Studio Album · No. 3

The Last One to Know Songwriting Credits by Reba McEntire

1987 MCA Records 10 tracks 33 min

Produced by Jimmy Bowen, Reba McEntire  ·  Engineered by Ron Treat, Bob Bullock, Glenn Meadows

MCA Records Country
10%
Authorship
Singer / Performer

Holds writing credit on 1 of 10 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 1 / 10 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 10 tracks with documented writers, by whether Reba McEntire carries a lyricist or composer credit.

10%
1 trackwritten by Reba McEntire 9 tracksoutside writers
Reba McEntire's roles on this album

Share of the 10 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist10%
Composer10%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

10
Tracks
21
Lyricists
2
Producers
2
No.1 Singles
1987
Released
Data Insight

The Last One to Know is a classic interpreter's album. Nine of its ten songs come from outside Nashville songwriting teams, and McEntire's own name appears in the writing credits just once, on 'I Don't Want to Be Alone.' Her role is the singer and, alongside Jimmy Bowen, the producer shaping other writers' material to her voice. Both number-one singles were written by others: Matraca Berg and Jane Mariash penned the title track, and Dave Loggins and J.D. Martin wrote 'Love Will Find Its Way to You.' The composer column mirrors the credited writers, since these country writers worked under their professional names.

The Last One to Know is a studio album by American country singer Reba McEntire, released September 7, 1987 on MCA Records. Co-produced by Jimmy Bowen and McEntire, it is an interpreter's record built almost entirely from songs by outside Nashville writers, with McEntire contributing a single self-penned track, 'I Don't Want to Be Alone.' Both singles topped the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart: the title track, written by Matraca Berg and Jane Mariash, and 'Love Will Find Its Way to You,' written by Dave Loggins and J.D. Martin. The album reached number three on the Top Country Albums chart and was later certified platinum by the RIAA. A deep bench of session players backs her across ten tracks, including Russ Kunkel on drums, Leland Sklar and David Hungate on bass, and Richard Bennett on electric guitar.

Track Listing & Credits 10 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
The Last One to Know #1
Matraca BergJane Mariash Matraca BergJane Mariash Jimmy BowenReba McEntire Reba McEntire (Lead Vocals)Richard Bennett (Electric Guitar)Bill Cooley (Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar)Don Potter (Acoustic Guitar)Leland Sklar (Bass)David Hungate (Bass)Russ Kunkel (Drums)John Jarvis (Piano)Donnie LaValley (Steel Guitar, Dobro)Rickie Solomon (Fiddle, Mandolin)Suzy Hoskins (Harmony Vocals)
2
The Girl Who Has Everything
Larry BastianDewayne Blackwell Larry BastianDewayne Blackwell Jimmy BowenReba McEntire Reba McEntire (Lead Vocals)Richard Bennett (Electric Guitar)Bill Cooley (Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar)Don Potter (Acoustic Guitar)Leland Sklar (Bass)David Hungate (Bass)Russ Kunkel (Drums)John Jarvis (Piano)Donnie LaValley (Steel Guitar, Dobro)Rickie Solomon (Fiddle, Mandolin)Suzy Hoskins (Harmony Vocals)
3
Just Across the Rio Grande
Don CookChick Rains Don CookChick Rains Jimmy BowenReba McEntire Reba McEntire (Lead Vocals)Richard Bennett (Electric Guitar)Bill Cooley (Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar)Don Potter (Acoustic Guitar)Leland Sklar (Bass)David Hungate (Bass)Russ Kunkel (Drums)John Jarvis (Piano)Donnie LaValley (Steel Guitar, Dobro)Rickie Solomon (Fiddle, Mandolin)Suzy Hoskins (Harmony Vocals)
4
I Don't Want to Mention Any Names
Larry CordleLisa Palas Larry CordleLisa Palas Jimmy BowenReba McEntire Reba McEntire (Lead Vocals)Richard Bennett (Electric Guitar)Bill Cooley (Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar)Don Potter (Acoustic Guitar)Leland Sklar (Bass)David Hungate (Bass)Russ Kunkel (Drums)John Jarvis (Piano)Donnie LaValley (Steel Guitar, Dobro)Rickie Solomon (Fiddle, Mandolin)Suzy Hoskins (Harmony Vocals)
5
Someone Else
Pat BunchMary Ann KennedyPam Rose Pat BunchMary Ann KennedyPam Rose Jimmy BowenReba McEntire Reba McEntire (Lead Vocals)Richard Bennett (Electric Guitar)Bill Cooley (Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar)Don Potter (Acoustic Guitar)Leland Sklar (Bass)David Hungate (Bass)Russ Kunkel (Drums)John Jarvis (Piano)Donnie LaValley (Steel Guitar, Dobro)Rickie Solomon (Fiddle, Mandolin)Suzy Hoskins (Harmony Vocals)
6
What You Gonna Do About Me
Michael P. HeeneyDavid Scarlett Michael P. HeeneyDavid Scarlett Jimmy BowenReba McEntire Reba McEntire (Lead Vocals)Richard Bennett (Electric Guitar)Bill Cooley (Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar)Don Potter (Acoustic Guitar)Leland Sklar (Bass)David Hungate (Bass)Russ Kunkel (Drums)John Jarvis (Piano)Donnie LaValley (Steel Guitar, Dobro)Rickie Solomon (Fiddle, Mandolin)Suzy Hoskins (Harmony Vocals)
7
I Don't Want to Be Alone
Reba McEntire Reba McEntire Jimmy BowenReba McEntire Reba McEntire (Lead Vocals)Richard Bennett (Electric Guitar)Bill Cooley (Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar)Don Potter (Acoustic Guitar)Leland Sklar (Bass)David Hungate (Bass)Russ Kunkel (Drums)John Jarvis (Piano)Donnie LaValley (Steel Guitar, Dobro)Rickie Solomon (Fiddle, Mandolin)Suzy Hoskins (Harmony Vocals)
8
The Stairs
Pamela BrownDavid Roberts Pamela BrownDavid Roberts Jimmy BowenReba McEntire Reba McEntire (Lead Vocals)Richard Bennett (Electric Guitar)Bill Cooley (Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar)Don Potter (Acoustic Guitar)Leland Sklar (Bass)David Hungate (Bass)Russ Kunkel (Drums)John Jarvis (Piano)Donnie LaValley (Steel Guitar, Dobro)Rickie Solomon (Fiddle, Mandolin)Suzy Hoskins (Harmony Vocals)
9
Love Will Find Its Way to You #1
Dave LogginsJ.D. Martin Dave LogginsJ.D. Martin Jimmy BowenReba McEntire Reba McEntire (Lead Vocals)Richard Bennett (Electric Guitar)Bill Cooley (Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar)Don Potter (Acoustic Guitar)Leland Sklar (Bass)David Hungate (Bass)Russ Kunkel (Drums)John Jarvis (Piano)Donnie LaValley (Steel Guitar, Dobro)Rickie Solomon (Fiddle, Mandolin)Suzy Hoskins (Harmony Vocals)
10
I've Still Got the Love We Made
Michael GarvinTom ShapiroChris Waters Michael GarvinTom ShapiroChris Waters Jimmy BowenReba McEntire Reba McEntire (Lead Vocals)Richard Bennett (Electric Guitar)Bill Cooley (Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar)Don Potter (Acoustic Guitar)Leland Sklar (Bass)David Hungate (Bass)Russ Kunkel (Drums)John Jarvis (Piano)Donnie LaValley (Steel Guitar, Dobro)Rickie Solomon (Fiddle, Mandolin)Suzy Hoskins (Harmony Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 32 contributors

