discs housed in top opening digisleeves including the original album sleeves. A 24pp booklet includes a forward written by Kim and an extensive essay by Christian John Wikane completes the package.

Compiled in conjunction and with the full cooperation of Kim, ‘Universal Songs’ also features a number of 12” dance mixes that have never been released on CD before, which will delight fans across the world. It also includes a handful of bonus tracks including her duets with Barbra Streisand and Kenny Rogers as well as the three new songs that were recorded for her ‘Gypsy Honeymoon’ Best of released in 1993.

Although best known for her worldwide smash hit ‘Bette Davis Eyes’ Kim Carnes already had a body of work under her belt. A multifaceted singer and in-demand songwriter she had already released four acclaimed albums and had chart success. Mostly notably in 1980 with a cover version of ‘Warm Love’, originally recorded by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles in 1967. But also, with the duet with Gene Coton ‘You’re A Part Of Me’ in 1978.

But it was with the worldwide smash hit ‘Bette Davis Eyes’ that the Kim hit the big time. It won a Grammy for ‘best record of the year’ and the accompanying album ‘Mistaken Identity’ was also nominated for ‘best album of the year’. ‘Bette Davis Eyes’ is one of the key tracks of the 80s and loved still to this day. The follow up album ‘Voyeur’ was released in 1982 and the lead single ‘Voyeur’ reached number 29 on the US charts and again was nominated for a Grammy. Kim won another Grammy in 1984 when the OST for Flashdance won. Her contribution, the melancholy and hauntingly beautiful ‘I’ll Be Here Where the Heart is’ playing during a pivotal scene in the movie and was included on her next album ‘Café Racers’. A single from that album, ‘Invisible Hands’ provided her with another Grammy nomination. Further chart success followed in 1985 with the single ‘Crazy In The Night’ which reached number 15 in the US. This was followed by the album ‘Barking At Airplanes’ which reached a respectable 48 in the US charts. Two further acclaimed albums, ‘Lighthouse’ and ‘View From The House’ followed. Both of which contain some of the best songs of her career.

Tracklist

CD1 Kim Carnes (1975)
You’re A Part Of Me
Bad Seed
And Still Be Loving You
Hang On To Your Airplane (Honeymoon)
Do You Love Her
Somewhere In The Night
Nothing Makes Me Feel As Good As A Love Song
It Could Have Been Better
Waiting For The Pain To Go Away
What Good Is Love (Later On The Equator)
Good Old Days
Bonus track
You're A Part Of Me – duet with Gene Coton

CD2 Sailin’ (1976)
The Best Of You (Has Got The Best Of Me)
Warm Love
All He Did Was Tell Me Lies (To Try To Woo Me)
He’ll Come Home
Sailin’
It’s Not The Spotlight
Last Thing You Ever Wanted To Do
Let Your Love Come Easy
Tubin’
Love Comes From Unexpected Places

CD3 St Vincent’s Court (1979)
What Am I Gonna Do
Jamaica Sunday Morning
Stay Away
Lookin' For A Big Night
Paris Without You (St. Vincent's Court)
It Hurts So Bad
Lose in Love
Skeptical Shuffle
Take Me Home To Where My Heart Is
Blinded By Love
Goodnight Moon

CD4 Romance Dance (1980)
Swept Me Off My Feet (The Part of the Fool)
Cry Like A Baby
Will You Remember Me
Tear Me Apart
Changin'
More Love
In The Chill Of The Night
Where Is Your Heart
And Still Be Loving You
Bonus track
Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer

CD5 Mistaken Identity (1981)
Bette Davis Eyes
Hit And Run
Mistaken Identity
When I´m Away From You
Draw Of The Cards
Break The Rules Tonite (Out of School)
Still Hold On
Don't Call It Love
Miss You Tonight
My Old Pals
Bonus Tracks
Draw Of The Card (Single Version)
Draw Of The Cards [Special Long Version]
Bette Davis Eyes [OPM Poppy Club Mix]
Bette Davis Eyes [OPM All About Kim Mix]

CD6 Voyeur (1982)
Voyeur
Looker
Say You Don't Know Me
Does It Make You Remember
Breakin' Away From Sanity
Undertow
Merc Man
The Arrangement
The Thrill Of The Grill
Take It On The Chin
Bonus track
Voyeur [12” version]

CD7 Café Racers (1983)
You Make My Heart Beat Faster (And That's All That Matters)
Young Love
Met You At The Wrong Time of My Life
Hurricane
The Universal Song
I Pretend
Hangin' On By A Thread
A Kick In The Heart
I'll Be Here Where The Heart Is
Bonus tracks
You Make My Heart Beat Faster (And That’s All That Matters) [Dance Mix]
You Make My Heart Beat Faster(And That’s All That Matters) [Instrumental version]
Hurricane [extended vocal version]
Hurricane [12” instrumental version]
Invisible Hands [Dance Mix]
Invisible Hands [FM Mix] 

CD8 Barking At Airplanes (1985)
Crazy In The Night (Barking at Airplanes)
One Kiss
Begging For Favors (Learning How the Things Work)
He Makes the Sun Rise (Orpheus)
Bon Voyage
Don't Pick Up The Phone (Pick Up the Phone)
Rough Edges
Abadabadango
Touch And Go
Oliver (Voice On The Radio)
Bonus tracks
Crazy In the Night (12” Dance Mix)
Barking At Airplanes (Part II)
Abadabadango [Extended Version]
Abadabadango [12” Red Mix]
Make No Mistake, He's Mine [Solo version]
Make No Mistake, He’s Mine [duet with Barbra Streisand]
What About Me (with Kenny Rogers & James Ingram)

CD9 Lighthouse (1986)
Divided Hearts
I'd Lie To You For Your Love
Black And White
Piece Of The Sky
You Say You Love Me (But I Know You Don't)
Dancin' At The Lighthouse
Love Me Like You Never Did Before
Along With The Radio
Only Lonely Love
That's Where The Trouble Lies
Bonus Tracks
Divided Hearts [Club Mix]
Divided Hearts [Dub Mix]
Invitation To Dance (7” version)
Invitation To Dance [Vocal Dance Mix]
Invitation To Dance [Instrumental Dance Mix]

CD10 View From The House (1988)
Brass & Batons
Just To Spend Tonight With You
Heartbreak Radio
Crazy In Love
If You Don’t Want My Love
Willie And The Hand Jive
Speed Of The Sound Of Loneliness
Blood From The Bandit
Fantastic Fire Of Love
Crimes Of The Heart
Bonus tracks
Chain Letter
Gypsy Honeymoon
Don’t Cry Now