Can't Fight Fate

Can't Fight Fate is the second studio album by American singer and songwriter Taylor Dayne, released on October 31, 1989, by Arista Records. The album continued her chart success and was certified 2× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It includes the Billboard Hot 100 singles "With Every Beat of My Heart" (No. 5) and "I'll Be Your Shelter" (No. 4), the number one "Love Will Lead You Back" and "Heart of Stone" (No. 12).

Critical reception

AllMusic editor Jose F. Promis retrospectively declared the album's ballads "lush and dramatic", mentioning "Love Will Lead You Back". However, he felt that the "real killers" are the rock songs, which Dayne "delivers like a true, seasoned rock star", noting that "I'll Be Your Shelter" "brings to mind Tina Turner". Promis highlighted also "You Can't Fight Fate" and "Ain't No Good", and concluded, "Years after its release, this album stands the test of time, and can safely be classified as one of the more diverse and exciting dance/pop/rock albums of the late '80s/early '90s." People stated, "Not many singers can go from hot to dreamy and back again as smoothly as Dayne does on this first-rate album." The reviewer felt the singer "has the spirit and rhythmic sense" to turn "I'll Be Your Shelter" into "a vivacious party track", but remarked that she also can "dig for depth and rich tone" on ballads, such as "Love Will Lead You Back".

Track listing

Personnel

Musicians

• Taylor Dayne – lead vocals, backing vocals (2, 5, 10), arrangements (10)
• Rich Tancredi – keyboards (1–4, 6–10), arrangements (1, 3, 4, 6–10)
• Tommy Byrnes – guitars (2, 10), rhythm guitar (5), backing vocals (10)
• Bob Cadway – guitars (3, 4, 7, 8, 9)
• Blues Saraceno – lead guitar (5)
• Kevin Jenkins – bass (2)
• T.M. Stevens – bass (5)
• Joe Franco – drums (1–5, 7–10)
• Richie Jones – drum programming (6)
• Joel Peskin – sax solo (1, 9)
• Richie Cannata – saxophone (4, 5, 7)
• Jerry Hey – trumpet (1, 9), trumpet arrangements (1), horn arrangements (9)
• Gary Grant – trumpet (1, 9)
• Bill Reichenbach Jr. – trumpet (1), trombone (9)
• Paul Tuthill – trumpet (5)
• Ric Wake – arrangements
• Jamillah Muhammad – backing vocals (1, 3–10)
• Ricky Nelson – backing vocals (1, 3, 7)
• Billy T. Scott – backing vocals (1, 3–10), BGV arrangements (1, 3, 4, 8)
• Gloria Weems – backing vocals (1, 4)
• Kathy Troccoli – backing vocals (2)

Production

• Clive Davis – executive producer
• Ric Wake – producer
• Bob Cadway – recording, mixing
• Greg Arnold – assistant engineer
• Thom Cadley – assistant engineer
• Robert "Void" Caprio – assistant engineer
• Susan Gibbons – assistant engineer
• Dan Hetzel – assistant engineer
• Rail Rogut – assistant engineer
• Brett Swain – assistant engineer
• Mario Vasquez – assistant engineer
• Thomas R. Yezzi – assistant engineer
• Greg Calbi – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York City, New York)
• David Barratt – production coordinator
• Susan Mendola – art direction
• Wayne Maser – photography
• Philippe Becker – hair stylist, make-up artist
• Juliet Cuming – styling
• Champion Entertainment Organization, Inc. – management

Charts

Certifications