RM
Reba McEntire
Writer · Producer · Vocals
On this album1 written
CR
Chick Rains
Writer
On this album1 written
CW
Chris Waters
Writer
On this album1 written
DL
Dave Loggins
Writer
On this album1 written
DR
David Roberts
Writer
On this album1 written
DS
David Scarlett
Writer
On this album1 written
DB
Dewayne Blackwell
Writer
On this album1 written
DC
Don Cook
Writer
On this album1 written
JM
J.D. Martin
Writer
On this album1 written
JM
Jane Mariash
Writer
On this album1 written
LB
Larry Bastian
Writer
On this album1 written
LC
Larry Cordle
Writer
On this album1 written

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Frequently Asked Questions The Last One to Know

Who wrote the songs on The Last One to Know?
Most of the album was written by outside Nashville songwriters. Reba McEntire wrote only one track herself, 'I Don't Want to Be Alone.' The two number-one singles were written by other writers: Matraca Berg and Jane Mariash wrote the title track, and Dave Loggins and J.D. Martin wrote 'Love Will Find Its Way to You.'
Did Reba McEntire write any songs on the album?
Yes, one. 'I Don't Want to Be Alone' is credited solely to McEntire, the only track on the record she wrote.
Who produced The Last One to Know?
It was co-produced by Jimmy Bowen and Reba McEntire.
What were the singles from the album?
Two singles were released, and both reached number one on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart: 'The Last One to Know' in 1987 and 'Love Will Find Its Way to You' at the end of 1987.
How did the album chart and sell?
It reached number three on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and was certified platinum by the RIAA for a million copies sold in the United States.
Who played on The Last One to Know?
The album used a core of Nashville and Los Angeles session players, including Russ Kunkel on drums, Leland Sklar and David Hungate on bass, Richard Bennett and Bill Cooley on guitar, John Jarvis on piano, and Donnie LaValley on steel guitar and dobro.

Sources

Wikipedia: The Last One to Know MusicBrainz: The Last One to Know (release group) Cover Art Archive: The Last One to Know Discogs API: The Last One to Know (release 2396112) Reba McEntire official site: The Last One to Know Cover Art Archive: The Last One to Know by Reba McEntire