Top 10 Karla Bonoff Songs

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Before covering the top 10 Karla Bonoff songs, let’s talk about the lady who came from Santa Monica, California. On December 27, 1951, she was born to Chester Paul Bonoff and Shirley Kahane-Bonoff and was named after her grandfather, Karl. She was raised in a Jewish household that has ancestry dating as far back as the Russian Empire. On her mother’s side of the family, the ancestral roots include Austrian, German, and Hungarian bloodlines.

Karla’s interest in music began to take shape as a guitarist and songwriter by the time she was fifteen years old. She, along with her sister Lisa, wrote songs and played as a duo known as The Daughters of Chester P. Karla was a big fan of Frank Hamilton and his famous folk group, The Weavers. He was the source of Karla’s inspiration which included her studying with him. By the time she was sixteen years old, she and her sister auditioned for Elektra Records. Although there was an eleven-song demo that was recorded, the record label had no interest to sign them up. From there, Lisa moved on to become a teacher of history and religion. As for Karla, she continued to follow her passion for music.

Humble Road to Fame

Karla developed a kinship with several other singer-songwriters and musicians in the 1960s that were carving out their own unique sounds. During this time, she was among many aspiring artists who lined up at the legendary Troubadour on Mondays, hoping to start a career in the music industry. This is the same club that once upon a time had Jackson Browne, Elton John, and James Taylor perform before an audience themselves. It was at the Troubadour Karla Bonoff met and befriended Kenny Edwards (of Stone Poneys fame), Andrew Gold, and Wendy (Steiner) Waldman.

Waldman is the daughter of Fred Steiner, the music composer behind The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. At the time, these four individuals decided to put their own band together. As a group, they became Bryndle. This was one of the earlier songwriter groups that came into a formation that did make an album for A&M Records but it was never released. Apparently, the music industry didn’t seem ready yet to work with the talent caliber Bryndle possessed at the time.

Bryndle was a musical team of songwriters that seemed ahead of their time. Before groups like Crosby, Stills, and Nash, Fleetwood Mac, and the Eagles made names for themselves as singer-songwriter phenoms, Bryndle was a four-person act that labels like A&M didn’t seem to know how to handle at the time. By appearances, Bryndle’s band of two men and two women had much in common with groups like the Mamas and the Papas. There was even an attempt to pressure Bryndle to produce at least one single to sound like them. There was a single that was released from the recording sessions Bryndle had which featured Karla Bonoff singing the lead. “Woke Up This Morning” became a local hit but it wasn’t enough to forward Bryndle’s career so the band broke up.

The men joined Linda Rondstadt and her band which would lead to Karla joining her roster as well. For Rondstadt, listening to Bonoff’s songs she wrote and sang for was enough to win her over. “If He’s Ever Near,” “Lose Again,” and “Someone to Lay Down Beside Me” were three of Karla Bonoff’s songs that made the cut to Linda Ronstadt’s 1976 album, Hasten Down the Wind. This resulted in a major spike in Bonoff’s popularity as a singer-songwriter.

During the first part of her career, Bonoff sang as Rondstadt’s backup vocalist, as well as Wendy Waldman, before launching her own career as a solo artist in 1977. After the release of her self-titled debut album, she followed up with 1979’s Restless Nights, 1982’s Wild Heart of the Young, and 1988’s New World. In 1999, All My Life: The Best of Karla Bonoff was her first compilation album that featured her greatest hits. Bonoff’s singing and songwriting talent also won over other big-name artists such as Lynn Anderson, Bonnie Raitt, and Wynonna Judd.

Bryndle’s Reunion

It wouldn’t be until the early 1990s that Bryndle would reform as a band. In 1995, they released Bryndle before going on tour across the United States and into Japan. In 1996, Bryndle’s act as a quartet was reduced to a trio when Andrew Gold opted out so he could spend more time with his family. After the tour concluded in 1997, Bryndle took a break before putting together a new album in 2001. Andrew Gold contributed but didn’t rejoin as a band member.

House of Silence was Bryndle’s second album, which was released in 2002. After this, Bryndle officially broke up again as each band member went back to their solo pursuits. Since then, Kenny Edwards passed away in 2010, then Andrew Gold in 2011. After Bryndle disbanded a second time, Karla Bonoff once again pursued her musical career as a solo artist. In 2007, she released her first live studio album which was mostly recorded in Santa Barbara, California, in 2004.

Karla’s Legacy

Karla Bonoff’s popularity as a singer-songwriter extends beyond the North American border. In Japan, her popularity is incredible and it is a nation she still tours, as well as the United States. In addition to the four studio albums she’s already released as a solo artist, there are also 2019’s Carry Me Home and 2020’s Silent Night. While she is better known for her songwriting, the singing talent of this incredible woman rightfully earned her a place to perform with some of the music industry’s biggest stars. Many of them owe their success as recording artists to the songs she wrote, some of which are still being covered today by talent who know quality music as soon as they hear it.

Top 10 Karla Bonoff Songs

#10 – Isn’t It Always Love

When Karla Bonoff launched the debut of the singer-songwriter’s career as a solo artist in 1977, it was often compared to Linda Ronstadt’s music. However, some of Linda Ronstadt’s songs came from Bonoff’s writing talent so it shouldn’t have come as a surprise there would be similarities shared between these two incredible vocal artists.

For Bonoff, her debut album became certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, and deservedly so. From it, “Isn’t It Always Love” was a song that wouldn’t be released as a single until Lynn Anderson covered it in 1979. For her, it became a number-ten hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. For Bonoff, she painted a vivid picture of the ups and downs of love during the mid-1970s.

