She Is His Only Need
Encyclopedia
"She Is His Only Need" is the title of a song written by Dave Loggins
and performed by American country music
artist Wynonna Judd
. It was Judd's first solo single, after spending nine years alongside her mother, Naomi Judd
, in The Judds
. The song was released in early 1992 on MCA
/Curb Records
as the first single from Wynonna's self-titled debut album
, and was her first Number One hit on the Billboard
Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs
) charts.
ballad that chronicles the life of two characters. The first is a loner, named Billy, who is reluctant to leave southern Arizona
, until he meets the song's other character, a female named Bonnie. Throughout the first verse, he befriends Bonnie and eventually marries her. According to the chorus, his love for her drives him to work overtime in order to buy her things that he knew she wanted because "she is his only need". The second verse follows their marriage as they have two children who grow up and move away from home. Even as the couple become elderly, the love continues to drive him to go out of his way to buy her things that he has heard her mention she wanted.
which consisted of her introducing herself and asking radio to play the single. The CD's announcement ended with "And my only need is for y'all to play it. Because I have a mom to support. So thanks." This was a reference to her mother, Naomi Judd, who had retired due to a bout of hepatitis
.
Dave Loggins
David Allen "Dave" Loggins is a singer, songwriter and musician. He is widely remembered for his 1974 composition "Please Come to Boston", which was a top-10 hit in the U.S. for him, and was subsequently covered by numerous other artists. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame...
and performed by American country music
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 Wynonna Judd
Wynonna Judd
Wynonna Ellen Judd is an American country music singer. Her solo albums and singles are all credited to the singular name Wynonna. Wynonna first rose to fame in the 1980s alongside her mother, Naomi, in the country music duo The Judds...
. It was Judd's first solo single, after spending nine years alongside her mother, Naomi Judd
Naomi Judd
Naomi Judd is an American country music singer, songwriter, and activist.-Personal life:She was born Diana Ellen Judd to Charles Glen Judd and his wife Pauline Judd on January 11, 1946, in Ashland, Kentucky. Her father owned a gas station; her mother started out as a homemaker but later became a...
, in The Judds
The Judds
The Judds were an American country music duo composed of Naomi Judd and her daughter, Wynonna Judd. Signed to RCA Records in 1983, the duo released six studio albums between then and 1991. One of the most successful acts in country music history, The Judds won five Grammy Awards for Best Country...
. The song was released in early 1992 on MCA
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
/Curb Records
Curb Records
Curb Records is a record label started by Mike Curb originally as Sidewalk Records in 1963...
as the first single from Wynonna's self-titled debut album
Wynonna (album)
Wynonna is the debut album of American country music artist Wynonna Judd. It was released in 1992 on MCA Records in association with Curb Records as her first solo debut album...
, and was her first Number One hit on the 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...
Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs
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...
) charts.
Content
The song is a country popCountry pop
Country pop, with roots in both the countrypolitan sound and in soft rock, is a subgenre of country music that first emerged in the 1970s. Although the term first referred to country music songs and artists that crossed over to Top 40 radio, country pop acts are now more likely to cross over to...
ballad that chronicles the life of two characters. The first is a loner, named Billy, who is reluctant to leave southern Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, until he meets the song's other character, a female named Bonnie. Throughout the first verse, he befriends Bonnie and eventually marries her. According to the chorus, his love for her drives him to work overtime in order to buy her things that he knew she wanted because "she is his only need". The second verse follows their marriage as they have two children who grow up and move away from home. Even as the couple become elderly, the love continues to drive him to go out of his way to buy her things that he has heard her mention she wanted.
Promotion
Wynonna promoted "She Is His Only Need" by releasing a compact discCompact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
which consisted of her introducing herself and asking radio to play the single. The CD's announcement ended with "And my only need is for y'all to play it. Because I have a mom to support. So thanks." This was a reference to her mother, Naomi Judd, who had retired due to a bout of hepatitis
Hepatitis
Hepatitis is a medical condition defined by the inflammation of the liver and characterized by the presence of inflammatory cells in the tissue of the organ. The name is from the Greek hepar , the root being hepat- , meaning liver, and suffix -itis, meaning "inflammation"...
.
Personnel
The following musicians performed on this track:- Eddie BayersEddie BayersEddie Bayers is an American session drummer who has played on 150 gold and platinum albums. He received the Academy of Country Music 'Drummer of the Year Award' for eight straight years, and has three times won the Nashville Music Awards 'Drummer of the Year'...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Wynonna Judd – lead and background vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
- Dave LogginsDave LogginsDavid Allen "Dave" Loggins is a singer, songwriter and musician. He is widely remembered for his 1974 composition "Please Come to Boston", which was a top-10 hit in the U.S. for him, and was subsequently covered by numerous other artists. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame...
– background vocals - Steve Nathan – keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
- Don PotterDon Potter (musician)Don Potter is an American musician and producer in Nashville, Tennessee. A longstanding producer for Wynonna Judd, he has become known as "the man who created the Judds' sound".-Musical career:...
– acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound... - Judy RodmanJudy RodmanJudy Rodman is an American Country Music Singer. In the mid-80s, she was a successful country music singer, making all the way to number one on the country charts in 1986 with the song "Until I Met You." She also won the Academy of Country Music's "Top New Female Vocalist" award in 1985.Today,...
– background vocals - Matt RollingsMatt RollingsMatt Rollings is an American composer, musician and record producer. He plays piano, organ, and keyboards.Known mainly for playing in Lyle Lovett's Large Band, he has worked with many artists, not all country...
– keyboards - Steuart SmithSteuart SmithSteuart Smith is a guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, writer and producer currently working with American rock band the Eagles. Smith is from Arlington, VA.]].-Current work:...
– electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker... - Willie WeeksWillie WeeksWillie Weeks is an American bass guitarist. He has gained fame performing with famous musicians in a wide variety of genres. He has been one of the most in-demand session musicians throughout his career. Weeks has also gained notoriety touring with many of rock's heavyweights throughout his career...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
Chart performance
| Chart (1992) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 25 |
| Canada RPM Country Tracks | 1 |
| Canada RPM Adult Contemporary | 22 |