Songwriter Bob McDill contributed heavily to Gayle’s sound on her 1976 album “Crystal.” Producer Allen Reynolds had persuaded McDill to move from Memphis to Nashville in earlier years and Bob’s publisher, Bill Hall, sent Reynolds a tape with three songs that all ended up on the “Crystal” album: “You Never Miss A Real Good Thing (Till He Says Goodbye),” “I’ll Do It All Over Again” and “Right In The Palm Of Your Hand.” Allen claims it’s the best tape he ever received, and it was so timely because they were heading into the new album project and needed good songs.
“You Never Miss A Real Good Thing (Till He Says Goodbye)” emerged as the album’s second single and Gayle’s second #1 record, although McDill doesn’t even remember writing the song. He describes Crystal’s cut, quite accurately, as a “very progressive” record, a feel derived in part from the burning guitar work of the late Jim Colvard.
“I’ll Do It All Over Again” was released as the follow-up but it stopped at #2, blocked from the top spot by Waylon Jennings’ “Luckenbach, Texas (Back To The Basics Of Love).” Interestingly, the third song on McDill’s tape, “Right In The Palm Of Your Hand,” also saw success as a single, but not for Crystal. Mel McDaniel took that one to #10 in 1981.
(written by Bob McDill)
