If I Didn't Have You (Randy Travis song)

"If I Didn't Have You" is a song written by Skip Ewing and Max D. Barnes, and recorded by American country music singer Randy Travis. It was released in August 1992 as the lead-off single from his Greatest Hits, Volume One compilation album. The song became Travis' thirteenth Number One single on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) chart.

"If I Didn't Have You"
Single by Randy Travis
from the album Greatest Hits, Volume One
B-side"I'd Surrender All"/"I Told You So"
ReleasedAugust 3, 1992
GenreCountry
Length3:07
LabelWarner Bros. Nashville
Songwriter(s)Skip Ewing, Max D. Barnes
Producer(s)Kyle Lehning
Randy Travis singles chronology
"I'd Surrender All"
(1992)
"If I Didn't Have You"
(1992)
"Look Heart, No Hands"
(1992)

The song's verses are written with an unusual 7/4 meter, and the chorus is in common 4/4 time.

Critical reception

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Deborah Evans Price, of Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably, saying that Travis "showcases his George Jones influence on a frolicking copyright, but he seems to strain in places." She goes on to call the song "hip musicianship."[1]

Music video

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The music video was directed by Jim Shea and premiered in mid-1992.

Chart positions

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"If I Didn't Have You" debuted at number 65 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of August 15, 1992.

Chart (1992) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[2] 1
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[3] 1

Year-end charts

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Chart (1992) Position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[4] 9
US Country Songs (Billboard)[5] 53

References

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  1. ^ Billboard, August 8, 1992
  2. ^ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 1913." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. October 31, 1992. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  3. ^ "Randy Travis Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  4. ^ "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1992". RPM. December 19, 1992. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  5. ^ "Best of 1992: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1992. Retrieved August 15, 2013.