Cannabis Sativa

"I Don't Want a Lover"
Single by Texas
from the album Southside
B-side
  • "Believe Me"
  • "All in Vain"
ReleasedJanuary 1989 (1989-01)
Length5:00
LabelMercury, Phonogram
Songwriter(s)Johnny McElhone, Sharleen Spiteri
Producer(s)Tim Palmer
Texas singles chronology
"I Don't Want a Lover"
(1989)
"Thrill Has Gone"
(1989)

"Inner Smile"
(2001)

"I Don't Want a Lover (2001 mix)"
(2001)

"Guitar Song"
(2001)

"I Don't Want a Lover" is the debut single of Scottish band Texas, taken from their first album, Southside (1989). The music starts with blues slide guitar followed by a throbbing rhythm section before the vocals break in.[1] It was released in January 1989 and peaked at number eight on the UK Singles Chart. It also performed well in the Netherlands and enjoyed significant airplay through July 1989 on Radio Luxembourg.

In 2001, Norwegian production team Stargate remixed and re-released the song to promote The Greatest Hits compilation album. Released on 9 July 2001, this version peaked at number 16 on the UK chart.

Critical reception[edit]

In an ironic review on 4 February 1989, Phil Cheeseman of British music newspaper Record Mirror chided the song for lack of individuality. He wrote: "It Begins brightly with some welcome slide guitar work but even before its slide towards American FM rock you're already scouring the sleeve in a vague attempt to find something, anything of interest".[2]

Track listings[edit]

Original release[edit]

7-inch, mini-CD, and cassette single[3][4][5]

A. "I Don't Want a Lover"
B. "Believe Me"

CD and 12-inch single[6][7]

  1. "I Don't Want a Lover" (full version)
  2. "Believe Me"
  3. "All in Vain"

2001 mix[edit]

Personnel[edit]

Personnel are lifted from The Greatest Hits album booklet and the 2001 UK CD1 liner notes.[13][8]

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[31] Gold 35,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[36] Silver 200,000

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history[edit]

Region Version Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom Original January 1989
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
[37]
Japan 5 June 1989 Mini-CD Mercury [38]
United Kingdom 2001 mix 9 July 2001
  • CD
  • cassette
[39]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Denselow, Robin Glasgow, Texas: Rock/Pop The Guardian 17 March 1989
  2. ^ Cheeseman, Phil (4 February 1989). "Review: Texas – I Don't Want a Lover" (PDF). Record Mirror. London: Spotlight Publications Ltd. p. 29. ISSN 0144-5804. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 June 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021 – via World Radio History.
  3. ^ I Don't Want a Lover (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Texas. Mercury Records, Phonogram Records. 1989. TEX 1, 872 350-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ I Don't Want a Lover (US cassette single sleeve). Texas. Mercury Records, Phonogram Records. 1989. 872 350-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ I Don't Want a Lover (Japanese mini-CD single liner notes). Texas. Mercury Records, Phonogram Records. 1989. PPDS-6.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ I Don't Want a Lover (UK CD single liner notes). Texas. Mercury Records, Phonogram Records. 1989. TEX CD 1, 872 351-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ I Don't Want a Lover (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Texas. Mercury Records. 1989. TEX 112, 872 351-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ a b I Don't Want a Lover (UK CD1 liner notes). Texas. Mercury Records. 2001. MERCD533, 588 652-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ I Don't Want a Lover (UK CD2 liner notes). Texas. Mercury Records. 2001. MERDD533, 588 653-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ I Don't Want a Lover (UK cassette single sleeve). Texas. Mercury Records. 2001. MERCS 533, 588 653-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ I Don't Want a Lover (European CD single liner notes). Texas. Mercury Records. 2001. 588 651-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ I Don't Want a Lover (European maxi-CD single liner notes). Texas. Mercury Records. 2001. 588 650-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ The Greatest Hits (UK CD album booklet). Texas. Mercury Records. 2000. 548 264-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ "Texas – I Don't Want a Lover". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  15. ^ "Texas – I Don't Want a Lover" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  16. ^ "Texas – I Don't Want a Lover" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  17. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 10. 11 March 1989. p. 25. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  18. ^ "Texas – I Don't Want a Lover" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  19. ^ a b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I Don't Want a Lover". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  20. ^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 16, 1989" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  21. ^ "Texas – I Don't Want a Lover" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  22. ^ "Texas – I Don't Want a Lover". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  23. ^ "Texas – I Don't Want a Lover". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  24. ^ a b "Texas: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  25. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. 30 September 1989. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  26. ^ "Mainstream Rock Airplay". Billboard. 26 August 1989. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  27. ^ "Alternative Airplay". Billboard. 26 August 1989. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  28. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Texas – I Don't Want a Lover" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  29. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 19, no. 31. 28 July 2001. p. 7. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  30. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  31. ^ a b "ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1989". ARIA. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  32. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 1989" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 51. 23 December 1989. p. 6. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  33. ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 1989" (in German). Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  34. ^ "Year End Singles". Record Mirror. 27 January 1990. p. 44.
  35. ^ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1989" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  36. ^ "British single certifications – Texas – I Don't Want a Lover". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  37. ^ Smith, Robin, ed. (28 January 1989). "News: Releases". Record Mirror. p. 6. Gutsy guitar band Texas release their debut single 'I Don't Want A Lover' this week.
  38. ^ "アイ・ドント・ウォント・ア・ラバー | Texas" [I Don't Want a Lover | Texas] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  39. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting July 9, 2001: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 7 July 2001. p. 25. Retrieved 14 August 2021.

Leave a Reply