Street Tough

Recorded at Atlantic Studios in New York for Ben E. King's 1981 album Street Tough, the title track was written by Willie Hutch and produced by Ray Chew. The recording features backing vocals by Frank Floyd, Luther Vandross and Ullanda McCullough. Released by Atlantic in 1981 as the album's lead single, “Street Tough” marked King's final run of new studio material for the label that had defined his solo career. The track placed him in a polished early-1980s club-recording setting while retaining his lead-vocal authority. “Street Tough” became a sought-after later-period Ben E. King cut among collectors and DJs, especially through its 12-inch promo version. Its association with Willie Hutch, Ray Chew and Luther Vandross helped keep it visible beyond King's better-known 1960s catalogue.