Through the Years (Kenny Rogers song)

Last updated
"Through the Years"
Through the Years - Kenny Rogers.jpg
Single by Kenny Rogers
from the album Share Your Love
B-side "So in Love with You"
ReleasedDecember 14, 1981
Genre Country pop
Length4:44 (album version)
4:22 (single version)
Label Liberty
Songwriter(s) Steve Dorff, Marty Panzer
Producer(s) Lionel Richie
Kenny Rogers singles chronology
"Blaze of Glory"
(1981)
"Through the Years"
(1981)
"Love Will Turn You Around"
(1982)

"Through the Years" is a song written by Steve Dorff and Marty Panzer, and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Rogers. It was released in December 1981 as the fourth and final single from the album Share Your Love .

Contents

"Through the Years" reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1982, remaining in the top 40 for eleven weeks and went to number one on the Adult Contemporary chart, becoming Rogers' fifth single to top this chart. [1] The song peaked at number five on the Country chart. [2] Rogers credited "Through the Years" as being one of his career songs, though it had relatively little success in North America. [3] Rogers appeared and performed the song at the 1983 Grammy Awards [4] and at an April 2001 halftime ceremony honoring Charles Barkley at a Philadelphia 76ers game. [5]

On his 50th anniversary TV special, Rogers performed a version of the song with his two friends Lionel Richie and Dolly Parton which also included archive footage of him working with both on various projects through the years.

Content

The song looks back at a relationship "through the years" and mentions the ups and downs, but the singer proclaims to his loved one: I'm so glad I stayed right here with you / Through the years.

Chart performance

Chart (1981–1982)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [6] 92
Canada RPM Country Tracks [7] 5
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [8] 5
US Billboard Hot 100 [9] 13
US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) [10] 1
Year-end chart (1982)Rank
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard) [11] 99

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Three Times a Lady</span> 1978 single by Commodores

"Three Times a Lady" is a 1978 song by American soul group Commodores for their album Natural High, written by lead singer Lionel Richie. It was produced by James Anthony Carmichael and Commodores.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elvira (song)</span> 1966 single by Dallas Frazier

"Elvira" is a song written and originally recorded by Dallas Frazier in 1966 on his album of the same name. Though a minor hit for Frazier at the time of release, the song became a bigger and much more famous country and pop hit by the Oak Ridge Boys in 1981. "Elvira" is now considered one of the Oak Ridge Boys' signature songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All I Ever Need Is You (song)</span> 1971 single by Sonny & Cher

"All I Ever Need Is You" is a popular song written by Jimmy Holiday and Eddie Reeves, and initially recorded by Ray Charles for his 1971 album, Volcanic Action of My Soul. The most well-known version of the song is the hit single by Sonny & Cher which, in 1971, reached No. 7 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and was their single of greatest chart longevity, spending 15 weeks on that chart. Their album by the same title sold over 500,000 copies reaching RIAA gold status.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucille (Kenny Rogers song)</span> 1977 single by Kenny Rogers

"Lucille" is a song written by Roger Bowling and Hal Bynum, and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Rogers. It was released in January 1977 as the second and final single from the album Kenny Rogers. It became Rogers' first major hit as a solo artist after leaving the successful country/rock group the First Edition the previous year. An international hit, it reached number one on the Billboard Country Singles chart and number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. Overseas, "Lucille" reached the top of the UK Singles Chart in June 1977, the first of Rogers' two number one singles there.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Decorated My Life</span> 1979 single by Kenny Rogers

"You Decorated My Life" is a song written by Debbie Hupp and Bob Morrison, and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Rogers. It was released in September 1979 as the lead single from his album Kenny. It was a number-one hit on the Billboard Country Singles chart, and peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love or Something Like It (song)</span> 1978 single by Kenny Rogers

"Love or Something Like It" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Rogers. It was released in May 1978 as the first single and title track from the album Love or Something Like It. The song was written by Rogers and Steven Glassmeyer and was Kenny Rogers's third number one on the country chart. The single stayed at number one for one week and spent a total of ten weeks on the country chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What Are We Doin' in Love</span> 1981 single by Dottie West and Kenny Rogers

"What Are We Doin' in Love" is a song written by Randy Goodrum and recorded by American country music artist Dottie West. Although not credited on the single release, the song also features American country and pop recording artist Kenny Rogers. It was released in March 1981 as the second single from the album Wild West. The song was West and Rogers' third and final number one on the country chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Maria</span> 1973 song by B. W. Stevenson

"My Maria" is a song co-written by B. W. Stevenson and Daniel Moore. Lindy Blaskey, a music publisher at ABC/Dunhill Records, thought Moore had a possible hit with his verse and chorus, but couldn't get him to finish the song, so Blaskey took what Moore had so far and asked Stevenson to finish writing it with an additional verse. David Kershenbaum, Stevenson's producer at RCA, agreed with Blaskey that it sounded like a hit and produced and released "My Maria" as a single in August 1973. The song became a Top 10 hit, peaking at No. 9 on the US pop chart. It remained in the Top 40 for twelve weeks. In addition, "My Maria" spent one week at No. 1 on the US adult contemporary chart. The guitar portion of the track was played by Larry Carlton. A cover version by Brooks & Dunn reached No. 1 on the US country music chart and won the 1997 Grammy for Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lady (Kenny Rogers song)</span> 1980 single by Kenny Rogers

