Clifford is also a former Miss New York State, and fronted a jazz music trio before switching to R&B. After winning her title, Clifford started working as an actress, receiving minor roles in major films like The Boston Strangler with Tony Curtis and Henry Ford, Coogan's Bluff with Clint Eastwood and Sweet Charity with Shirley MacLaine.
Unsatisfied with her roles, Clifford decided to concentrate on her singing career, and performed in night clubs with the Jericho Jazz Singers, before forming her own group Linda & The Trade Winds. In 1973 she was signed to Paramount Records and her first single, "(It's Gonna Be) A Long Long Winter" became a minor hit on the R&B charts in the winter of 1974.
By the mid-70's Curtis Mayfield signed Clifford to his Curtom Records label. The first single off her self-titled album was "From Now On" which again became a minor hit on the R&B charts. Her follow-up album, If My Friends Could See Me Now produced two of Clifford's biggest hits, putting her on the music map. The first, "Runaway Love" became an R&B hit peaking at #3 for two weeks. The second, the title track, became a hit on the Disco chart peaking at #1 for five weeks.
The following year, she released her third album, 1979's Let Me Be Your Woman. It yielded a Disco version of Simon & Garfunkel's hit "Bridge Over Troubled Water" which became her first Top 40 pop hit on the Billboard Hot 100. The album was also available in a two-record form with extended versions and included another R & B hit, "Don't Give It Up", which had a similar feel to "Runaway Love". These two albums had been produced and arranged by Gil Askey, a music industry veteran whose track record had included arranging duties for major acts at Motown and acting as musical director for Diana Ross, the Four Tops and the Temptations. Askey had written "Runaway Love" and "Don't Give It Up", the latter with Linda.
Clifford appeared on The Midnight Special (Episode dated March 16, 1979). Then followed by "Here's My Love" (1979) and a duet with Curtis Mayfield, "Between You and Me, Baby" (summer 1979). Eventually, Mayfield and Clifford released an album of duets in 1980, The Right Combination. In 1980, Clifford was asked to produce a single for the upcoming film, Fame. The result was the Top 40 hit "Red Light". It became her second number-one disco hit. Her next and final album with RSO, I'm Yours, was produced by Isaac Hayes and gave her her third #1 Disco hit "Shoot Your Best Shot" which was number-one on the U.S. Dance Charts for 4 weeks.
In 1981, Clifford her Curtom contract switched to Capitol Records and she released "Don't Come Crying To Me". It peaked at number-one for three consecutive weeks on the disco charts. Despite the success of the single, the album I'll Keep On Loving You sold poorly, and her contract was not renewed. However the album did include "All The Man That I Need" which would go on to be a huge hit for Whitney Houston almost a decade later.
Clifford was signed to local label Red Label Records and released Sneakin' Out in 1984. The release yielded a couple of minor dance and R&B hits, including the title track. My Heart's On Fire, in 1985 would be Clifford's last full length album. It featured the top ten dance hit "The Heat in Me".
Clifford has subsequently recorded or re-recorded single tracks; she recorded "Whatcha Gonna Do" in 1995 and re-recorded "If My Friends Could See Me Now" in 1996. She also released "Wanna Give It Up" with Ralphi Rosario (#16 dance in 1999), "Philly Groove" with Romain & Krivit (2000), "Changin'" (#17 dance), "Ride the Storm" with Akabu (2001), "Going Back to My Roots", "Sunshine", "I Hear The Music" with Ralphi Rosario (2002) and "Spinnin'" with Prospect Park/Joey Negro (2003).
After her initial record contract was not renewed, Clifford began to write jingles for such products as Tropicana, Maybelline, McDonald's, Miller Lite, Michelob Lite, Oldsmobile and Pontiac.
She also provided the theme songs for The Phil Donahue Show and the police drama Chicago Story and became a host to one of the first home-shopping TV shows Home Shop Chicago. Clifford also continued to perform in local clubs and at special events.
On June 23rd 2008 Glitter Records released a new house mix of the track "How Long" with mixes by Paul Goodyear.
