Song of the Day 3/31: Bruce Willis, “Respect Yourself”

Actor Bruce Willis’ family announced yesterday that he’s retiring from acting due to aphasia, a brain condition that affects language and communication. The 67-year-old Penns Grove, N.J., native rocketed to fame in the mid-’80s in the unconventional TV dramedy “Moonlighting,” where he occasionally burst into snatches of Motown tunes, and turned heads with a rendition of “Good Lovin'” during one episode.

Motown executives took notice, which led to Willis recording an album for them. “The Return of Bruno” consisted mostly of covers and featured several guest artists, including the Pointer Sisters on a remake of the Staple Singers hit “Respect Yourself.” Released as a single, it reached No. 5 on the Hot 100 in 1987, seven spots higher than the 1971 original.

At the time, critics were gentle about what looked to be a cash grab, noting that the supporting musicians made up for Willis’ modest vocal talents. Time hasn’t been as kind. In the assessment of AllMusic’s Stephen Thomas Erlewine, “The album stands more as a testament to the excesses of Reagan-era celebrity and baby-boomer nostalgia than as a piece of music.”

By 1989, Willis was an action-movie hero but the public wasn’t interesting in his musical career, and his second LP, “If It Don’t Kill You, It Just Makes You Stronger,” was a flop, despite Willis’ improved vocals. Willis himself was humble about his musical career. “I never really called myself a singer,” he told an interviewer years later. “The closest I got was that I used to shout in key.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTIjgkp0Xws

Here’s a track from Willis’ neglected second album, this one featured blues guitar legend Johnny Winter.

If you’re a fan of Willis’ acting, don’t despair. He has already completed roles in eight films due to be released over the next two years.