Bryan Adams is well-known for his collaborations. He has written songs for Kiss, Joe Cocker, and many others. However, there was a moment when he almost gave away one of his biggest hits.

“Way back when I was working with Jim Vallance, we were just trying to establish ourselves as songwriters. Sometimes we put ourselves in a position of, ‘Okay, today we’re going to write a song for someone, even if we didn’t know how to get that song to them or not,” he recalled in a recent interview with 97.1 Rock. “Sometimes that would inspire something [really good]. For example, the song ‘Run to You’ was originally written for a band called Blue Oyster Cult. They never received it or if they did, the producer, Bruce Fairbairn, who we gave it to, never played it for them.”

“Run to You” became the first of six singles from Adams’ fourth studio album, 1984’s Reckless. The album achieved several notable milestones for the Canadian songwriter. It was the first album to sell over a million copies in Canada and is certified more than 10 times platinum in the region.

Additionally, all six singles from Reckless reached the Top 20 on the Billboard charts for Adams, with “Run to You” peaking at No. 6. Ultimately, the album sold over 12 million copies worldwide and remains his second best-selling album of his career, surpassed only by 1991’s Waking Up the Neighbours.

Blue Oyster Cult wasn’t the only potential recipient either. 38 Special also reportedly had a chance at “Run to You.” Although they didn’t take it, they did record other collaborations with Vallance and Adams, including “Teacher, Teacher,” which became a Top 40 hit for the Jacksonville rockers after being released as part of the soundtrack for 1984’s Teachers.

Adams’ guitarist Keith Scott was relieved that “Run to You” didn’t become a song for Blue Oyster Cult. “I remember the phone call. [Bryan] said, ‘I just wrote this thing. It was for Blue Oyster Cult. But I don’t think they’re going to keep it.’ I said, ‘Please don’t give it away!’”

Bryan Adams Wrote Numerous Songs for Other Artists

Although the attempt with Blue Oyster Cult didn’t pan out, Adams has placed many songs with other artists over the years, including (as mentioned earlier) a couple of songs with Kiss, as well as Mötley Crüe. He achieved significant success with 1989’s “When the Night Comes,” recorded by Joe Cocker. It was the first of two songs that the distinctive vocalist recorded (“Feels Like Forever,” from 1991’s Night Calls, was the other), both written by Adams, Vallance, and songwriter Diane Warren.

“When the Night Comes” provided Cocker with his last Top 40 hit and Adams cherishes the experience he had working with the legend, which he will never forget for various reasons. “I remember going to the cinema with my friends [to see] watching Mad Dogs & Englishmen. We’d never seen anything like that. All of those musicians on stage and this guy’s voice and how he was moving; it was mind-blowing,” he shared with UCR in 2022.

Listen to Joe Cocker’s ‘When the Night Comes’

“Fast forward years later, I got a chance to work with him. I made the mistake of trying to keep up with Joe at one point. He had this drink called Joe Cola [which was] mixed with Bacardi and Coke. He asked me, ‘Do you want one?’ I said, ‘Hmmm, I don’t drink.’ He insisted, ‘Come on, just have one.’ I said, ‘Okay, alright.’ Because I was with my hero. How could I say no? It knocked me out.”

How Did Bryan Connect With Roger Daltrey?

“Let Me Down Easy,” his contribution to The Who‘s frontman Roger Daltrey‘s 1985 solo album Under a Raging Moon, offers another glimpse into how prolific his songwriting was in the early ’80s. “It was actually intended for Reckless. For whatever reason, I didn’t include it on there,” Adams explained in that same 2022 interview. “Roger called me up and asked if I had any songs for his solo album. I said, “Yeah, I do.” I gave him that along with ‘Rebel.’ Again, you’re talking about two of the most iconic singers in my life. There were several: Joe, Steve Marriott, Roger Daltrey, Ian Gillan, Paul Rodgers and Elton [John], so many great singers from that era. I know I’m missing some. To have the opportunity to work with your heroes and enjoy doing it is so much fun.”

READ MORE: 51 Songs Bryan Adams Wrote for Other Artists

Listen to Roger Daltrey’s ‘Let Me Down Easy’

Bryan Adams Has a ‘Newfound Freedom.’ How Did That Happen?

The answer is straightforward. The songwriter continues to release new albums regularly. His latest album,Roll With the Punches, arrived in late August. This month, he’ll tour alongside Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, who are also on the bill. The album title is not coincidental.

“It feels like the right title for this tour at this time. I’ve recently become an independent artist; I’m self-managed and have my own label,BAD Records</b]," he explained to USA Today. "Extracting myself from my past and moving into the future has been incredibly liberating and inspiring. I feel like ['Roll With the Punches'] is also a song for anyone who has felt knocked down but wants to get back up again and dust themselves off. That’s the theme of the song and part of my newfound freedom."