#9 – When You Walk in the Room

Released in 1979, Restless Nights produced its second single release, “When You Walk in the Room.” Although it fell just shy of breaking into the US Billboard Hot 100, it was beautifully covered as a contemporary gem by Karla Bonoff. Originally written and recorded by Jackie DeShannon in 1963, this was a minor hit that won over the inspiration of several artists to cover their own version of it.

Although well-noted as a songwriter herself, Karla Bonoff seemed to have a special connection to “When You Walk in the Room” as someone dealing with the inability to express her feelings to someone she loves. Although this song could have easily worked as a ballad, the easy-listening approach Bonoff performs makes it easy to tap your fingers and toes to as a relatively upbeat number.

#8 – Please Be the One

On the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart, “Please Be the One” peaked at number twenty-two. On the US Billboard Hot 100, it rose to number sixty-three as a minor hit. This song came from the album, Wild Heart of the Young and was released as a single in 1982. The appeal behind this song was an almost ghostly start that soon features Bonoff sharing her vulnerability as a woman hoping her love interest will be the Mr. (or Mrs.) Right she’s hoping for.

#7 – Home

Karla Bonoff was the first to record “Home” for her debut album in 1977 before Bonnie Raitt would do the same for Sweet Forgiveness later that same year. Neither version was released as a single but both versions of this sweet song are incredible. Written by Bonoff, “Home” was a song she made loving reference to as a place where she feels most secure. Located over the mountains, the home featured in her song was more than just a place to rest her head. It’s a place of peace, designed to keep worldly troubles out in the cold where it belongs.

#6 – I Can’t Hold On

In the Pacific Northwest, “I Can’t Hold On” became a number-one hit on the music charts as a local fan favorite. On the US Billboard Hot 100, it peaked as high as number seventy-six. Released in 1978, it was Karla Bonoff’s debut single from her self-titled debut album. Already making a name for herself as a singer-songwriter by this time, she had no trouble demonstrating she had what it took to shine as a star herself. “I Can’t Hold On” was a relatively upbeat song of a woman deciding it was time to move on from a relationship she felt was no longer worth holding onto.

#5 – Standing Right Next to Me

In 1994, “Standing Right Next to Me” was a song that was featured on the 8 Seconds soundtrack. As a team, Karla Bonoff and Wendy Waldmann wrote the song before Bonoff performed it as a ballad for the film and its soundtrack. The beauty of this ballad won over romantics who chose it as their wedding song when it was time to tie the knot. It remains a solid fan favorite played at anniversaries by couples who’ve managed to keep their marriages together over the years. The vocal talent of Bonoff is absolutely incredible and is at its best with a love song that may need some kleenex before its over.

#4 – Tell Me Why

Before Wynona Judd turned “Tell Me Why” into a number three hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 1993, its story as a song began with Karla Bonoff. She wrote it for her 1988 album, New World, but never released it as a single. However, it did inspire Judd enough to perform this incredible tune that became even more popular in Canada as a number-one hit on its RPM Country Tracks chart.

While Judd sang the lead to this song, Bonoff served as a backup vocalist, as well as acoustic guitar. As a song that demanded answers why saying “goodbye” is so hard to do, it’s performed as a classic country tune that makes it easy to get up on the dance floor instead of filling the beer glass with tears.

#3 – Somebody’s Eyes

In 1984, Footloose starring Kevin Bacon as a rebellious teenager in a small town became an American cult classic. The soundtrack became every bit as popular as it became a multi-platinum seller on a global scale. In the United States alone, it was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America nine times. While the title track received the majority of the attention from music fans, “Somebody’s Eyes” was performed by Karla Bonoff that stood out as a love song that was enjoyed by fans who viewed this as an ideal slow dance piece.

On the US Billboard Adult Contemporary site, it became a number sixteen hit. It was written by Dean Pitchford, who also wrote the movie’s screenplay and story. “Somebody’s Eyes,” as performed by Bonoff was a dramatic song that suggested no matter how hard one tries to disguise, love has a knack for showing its true self one way or the other.

#2 – Personally

On the US Billboard Hot 100, “Personally” became a number nineteen hit for Karla Bonoff in 1982. It was also a number three hit on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart. Oddly enough, it was one of the few songs this talented vocalist didn’t actually write. The first to compose and record it was Paul Kelly. This happened in 1973 but it wouldn’t be released until he recorded a new version for his 1993 album, Gonna Stick and Stay. Before his version was released, Bonoff learned about the song through Glenn Frey.

Originally intended for Bonnie Raitt, “Personally” became a song Bonoff offered to record and was given the green light to do so. Bonoff’s performance of this song served as a cheeky number that seemed to kiss the seventies off in favor of a new decade that seemed to be full of promise. Among music critics and fans, they felt Bonoff was finally coming out of her shell from a vulnerable love-torn songstress to a woman with greater confidence.

#1 – All My Life

The 1989 duet “All My Life” was performed by Aaron Neville and Linda Ronstadt but it was originally written by Karla Bonoff. Once again, her songwriting talent paid off as a song performed by Linda Ronstadt became a big hit on the music charts. Aside from becoming the number one hit on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and a number eleven hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, “All of My Life” won a Grammy Award for Best Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group. During the first half of the 1990s, this ballad was a major fan favorite among couples who tied the knot.

To this day, it continues to be a song request at weddings and anniversaries, ultimately proving to be a timeless classic. As popular as Aaron Neville and Linda Ronstadt made this incredible love ballad, it was Karla Bonoff who first recorded it for her 1988 album, New World. However, her version was never released as a single but it was enough to inspire Linda Ronstadt to team up with Neville and treat “All My Life” the respect it deserved.

Appropriately so, 1999’s compilation album release of All My Life – The Best of Karla Bonoff served as a feather in Karla Bonoff’s cap that included the title track of a song that became so popular when the global audience heard it for the first time. As impressive as the sixteen songs are on this recording, “All My Life” stands out as the crown jewel.