I Don't Need You
Encyclopedia
"I Don't Need You" is the title of a song written by Rick Christian and recorded by American
country
artist Kenny Rogers
. It was released in June 1981 as the lead single from Rogers album Share Your Love
.
The song was first recorded and released as a single in 1978 by Rick Christian himself (the song's writer), but it failed to chart. Harry Nilsson
recorded it in 1979 and released it on his Flash Harry
album in 1980, but he did not release it as a single. Madeleine Marks also recorded it for her Self Titled album in early 1981, but did not release it as a single
Kenny Rogers had collaborated with R&B/pop singer-songwriter
Lionel Richie
in 1980 with the song "Lady
". After the success of that record, Rogers asked Richie to produce his next album, Share Your Love. Although the original plan was for Richie to write all the songs for Rogers' forthcoming album, the two men agreed to accept songs they both liked for the project which had been written by others. "I Don't Need You", written by Rick Christian, was one of those songs.
Chosen as the lead single
, "I Don't Need You" spent two weeks at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100
chart in August 1981. The song also rose to #1 on two other Billboard
music charts, the country chart
as well as the adult contemporary chart
. It remained atop the latter chart for six weeks in July and August of that year.
Rogers has been quoted describing "I Don't Need You" as "...still to this day one of my favorite songs", although he admitted that "I don't think I ever met Rick Christian, the guy who wrote it."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
artist Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers
Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...
. It was released in June 1981 as the lead single from Rogers album Share Your Love
Share Your Love
Share Your Love is an album by country singer Kenny Rogers and his first with Liberty Records besides his Greatest Hits album. This album has sold 9 million copies world-wide.- Overview :...
.
The song was first recorded and released as a single in 1978 by Rick Christian himself (the song's writer), but it failed to chart. Harry Nilsson
Harry Nilsson
Harry Edward Nilsson III was an American singer-songwriter who achieved the peak of his commercial success in the early 1970s. On all but his earliest recordings he is credited as Nilsson...
recorded it in 1979 and released it on his Flash Harry
Flash Harry (album)
Flash Harry is the sixteenth and final album by Harry Nilsson. Originally released only in the UK and Japan, it has never been released in the U.S. . Aside from bootlegs the album has never been released on CD. When the album was originally released it received minimal support from Harry's label...
album in 1980, but he did not release it as a single. Madeleine Marks also recorded it for her Self Titled album in early 1981, but did not release it as a single
Kenny Rogers had collaborated with R&B/pop singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie
Lionel Brockman Richie, Jr. , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Since 1968, he has been a member of the musical group Commodores signed to Motown Records...
in 1980 with the song "Lady
Lady (Kenny Rogers song)
"Lady" is the title of a song written by Lionel Richie and recorded by American country artist Kenny Rogers. It was released in September 1980 as the only single from the album, Kenny Rogers Greatest Hits....
". After the success of that record, Rogers asked Richie to produce his next album, Share Your Love. Although the original plan was for Richie to write all the songs for Rogers' forthcoming album, the two men agreed to accept songs they both liked for the project which had been written by others. "I Don't Need You", written by Rick Christian, was one of those songs.
Chosen as the lead single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "I Don't Need You" spent two weeks at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart in August 1981. The song also rose to #1 on two other Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
music charts, the country chart
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
as well as the adult contemporary chart
Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
. It remained atop the latter chart for six weeks in July and August of that year.
Rogers has been quoted describing "I Don't Need You" as "...still to this day one of my favorite songs", although he admitted that "I don't think I ever met Rick Christian, the guy who wrote it."
Chart performance
| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 3 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Singles | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 2 |
| Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks | 2 |
Other Recordings of "I Don't Need You"
- Rick Christian - single (Mercury RecordsMercury RecordsMercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
, 1978) - Harry NilssonHarry NilssonHarry Edward Nilsson III was an American singer-songwriter who achieved the peak of his commercial success in the early 1970s. On all but his earliest recordings he is credited as Nilsson...
, recorded in 1979 and released on his album Flash HarryFlash Harry (album)Flash Harry is the sixteenth and final album by Harry Nilsson. Originally released only in the UK and Japan, it has never been released in the U.S. . Aside from bootlegs the album has never been released on CD. When the album was originally released it received minimal support from Harry's label...
in 1980 (United ArtistsUnited ArtistsUnited Artists Corporation is an American film studio. The original studio of that name was founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks....
/Mercury, 1980) - Madeleine Marks on her Self-Titled album (RCARCARCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
, 1981)