1989 · Behind the Songs
A No. 6 hit from a film love theme, sung by two voices that never shared a stage for it.
In February 1989, Geffen released “After All,” a duet by Cher and Peter Cetera written as the love theme of the romantic fantasy comedy Chances Are — starring Cybill Shepherd, Robert Downey Jr., Ryan O’Neal and Mary Stuart Masterson, directed by Emile Ardolino and released March 10, 1989. Written by Dean Pitchford and Tom Snow and produced by Peter Asher, the record became a genuine hit: No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 1 on Adult Contemporary and No. 5 in the UK, with “Dangerous Times” on the B-side.
Oscar Night
The song was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1989 — the kind of honor that usually guarantees a telecast performance. But “After All” remains the rare Oscar-nominated hit with no music video ever made, and Cher and Cetera never performed it together live. A love theme the movies couldn’t quite let go of, carried by a pairing its audience never saw in the same room.
