Gene Cotton’s ‘Save the Dancer’ album is a timeless classic

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ALBANY – Fate, as they say, has a way of impacting people’s lives at the strangest – and, often, most inopportune – times. They also say that anyone who’s not ready when fate shows its face – or rears its ugly head, as the case may be – is apt to lose out on whatever opportunity might have been available.

Singer Gene Cotton could tell us a lot about the good and bad sides of fate.

Cotton is perhaps best known for his hit singles “Before My Heart Finds Out,” which reached No. 3 on the American pop charts in 1978, and his duet with Kim Carnes, “You’re a Part of Me,” which advanced to No. 6 on the charts that same year.

Both songs are on Cotton’s classic-worthy album “Save the Dancer,” which was released in 1978.”Dancer” is a 10-song masterpiece that brought the smooth-voiced Cotton his greatest claim to fame.

For those who only heard Cotton’s popular songs on the radio during the late ‘70s, he’s been forever linked to those crooners whose love ballads leave us all starry-eyed. But “Save the Dancer” shows an artist who’s so much more, one who deserved to have a greater career.

Unfortunately, though, just as quickly as it flickered in ‘76-’78, Cotton’s flame burned out, and he’s not returned to the music charts since. And that’s a shame.

Because “Save the Dancer” is a fantastic album from Song 1 to Song 10. The two mega-hit ballads are most remembered, but the two best songs on the album are the title track and “Like a Sunday in Salem,” both up-tempo numbers that show another side of Cotton.

Side 1 of “Dancer” is arguably one of the most perfect album sides in the history of rock LPs. It kicks off with “Before My Heart Finds Out” and is immediately followed by “You’re a Part of Me,” the duet with raspy-voiced Carnes. “Like a Sunday in Salem” is an abrupt-ish change, an absolutely wonderful song that shows Cotton is more than just a balladeer.

The final two songs on Side 1 – “Going Through the Motions of Love,” another sweet take on love lost, and “Save the Dancer,” a passion piece that brings out all the best in Cotton’s voice – complete a collection that leaves the listener eager for more. And Side 2 doesn’t disappoint.

Songs 6-10 on “Save the Dancer” – “Only the Lucky,” “She’s Sweet, She’s Somebody,” “Shine On,” “You Were Right” and “As Long as There’s Laughter” – complement Side 1 perfectly, offering additional evidence that Cotton was more than a one-note singer.

Amazingly, after the successful run of “Save the Dancer” and its songs among the weekly collections of favorite hits, Cotton’s flame all but flickered out. He released six albums after that magical album, including a “Greatest Hits” package, and none of them made a dent in the musical charts.

Cotton, who supported causes to help the poor before, during and after “Save the Dancer,” ran for a seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives in 2001 and lost. He’s continued to perform off and on, but none of the magic of his classic album touched him again.

We sometimes judge artists by the longevity of their careers or the number of hit songs they recorded along the way. Gene Cotton got to taste that kind of success in the late ‘70s, and unlike many one- and two-hit wonders who live off their short careers, his moment in the sunlight was deserved.

With the severe lack of quality music being released these days, see if you can find a copy – or borrow someone’s – of “Save the Dancer.” It’s an album whose greatness has only increased with the passage of time.