Between You Baby and Me
Linda Clifford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's kind of nice, we're like this
Very special treat though, I like that
Between you baby and me, love
I can't believe this feelin'
You're so sweet honey, delicious
All our world is true, true
You're so nice, a lot of talent, I like it
Smooth and serious and I can be persuaded
I truly, truly, truly adore you, how I adore you
Take me in a precious way, precious way(precious)
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
You and me baby, between us, just between us
Make all the stars glow from our eyes
All the treasured pleasure, emotions, love's emotions
Nothing to lose but a try, try
A try, oh baby
It's like dancing when romancing with you love, oh baby
We get down, get down and move all around
Swaying, swaying, laying, embrace me
Embrace me, please embrace me
We two just getting down
Get down for me, baby
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
You and me baby, between us, just between us
Make all the stars glow from our eyes
All the treasured pleasure, emotions, love's sweet emotions
There's nothing to lose but a try, try me, baby
Try me, between you baby and me, love
Between you and me, I can't believe this feelin'
I want you to believe it
You're so sweet, sweet honey, delicious
Baby, and all our world is true, it's so true
All our world is true
Yes indeed, it's really me and you
Me and you little mama
Dancing, romancing
Get down for me baby, baby
Just embrace me, embrace me one more time
You know I want to, baby, ooh sweet embrace
You know I need to, baby, oh, my love
All our world is true, it's true
The lyrics to Linda Clifford's song Between You Baby and Me speak to the intense passion and connection that exists between two lovers. The language used to describe the feelings they share is full of sensory details and evokes a strong sense of intimacy. The lines "All the treasured pleasure, emotions, love's emotions" particularly emphasize the depth of emotion that they are experiencing.
The song uses a lot of repetition, particularly in the chorus. The phrase "Between you baby and me, love" is repeated multiple times, in addition to other lines that are repeated throughout the song. This repetition serves to underscore the intensity of the emotions being described, as if the singer is trying to impress upon the listener just how powerful their feelings are.
The second half of the song becomes more focused on physical intimacy, with lines like "laying, embrace me" and "get down for me, baby." However, the emphasis is still very much on the emotional connection between the two lovers, with lines like "All our world is true, it's true" serving as a reminder that the physical aspect of the relationship is just one part of a larger whole.
Overall, the lyrics to Between You Baby and Me paint a picture of a relationship that is both deeply emotional and passionately physical, with each aspect reinforcing and complementing the other. It's a celebration of intense connection and intimacy between two individuals.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, here we are
We have arrived at this moment together.
It's kind of nice, we're like this
I enjoy being with you in this way.
Very special treat though, I like that
This is a unique and enjoyable experience for me.
Between you baby and me, love
This is a special connection between us.
I can't believe this feelin'
I am pleasantly surprised by how I feel with you.
You're so sweet honey, delicious
You are delightful and appealing to me.
All our world is true, true
Our feelings for each other are authentic and real.
You're so nice, a lot of talent, I like it
I admire your abilities and enjoy spending time with you.
Smooth and serious and I can be persuaded
You have a calm and focused demeanor, and I am easily influenced by you.
I truly, truly, truly adore you, how I adore you
I have a deep and genuine affection for you.
Take me in a precious way, precious way(precious)
Treat me with care and value me as something special.
You and me baby, between us, just between us
Our connection is between us and no one else.
Make all the stars glow from our eyes
We are filled with love and emotion for each other.
All the treasured pleasure, emotions, love's emotions
Our relationship is full of happiness and affection.
Nothing to lose but a try, try
We have nothing to lose by giving this a chance.
It's like dancing when romancing with you love, oh baby
Being with you feels like a beautiful and intimate dance.
We get down, get down and move all around
We are uninhibited and free to express ourselves together.
Swaying, swaying, laying, embrace me
Let's move together and hold each other close.
Embrace me, please embrace me
I desire your physical affection and closeness.
We two just getting down
Just the two of us are enjoying this moment together.
Get down for me, baby
Let's express our love and enjoy each other's physical presence.
I want you to believe it
I want you to understand how strongly I feel for you.
Me and you little mama
It's just you and me, my love.
All our world is true, it's true
Our love is sincere and genuine.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CURTIS MAYFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jeshun7071
A marvelous duet between Chcago Soul legend Curtis Mayfield & Linda Clifford, a real quiet stormer to diminish those late night blues, leaving you feeling invigorated
@yehosorollo6339
Mayfield was no joke. Great duet.
@marilynjackson5983
This is what music is supposed to be like- love and adoration that a Black man have for his Black woman and vice versa. The Music Industry made Black music disrespectful towards Black women and degrading towards the Black man . Let's demand and protest any music that goes against the culture of Black people. The Black maN needs a Black Queen!!!
@mrmacfilms1
Right on Marilyn!
@naidaking6052
I still remember the words to this beautiful song it bring back lot's of sweet memories.
@deejayy5085
WOW!!! WOW!! This song has so much sentiment. Not only is Curtis Mayfield my favourite Singer of All time, I played this song as the first dance to a friend's wedding. The original DJ couldn't make it and the song they had requested I didn't have. Decided to play this instead. They loved it. Curtis and Linda's sweet, sensual, subtle, sublime duet is still such a joy after 4 decades...Total bliss...
@gaylerocker
Another great love song and Curtis made a nice choice with Linda Clifford. Nice and slow something to get lovers in the mood!!!
@hectorrodriquez3182
yes she did
@marilynjackson5983
Curtis Mayfield was a music scientist!!! This is one of my favorite love songs!! He also was the founder of the Natural Four
@awwyeahme2
Impressions too