The Next Time I Fall

Written for Peter Cetera

“We did indeed write the song for Chicago and their lead vocalist Peter Cetera,” Bobby told the author Bob Leszczak. “We had his voice in mind, but Paul and I were unaware that he was leaving Chicago at that time.” Gordon remembered the setting: “Bobby had just moved into a new apartment, and all he had was a drum machine and a chair.”

Cetera heard the demo in producer David Foster’s office and recorded it for his second solo album, Solitude/Solitaire, produced by Michael Omartian. “It was simply meant to be,” Bobby said. “The song landed with the singer we wanted.”

An accidental duet

The song was not written as a duet. Cetera wanted an unexpected partner, and his record company suggested Amy Grant, then the best-known voice in contemporary Christian music. Before she agreed, Grant wanted to meet the writers, so Bobby went to see her at A&M. “I was on my very best behavior that day,” he said.

Number one

Released as a single in September 1986, “The Next Time I Fall” topped the Adult Contemporary chart for two weeks in November and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on December 6, 1986. It also went to No. 1 in Canada and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. “It turned out to be a hit for Peter and Amy,” Bobby said in 2013, “and of course that was very gratifying for me.”

Bobby’s own version

Bobby recorded the song himself as “Next Time (I Fall)” for his album Heart of Mine, alongside his own take on “Heart of Mine”, the song he had written for Boz Scaggs.