When Will I Be Loved (song)
"When Will I Be Loved" is a classic popular song written by Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers, who had a US top-ten hit with it in 1960. Linda Ronstadt covered the song in 1975, and her version was an even bigger hit in the US, peaking at No. 2.
"When Will I Be Loved" | ||||
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Single by The Everly Brothers | ||||
from the album The Fabulous Style of The Everly Brothers | ||||
B-side | "Be-Bop-A-Lula" | |||
Released | May 1960 | |||
Recorded | February 18, 1960 | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 2:26 | |||
Label | Cadence | |||
Songwriter(s) | Phil Everly | |||
Producer(s) | Wesley Rose | |||
The Everly Brothers singles chronology | ||||
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The Everly Brothers version
Background
The Everly Brothers scored a number 8 hit single with "When Will I Be Loved" in the summer of 1960 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The track had been recorded in 1960 while the duo were contracted to Cadence Records; by 1960 they had moved to Warner Brothers and recording in a more mainstream pop/rock style than previously. The belated release by Cadence of "When Will I Be Loved" provided the Everly Brothers with a final rockabilly-style hit.[1]
Personnel
The session, produced by Archie Bleyer, took place on February 18, 1960, at the RCA Studio in Nashville. Those present at the session included:
- Don Everly – guitar, vocals
- Phil Everly – guitar, vocals
- Chet Atkins, guitar
- Hank Garland, guitar
- Luther Brandon, guitar
- Lightnin Chance, bass
- Buddy Harman, drums
- Floyd Cramer, piano[2]
Chart performance
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Linda Ronstadt version
"When Will I Be Loved" | ||||
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Single by Linda Ronstadt | ||||
from the album Heart Like a Wheel | ||||
B-side | "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" | |||
Released | March 25, 1975 | |||
Genre | Country rock, soft rock[4] | |||
Length | 2:04 | |||
Label | Capitol | |||
Songwriter(s) | Phil Everly | |||
Producer(s) | Peter Asher | |||
Linda Ronstadt singles chronology | ||||
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Background
The song had its highest profile when Linda Ronstadt covered it on her album Heart Like A Wheel. This version rearranges the verses of the Everly Brothers original, transposing the first and fourth verses. Capitol Records was reportedly unsure whether to release "When Will I Be Loved" or "You're No Good" as the lead 45 off of Heart Like a Wheel, finally deciding to issue "You're No Good" as the premier single.[5] "When Will I Be Loved" was issued as the second single in March 1975.
The song hit number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June of that year, as well as number 1 in Cash Box;[1] only the chart dominance of the year's biggest hit, "Love Will Keep Us Together" by Captain & Tennille, prevented Ronstadt from having consecutive number 1 hit singles on the Hot 100.[6] Billboard did afford a number 1 ranking to "When Will I Be Loved" on its C&W chart.[7] The song has sold 268,000 copies in the United States since becoming available for digital download as of January 2020.[8]
As Ronstadt's "When Will I Be Loved" descended the charts, its B-side, a remake of Buddy Holly's "It Doesn't Matter Anymore", garnered enough airplay to chart at number 47 Pop, number 20 Adult Contemporary, and number 54 Country.[1]
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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References
- Poore, Billy (1998). Rockabilly: a forty-year journey. Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard Publishing. p. 170. ISBN 0-7935-9142-2.
- "SINGLES DISCOGRAPHY". Archived from the original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
- "Top 100 Hits of 1960/Top 100 Songs of 1960". Musicoutfitters.com.
- Knowles, Christopher (1 October 2010). The Secret History of Rock 'n' Roll. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9781573445641 – via Google Books.
- The New York Times, 19 November 1974, p.32
- Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 540.
- Whitburn, Joel (2008). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944b2008. Record Research. p. 300.
- Bjorke, Matt (January 7, 2020). "Top 30 Digital Country Songs Chart: January 7, 2020". Rough Stock. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
- "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca.
- "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca.
- "Top 100 Hits of 1975/Top 100 Songs of 1975". Musicoutfitters.com.
- "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1975". Tropicalglen.com.