By the late 1960s Austin was a prolific session musician and commercial jingle singer. By the 1980s she was signed to Jones's Qwest Records and she began having hits. She charted twenty R&B songs between 1969 and 1991 and had success on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, where she hit number one in 1981 with "Do You Love Me?" / "The Genie."
The album containing that hit, Every Home Should Have One, also produced her biggest mainstream hit. "Baby, Come To Me," a duet with James Ingram, peaked at number 73 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1982. After being featured as the love theme in a prominent storyline on the soap opera General Hospital, the song re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart in October and went to number one in early 1983.
Next Austin released her third album in three years entitled "Gettin' Away With Murder". In addition to the title track, she had two more hit singles, "Honey For The Bees" (#24 R&B and #6 Dance) and "The Heat of Heat". Produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, noted for their later work with Janet Jackson, the latter track returned Austin to the top 15 of the R&B charts for what would be the last time to date. It would also be her last Hot 100 charting to date, peaking at number 55, although she would score a top-5 dance hit with the single Reach that appeared originally on her 1994 CD That Secret Place (GRP Records). "Gettin' Away With Murder" used producers Russ Titelman, Tommy LiPuma, Monte Moir (of "The Time"), and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Billy Joel (Austin sang background on his "Just The Way You Are"), Dan Hartman, friends Luther Vandross and Jocelyn Brown, along with Chaka Khan were among the background vocalists on the project, with successful songwriters, Randy Goodrum, Michael Bolton, Jam & Lewis plus several other big name writers offering up their best compositions on what was likely a big budget affair. She next appeared with Jeff Bridges and Joan Allen in Francis Ford Coppola's critically acclaimed period piece Tucker: The Man and his Dream (1988). That year, Austin released The Real Me, a collection of standards which garnered her the first of several Top 10 showings on the Jazz Albums chart. "The Real Me" was chiefly produced by David Pack who had been a part of the Pop group Ambrosia. Austin served as a co-producer and as Executive Producer on the project. Austin sang "It's the Falling in Love" with Michael Jackson on his album Off The Wall. Other duet partners include George Benson ("Moody's Mood for Love" and "Keep Your Dreams Alive"), and Luther Vandross ("I'm Gonna Miss You In The Morning"). Earlier she'd recorded featured duets with Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons on "Our Day Will Come" and "Swearin' To God" with little billing. Austin also sang lead and background vocals on many contemporary Jazz instrumentalists' records in the 1970s. In 1985 she sang lead vocals on a collaboration with her producer, Narada Michael Walden, and the single, "Gimme, Gimme, Gimme", went top 40 on the R&B charts. In 1991, she recorded the duet "You Who Brought Me Love" with music legend Johnny Mathis, which was received with critical acclaim. That same year she was invited to be a guest on a Johnny Mathis television special that was broadcast across North America.
Austin led a new group of Raelettes for the 2006 album Ray Charles + Count Basie Orchestra = Genius². That group also featured veteran session singer Valerie Pinkston and members of the group Perry.
During a 2007 interview promoting her latest recording, Austin reflected how as a teenager she reluctantly attended one of Judy Garland's last concerts and the experience helped focus her career, stating "She (Judy Garland) ripped my heart out. I wanted to interpret a lyric like that, to present who I was at the moment through the lyric."
In 2007 Patti Austin participated in the Avo Session Basel with a program dedicated to Ella Fitzgerald.
In 2008, fifty-three years after getting her first record contract, Patti Austin was awarded her first Grammy Award, winning Best Jazz Vocal Album for "Avant Gershwin" at the 50th annual Grammy Awards. The award came for her ninth nomination in that category.
Austin is co-producer and one of over 70 artists singing on "We Are the World: 25 for Haiti", a charity single in aid of the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
In 2011 Austin released a mostly covers album project titled "Sound Advice" which contained re-works of Bob Dylan's "Gotta Serve Somebody", Brenda Russell's "A Little Bit Of Love", a lesser known Jacksons tune, "Give It Up," her tribute to late friend/collaborator, Michael Jackson, a cover of Bill Withers, "Lean On Me" which she first sang at a milestone birthday for her Godfather Quincy Jones. Also on "Sound Advice" standout performances of Don McLean's "Vincent" (aka Starry Starry Night) and a deeply female take on "My Way." Austin wrote the anthemic "The Grace Of God" after watching an episode of the old "Oprah Winfrey Show" which featured a facially scarred woman ... Keeping relevant, Austin offered the bouncy slice of Pop/Rock/RandB "Round And Round" including the latest trendy vocal effects, though Austin remains one singer who clearly needs no such production techniques to cover a crystal clear, flexible, and knowing voice imitated by many, duplicated by none. Austin co-wrote and sings in the star-studded L.O.V.E. - Let One Voice Emerge, encouraging especially younger Americans to get out there and exercise their right to vote.[citation needed]
Austin appears in the Academy Award-winning documentary film 20 Feet from Stardom (2013), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was released on 21 June 2013. She is working on an upcoming, as yet untitled duets album project with James Ingram.
