Universal Songs

"No question about the voice, it's worn, aged, soulful, defiant, utterly lacking smooth edges, an enormously compelling instrument to anyone enamoured of blue eyed soul" ~ David McGee, Rolling Stone

"Universal Songs" marks the 1st time Kim Carnes has been compiled into a box set and it covers all the albums she recorded for A&M, EMI America and MCA from 1975 to 1988. This 10 disc set comes in a rigid slipcase, with discs housed in top opening digisleeves including the original album sleeves. A 24 page booklet includes a forward written by Kim and an extensive essay by Christian John Wikane completes the package.

Compiled in conjunction and with the full cooperation of Kim, "Universal Songs" also features a number of 12” dance mixes that have never been released on CD before, which will delight fans across the world. It also includes a handful of bonus tracks, including her duets with Barbra Streisand and Kenny Rogers, as well as the 3 new songs that were recorded for her "Gypsy Honeymoon" best of package released in 1993.

Although best known for her worldwide smash hit "Bette Davis Eyes" Kim Carnes already had a body of work under her belt. A multifaceted singer and in demand songwriter she had already released 4 acclaimed albums and had chart success. Mostly notably in 1980 with a cover version of "Warm Love", originally recorded by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles in 1967. But also, with the duet with Gene Coton, "You’re A Part Of Me" in 1978.

But it was with the worldwide smash hit "Bette Davis Eyes" that Kim hit the big time. It won a Grammy for ‘Best Record Of The Year’, and the accompanying album "Mistaken Identity" was also nominated for ‘Best Album Of The Year’. "Bette Davis Eyes" is one of the key tracks of the 80's and loved still to this day. The follow up album "Voyeur" was released in 1982 and the lead single "Voyeur" reached # 29 on the US charts and again was nominated for a Grammy. Kim won another Grammy in 1984 when the original soundtrack for "Flashdance" won. Her contribution, the melancholy and hauntingly beautiful "I’ll Be Here Where The Heart Is" playing during a pivotal scene in the movie and was included on her next album "Café Racers". A single from that album, "Invisible Hands" provided her with another Grammy nomination. Further chart success followed in 1985 with the single "Crazy In The Night" which reached # 15 in the US. This was followed by the album "Barking At Airplanes" which reached a respectable 48 in the US charts. 2 further acclaimed albums, "Lighthouse" and "View From The House" followed. Both of which contain some of the best songs of her career.

Universal Music, October 23rd, 2026.