Patti LaBelle – On My Own ft. Michael McDonald

“On My Own” – Single by Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald from the album Winner in You
B-side “Stir It Up”
Released March 22, 1986
Label MCA
Songwriters Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager
Producers Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager
Charted No.1 in US; No.2 in UK; No.1 in Ireland; No.1 in Canada; No.1 in Netherlands; No.3 in Belgium; No.18 in West Germany

It was written and produced by Burt Bacharach and his then-wife Carole Bayer Sager and originally recorded by singer Dionne Warwick for inclusion on her album Friends (1985). The song was eventually recorded by LaBelle and McDonald for her eighth studio album, Winner in You (1986). It was released as the album’s lead single on March 22, 1986, by MCA Records. Lyrically, “On My Own” was based on a relationship that had reached its end with both parties going their separate ways in a melancholy state with the occasional option of coming back together again one day.

The duo recorded their parts separately. Patti LaBelle filmed the video in New York and recorded her part in Philadelphia. Michael McDonald did both in LA. The video used a split screen effect to show them each on their own.

LaBelle and McDonald didn’t meet until they performed this song together on The Tonight Show in 1986.

“On My Own” became the most successful single ever for both singers as it reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks. The song also reached the number-one spot on the Hot Black Singles chart (for four weeks) and number two on the Hot Adult Contemporary chart.