Do You Love Me
Patti Austin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can we still be a part of tomorrow
Do you want me baby, baby
Or is this just a thing of the past
Need to feel your arms around me
I can't stand it whenever you're gone
Ever since the day you found me
Can't go on
Been watchin' all my dreams slip right away
Seems so wrong
How all the good times live inside of yesterday
Do you love me
Can we still be a part of tomorrow
Do you want me baby, yeah
Or is this just a thing of the past
Said you wouldn't let love burn me
Like a fool I believed it was true
Can't you see just how you hurt me
Got a sensitive heart and it's tearin' apart
Over you
I need to see that sunshine like before
Don't be cruel
Don't give up on the things we've both been livin' for
Do you love me
Can we still be a part of tomorrow
Do you want me baby
Or is this just a thing of the past
Is it so hard to show what you feel
Can't you understand that I still care
You've got to tell me this love is real
Or are tears the only thing we can share
Do you love me (I need to know what's goin' on)
Can we still be a part of tomorrow (Is this thing right or is it
wrong)
Do you want me, baby (Do you know what's goin' on)
Or is this just a thing of the past (Is this thing right or is it
wrong)
Do you love me (I need to know what's goin' on)
Are you tryin' to tell me it's over (Is this thing right or is it
wrong)
Do you need me, baby (Do you know what's goin' on)
Don't you know that this lovin' can last (Is this thing right or is it
wrong)
Do you love me (I need to know what's goin' on)
Can we still be a part of tomorrow (Is this thing right or is it
wrong)
Do you want me, baby (Do you know what's goin' on)
Or is this just a thing of the past (Is this thing right or is it
wrong)
Do you love me (I need to know what's goin' on)
Are you tryin' to tell me it's over
In Patti Austin's song "Do You Love Me", the singer is expressing her heartache and uncertainty about the future of her relationship. The song begins with the singer questioning her partner's love and commitment. She wants to know if they can still be together tomorrow or if their love is only a thing of the past. She then goes on to express her need for physical affection and her inability to stand being apart from her partner.
As the song continues, the singer reflects on the promises made by her partner not to hurt her, and how those promises were broken. She is torn between wanting to see the relationship work and feeling that it can't go on. She remembers the good times they had in the past and is devastated by the thought of losing what they had. The chorus repeats, asking the partner if they love her, if they want her, or if their relationship is just a thing of the past.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you love me
Are your feelings for me real and lasting?
Can we still be a part of tomorrow
Is there a future for us together or is this the end?
Do you want me baby, baby
Do you still have desire for me or have you moved on?
Or is this just a thing of the past
Are we just recalling a time long gone or can we still make a life together?
Need to feel your arms around me
The absence of your embrace causes me to suffer.
I can't stand it whenever you're gone
Being separated from you causes me great distress.
Ever since the day you found me
From the moment we met, I've had intense feelings for you.
I've been hooked on your kiss, but I know now that this
I have been addicted to your physical affection, but now comprehend the full spectrum of our relationship.
Can't go on
I am unable to continue living like this.
Been watchin' all my dreams slip right away
I've helplessly watched my hopes disappear.
Seems so wrong
Everything feels out of place.
How all the good times live inside of yesterday
All of our positive memories are now in the past.
Said you wouldn't let love burn me
You previously promised not to cause me emotional distress.
Like a fool I believed it was true
Despite your past commitments, I was naive enough to trust you wholeheartedly.
Can't you see just how you hurt me
Are you oblivious to the emotional harm that you've caused?
Got a sensitive heart and it's tearin' apart
I'm an emotional person and the pain is overwhelming me.
Over you
Because of your actions, I'm torn between holding on and letting go.
I need to see that sunshine like before
I want to recapture the happiness and positivity that we both previously experienced.
Don't be cruel
Please don't intentionally cause me anymore pain.
Don't give up on the things we've both been livin' for
Let's not abandon the desires and goals that we've had together.
Is it so hard to show what you feel
Why is it difficult for you to express your true emotions?
Can't you understand that I still care
Don't you realize that I still possess strong feelings for you?
You've got to tell me this love is real
You need to verbalize the authenticity of your love for me.
Or are tears the only thing we can share
Is all we have left is sadness and pain?
Are you tryin' to tell me it's over
Are you indicating that our relationship has concluded?
Do you need me, baby
Do you still require my presence and love?
Don't you know that this lovin' can last
Can't you see that our love could survive and thrive?
Is this thing right or is it wrong
We need to determine if our love is beneficial or detrimental for both of us.
Do you love me (I need to know what's goin' on)
Can you confirm the authenticity of your love?
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RODNEY LYNN TEMPERTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Fashionista1k
I am Hispanic, I do not speak much English, but I looked for this song, for 40 years since it is from 1981, and today is 2022, until I found the cassette after 40 years and I put it on my cassette player and put on my cell phone Shazam a application of my cell phone and here I am, thank you I love this song
@lisascott370
❤️great song 👍🏼
@tommychrissending3829
We used to do this song in the band in 1981. I didn’t know then what a gifted songwriter Rod Temperton was. Google him and you will be amazed by all the songs he had written. Patti Austin and Rod became life long friends.😊
@karengarner9525
I'm like you, I've been searching for this song since the 6th grade in 1981! So glad Google has the feature to hum a song...this made my day 😊
@kirbywaite1586
I've been looking for it since 1981 and just found it tonight. I love this sing, too.
@ericrobinson1789
Her best album in my opinion. Especially this song. Love it! Patti is an underrated talent.
@seanhamlet1463
Very underrated this is her best song in my opinion and she had some good ones
@maryburrell3948
She is such an underrated artist. I still love this song. It’s like a beautiful sunny day.
@speakthetruth3505
She is so talented! Such style and poise - such a beautiful voice❣ Just don't make music like this anymore.
@ihsannaji3424
You ain't lyin'..........