Quincy Jones recorded “Betcha Wouldn’t Hurt Me” with Patti Austin as the featured vocalist for his 1981 R&B album The Dude. Stevie Wonder, who had known Jones since he was 14-years old, wrote “Betcha Wouldn’t Hurt Me.” It was not the first time Jones had recorded a song written by Wonder: in 1973 he covered and titled an album after “You’ve Got It Bad Girl” and also included his version of “Superstition.” Patti Austin previously worked with Jones who is also her godfather on the soundtrack to The Wiz and his Sounds…And Stuff Like That! album both in 1978. Two years before The Dude Jones produced Austin’s “It’s The Falling In Love” collaboration with Michael Jackson from his Off The Wall album. Austin’s velvety tone sang lead on four songs from The Dude and “Betcha Wouldn’t Hurt Me” was uptempo and most suited for clubs and dancefloors. Austin and Jones had a magical 1981 with The Dude receiving 12 Grammy nominations and taking home three awards. Austin’s Every Home Should Have One also came out that year on Jones’s Qwest label and he produced her no. 1 duet with James Ingram “Baby, Come To Me.” The Dude received a color vinyl release in June of 2021.Â
Austin’s most recent studio album is her 2016 Mighty Musical Fairy Tales. She was part of the tribute concert for Jones’s 75th birthday released in 2009 as The 75th Birthday Celebration. Patti Austin is scheduled to perform at the 2021 Atlanta Jazz Festival.Â
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