"I Knew You When" by Linda Ronstadt

Song#:  1280
Date:  12/11/1982
Debut:  77
Peak:  37
Weeks:  12
Genre:  Pop



Pop Bits:  Ronstadt's LP "Get Closer" didn't get off to a good start with the title-track first single fading out at a low #29. This second single fared even worse but did make it into the Top 40. At least this time the song became a multi-format entry with it reaching #29 at AC and #84 at country. It was enough to get the album to gold status, but that is as far as it got.

ReduxReview:  I knew this song when...it was done by Donny Osmond (see below). The song didn't hit me then and I didn't hook into Rondstadt's version either. That's kind of too bad because she rocks this out. I'm not sure why I ignored Ronstand's work during this time. Really, I should have bought both "Mad Love" and "Get Closer" as they contain some of her most interesting work of the period. I'll have to rectify that quite soon.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  This is a remake of a song written by singer/songwriter Joe South. It first got recorded in 1965 by Billy Joe Royal. He took the song to #14. In 1971, Donny Osmond recorded the tune and it was chosen as the b-side to "Hey Girl." As a double-sided single, the songs reached #9 on the pop chart. Joe South would record his own version in 1969 for his album "Games People Play," but it was not issued as a single. In addition to this hit, South wrote "Rose Garden" for Lynn Anderson (1970, #3 pop, #1 country), "Down in the Boondocks" by Billy Joe Royal (1965, #9 pop), "Hush" by Deep Purple (1968, #4 pop), and "Yo-Yo" by The Osmonds (1971, #3 pop). South would get his own pop hit in 1969 when "Games People Play" reached #12. The song would win him a Grammy for Song of the Year. Two years later he would get another Song of the Year nod for "Rose Garden."

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