I'll Do Anything It Takes (To Stay with You)

"I'll Do Anything It Takes (To Stay with You)" is a single by American country music artist Jean Shepard written by Curly Putman, Larry Butler and Jan Crutchfield. Released in May 1974, it was the second single from the album I'll Do Anything It Takes. The song reached number 17 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and was given reviews by publications in the years that followed.

"I'll Do Anything It Takes (To Stay with You)"
Single by Jean Shepard
from the album I'll Do Anything It Takes
B-side"Safe in the Love of My Man"
ReleasedMay 1974
Recorded1974
GenreCountry[1]
Length2:41
LabelUnited Artists
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Larry Butler
Jean Shepard singles chronology
"At the Time"
(1974)
"I'll Do Anything It Takes (To Stay with You)"
(1974)
"Poor Sweet Baby"
(1974)

Background, recording and content

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Among country music's first successful female singers, Jean Shepard had more than 20 years of charting singles that started in the 1950s and ended in the 1970s.[2] In the early 1970s, she had a comeback partially due to changing the subjects of her songs. Among these songs was the single "I'll Do Anything It Takes (To Stay with You)".[3] Composed by Larry Butler, Curly Putman and Jan Crutchfield[4] the song's concept is centered around staying devoted to a romantic partner.[5] Larry Butler also produced the track and it was recorded in 1974.[4]

Release, critical reception and chart performance

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"I'll Do Anything It Takes (To Stay with You)" was released as a single by United Artists Records in May 1974. It was distributed as a seven-inch vinyl single and included a B-side titled "Safe in the Love of My Man".[4] The song was given reviews from music magazines and music websites following its release. Billboard found it to have "excellent production work" and spoke of Shepard's singing, "Another fine sound from Miss Shepard, who is like vintage wine, constantly improving."[1] Cashbox magazine wrote, "A very gentle ballad, Jean's vocal is smooth and has a crying lilt that has always characterized her style as something very special."[5] Greg Adams of the AllMusic website compared the song's lyrical content to that of "Stand by Your Man" by Tammy Wynette.[3] "I'll Do Anything It Takes (To Stay with You)" made the US Billboard Hot Country Songs top 20 list, peaking at the number 17 position in late 1974. It was Shepard's second consecutive top 20 country single.[6] It was the title track to Shepard's 1974 studio album I'll Do Anything It Takes.[7]

Track listings

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7" vinyl single[4]
  • "I'll Do Anything It Takes (To Stay with You)" – 2:41
  • "Safe in the Love of My Man" – 3:24

Charts

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Weekly chart performance for "I'll Do Anything It Takes (To Stay with You)"
Chart (1974) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[8] 17

References

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  1. ^ a b "Billboard's Top Single Picks: Country". Billboard. June 15, 1974. p. 50. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  2. ^ Cooper, Dan. "Jean Shepard". Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  3. ^ a b Adams, Greg. "I'll Do Anything It Takes: Jean Shepard: Songs, reviews, credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d Shepard, Jean (May 1974). ""I'll Do Anything It Takes (To Stay with You)"/"Safe in the Love of My Man" (7" vinyl single)". United Artists Records. UA-XW442-W.
  5. ^ a b "Cashbox Country Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Cashbox. June 15, 1974. p. 36. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  6. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research.
  7. ^ Shepard, Jean (August 1974). "I'll Do Anything It Takes (Liner Notes)". United Artists Records. UA-LA307-R (LP Stereo); UA-EA307-G (8-Track).
  8. ^ "Jean Shepard Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 10, 2024.