I Don't Need You

"I Don't Need You" is a song written by Rick Christian and recorded by American country music 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) at Shoe Productions in Memphis, TN, 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 ^[1]

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.^[2]

Chosen as the lead single, "I Don't Need You" spent two weeks at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in August 1981.^[3] The song also rose to number 1 on two other Billboard music charts, the country chart as well as the adult contemporary chart.^[2] 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."^[2]

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 Records, 1978)
Harry Nilsson, recorded in 1979 and released on his album Flash Harry in 1980 (United Artists/Mercury, 1980)
The Carpenters, recorded in 1980 but never released.
Madeleine Marks on her Self-Titled album (RCA, 1981)

References

↑ Clayton, Rose (1981). "A Bright New Scene For Singer & Writer Christian Billboard Magazine (page 35) Aug 8, 1981 (Billboard Publications)
1 2 3 Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications)
↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications)

External links

Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics

Preceded by "All Those Years Ago" by George Harrison	Billboard Adult Contemporary (chart) number-one single by Kenny Rogers July 11, 1981 (6 weeks)	Succeeded by "Touch Me When We're Dancing" by The Carpenters
Preceded by "Too Many Lovers" by Crystal Gayle	Billboard Hot Country Singles number-one single August 15-August 22, 1981	Succeeded by "(There's) No Gettin' Over Me" by Ronnie Milsap
Preceded by "Too Many Lovers" by Crystal Gayle	RPM Country Tracks number-one single September 5, 1981

Kenny Rogers

Studio albums	Love Lifted Me Kenny Rogers Daytime Friends Love or Something Like It The Gambler Kenny Gideon Share Your Love Love Will Turn You Around We've Got Tonight Eyes That See in the Dark What About Me? The Heart of the Matter They Don't Make Them Like They Used To I Prefer the Moonlight Something Inside So Strong Love Is Strange Back Home Again If Only My Heart Had a Voice Vote for Love Across My Heart She Rides Wild Horses There You Go Again Back to the Well Water & Bridges The Love of God Amazing Grace You Can't Make Old Friends

Collaboration albums	Every Time Two Fools Collide (with Dottie West) Classics (with Dottie West) Timepiece (with David Foster)

Christmas albums	Christmas Once Upon a Christmas Christmas in America The Gift Christmas from the Heart Christmas with Kenny Christmas Collection Once Again It's Christmas

Compilations	Ten Years of Gold The Kenny Rogers Singles Album Greatest Hits (1980) 20 Greatest Hits Duets The Kenny Rogers Story Love Is What We Make It Short Stories Greatest Hits (1988) Daytime Friends – The Very Best of Kenny Rogers Live by Request 42 Ultimate Hits 21 Number Ones

Notable singles	"That Crazy Feeling" "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)" "But You Know I Love You" "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town" "Laura (What's He Got That I Ain't Got)" "Lucille" "Daytime Friends" "Sweet Music Man" "Every Time Two Fools Collide" (with Dottie West) "Love or Something Like It" "Anyone Who Isn't Me Tonight" (with Dottie West) "The Gambler" "All I Ever Need Is You" (with Dottie West) "She Believes in Me" "'Til I Can Make It on My Own" (with Dottie West) "You Decorated My Life" "Coward of the County" "Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer" (with Kim Carnes) "Love the World Away" "Lady" "I Don't Need You" "Share Your Love with Me" "Blaze of Glory" "Through the Years" "Love Will Turn You Around" "A Love Song" "We've Got Tonight" (with Sheena Easton) "All My Life" "Scarlet Fever" "Islands in the Stream" (with Dolly Parton) "Eyes That See in the Dark" "This Woman" "Buried Treasure" "Together Again" (with Dottie West) "What About Me?" (with Kim Carnes and James Ingram) "Evening Star" "Crazy" "Morning Desire" "Goodbye Marie" "Tomb of the Unknown Love" "Twenty Years Ago" "Make No Mistake, She's Mine" (with Ronnie Milsap) "I Prefer the Moonlight" "The Factory" "I Don't Call Him Daddy" "Planet Texas" "The Vows Go Unbroken (Always True to You)" "Maybe" (with Holly Dunn) "Love Is Strange" (with Dolly Parton) "Crazy in Love" "If You Want to Find Love" "Mary, Did You Know?" (with Wynonna Judd) "The Greatest" "Buy Me a Rose" (with Alison Krauss and Billy Dean) "I Can't Unlove You"

Guest singles	"What Are We Doin' in Love" (with Dottie West) "Real Love" (with Dolly Parton) "If I Ever Fall in Love Again" (with Anne Murray)

Related articles	Discography The First Edition United Artists Records Liberty Records RCA Records Reprise Records Kenny Rogers Roasters

Book:Kenny Rogers

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