"Lady" is a song written by Lionel Richie and first recorded by American country music artist Kenny Rogers. It was released in September 1980 on the album Kenny Rogers' Greatest Hits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Make No Mistake, He's Mine</span>

"Make No Mistake, He's Mine" is a song written by Kim Carnes, recorded as a duet with Barbra Streisand in 1984. The duet was subsequently recorded as "Make No Mistake, She's Mine" by Ronnie Milsap and Kenny Rogers in 1987. Both versions of the song charted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Will Turn You Around (song)</span> 1982 single by Kenny Rogers

"Love Will Turn You Around" is a song by American country music singer Kenny Rogers. It was released in June 1982 as the first single and title track from Rogers' album of the same name. It is also the theme song to Rogers' 1982 film Six Pack. Rogers wrote the song with Thom Schuyler, David Malloy and Even Stevens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lost in the Fifties Tonight (In the Still of the Night)</span> 1985 single by Ronnie Milsap

"Lost in the Fifties Tonight (In The Still of the Night)", a single released by country music singer Ronnie Milsap. It is a medley of "Lost in the Fifties Tonight" written by Mike Reid and Troy Seals and a cover of The Five Satins' 1956 hit "In the Still of the Night", earning a songwriting credit for Five Satins lead singer Fred Parris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Only Love Can Break a Heart</span> 1962 single by Gene Pitney

"Only Love Can Break a Heart" is a popular song from 1962, performed by the American singer-songwriter Gene Pitney. The song was written by Hal David (words) and Burt Bacharach (music) and appears on Pitney's second album Only Love Can Break a Heart.

"Share Your Love with Me" is a song written by Alfred Braggs and Deadric Malone. It was originally recorded by blues singer Bobby "Blue" Bland. Over the years, the song has been covered by various artists, most notably Aretha Franklin who won a Grammy Award for her 1969 rendition. Other artists who covered the song include The Band in 1973, Kenny Rogers in 1981, and most recently, Van Morrison in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Love (Lionel Richie song)</span> 1983 single by Lionel Richie

"My Love" is a song by American singer-songwriter Lionel Richie. It was released in 1983 as the third and final single from his self-titled debut solo album. The song features harmony backing vocals by country music singer Kenny Rogers. It reached the top 10 on three notable Billboard magazine charts in the spring of 1983: on the Billboard Hot 100 the song peaked at No. 5; on the Adult Contemporary chart, the song spent four weeks at No. 1; and on the R&B chart, the song topped out at No. 6. "My Love" was not among Richie's more successful singles in the United Kingdom, where it only managed No. 70 on the UK Singles Chart. In Canada, it peaked at No. 28 on the RPM Top 100 Singles chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morning Desire</span> 1985 single by Kenny Rogers

"Morning Desire" is a song written by Dave Loggins, and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Rogers. It was released in October 1985 as the lead single from the album, The Heart of the Matter. The song was Rogers' twelfth number one on the country chart as a solo artist. The single went to number one for one week and spent a total of fourteen weeks on the country chart. Guitarist Stanley Jordan played lead guitar on the track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crazy (Kenny Rogers song)</span> 1984 single by Kenny Rogers

"Crazy" is a song by American singer Kenny Rogers, co-written with Richard Marx from his 1984 album What About Me?. It was released in December 1984 as the album's second single, following the title track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweet Music Man</span>

"Sweet Music Man" is a song written and recorded by American musician Kenny Rogers. It appears on his 1977 album Daytime Friends, from which it was released as the final single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sea of Heartbreak</span>

"Sea of Heartbreak" is a song written by Paul Hampton and Hal David and recorded by Don Gibson in 1961. The song reached #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blaze of Glory (Kenny Rogers song)</span> 1981 single by Kenny Rogers

"Blaze of Glory" is a song written by Danny Morrison, Johnny Slate, and Larry Keith, and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Rogers. It was released in November 1981 as the third single from the album Share Your Love. The song reached number 66 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1982. The song peaked at number nine on the country chart.

References

  1. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 207.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 299.
  3. Sleeve notes of his 2006 compilation album The Number One Hits
  4. "Grammy's Greatest Moments, Volume III: Various Artists". Amazon. Retrieved 2011-11-23.
  5. "Sound Bites: Kid Rock, Aretha, Kenny Rogers". ABC News .
  6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 256. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  7. "RPM Country Tracks for May 8, 1982". RPM . Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  8. "Kenny Rogers Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  9. "Kenny Rogers Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  10. "Kenny Rogers Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  11. "Talent in Action : Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 94, no. 51. December 25, 1982. p. TIA-20.