Through the Years (Kenny Rogers song)
"Through the Years" is a song written by Steve Dorff and Marty Panzer, and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Rogers. It was released in December 1981 as the fourth single from the album Share Your Love.
| "Through the Years" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Kenny Rogers | ||||
| from the album Share Your Love | ||||
| B-side | "So in Love with You" | |||
| Released | December 14, 1981 | |||
| Genre | Country pop | |||
| Length | 4:44 (album version) 4:22 (single version) | |||
| Label | Liberty | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Steve Dorff, Marty Panzer | |||
| Producer(s) | Lionel Richie | |||
| Kenny Rogers singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Through the Years" reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1982, remaining in the Top 40 for eleven weeks and went to number one on the adult contemporary chart, becoming Rogers' fifth single to top this chart.[1] The song peaked at number five on the country chart.[2] Rogers credited "Through the Years" as being one of his career songs, though it had relatively little success in North America. [3] Rogers appeared and performed the song at the 1983 Grammy Awards[4] and at an April 2001 halftime ceremony honoring Charles Barkley at a Philadelphia 76ers game.[5]
Rogers' version was a cover of Stevie Woods' "Through the Years" that appeared 6 months earlier on his 1981 album Take Me to Your Heaven,[6]
American gospel singer and pastor Norman Hutchins did his own version of "Through the Years" in 1992, with slightly altered lyrics. [7]
The Osmonds performed a cover of "Through the Years".
On his 50th anniversary TV special Rogers performed a version of the song with his two friends Lionel Richie and Dolly Parton which also included archive footage of him working with both on various projects through the years.
Content
The song looks back at a relationship "Through The Years" and mentions the ups and downs, but the singer proclaims to his loved one: I'm so glad I stayed right here with you / Through the years.
Chart performance
| Chart (1981-1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks[8] | 5 |
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[9] | 5 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[10] | 13 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[11] | 1 |
| Year-end chart (1982) | Rank |
|---|---|
| US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[12] | 99 |
References
- Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 207.
- Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 299.
- Sleeve notes of his 2006 compilation album The Number One Hits
- "Grammy's Greatest Moments, Volume III: Various Artists". Retrieved 2011-11-23.
- https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=107166&page=1
- http://www.allmusic.com/album/take-me-to-your-heaven-r1832243
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rhw6SqGS5u8
- "RPM Country Tracks for May 8, 1982". RPM. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
- "Kenny Rogers Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
- "Kenny Rogers Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- "Kenny Rogers Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
- "Talent in Action : Top Pop Singles". Billboard. 94 (51): TIA-20. December 25, 1982.
