If I Had My Wish Tonight
"If I Had My Wish Tonight" is a song written by Randy Goodrum and Dave Loggins originally released in 1979 by Dave Loggins on his self-titled album. American singer-songwriter David Lasley covered the song on his Missin' Twenty Grand album, releasing it as the first single. The song debuted on March 13, 1982, and reached a peak position of 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 on May 1, 1982.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
| "If I Had My Wish Tonight" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by David Lasley | ||||
| from the album Missin' Twenty Grand | ||||
| Released | March 1982 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 3:33 | |||
| Label | EMI America | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | David Lasley | |||
| David Lasley singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "If I Had My Wish Tonight" on YouTube | ||||
The song was produced by Lasley with strings arranged by Arif Mardin. Dave Iveland is credited as co-producer and recording engineer. Bonnie Raitt contributed background vocals.[8][9] It appears on Lasley's Back To Blue-Eyed Soul Collected Works released in 2001 and on EMI compilations Lost Hits of the 80s Vol. 2 and AOL Light Mellow: EMI Edition.[9]
Composition, lyrics and style
Don Shewey for the Boston Phoenix described the performance and delivery of the lyrics "while the singer wails, a sort of Greek chorus led by Bonnie Raitt emblazons the wish on the back of the departing lover: "'Stead of walkin' away/You'd want me to stay/You would want me" (note the insistence of those "w" sounds)."
Credits and personnel
- Bonnie Raitt – backing vocals
- Chuck Cochran – backing vocals, guitar
- David Lasley – lead and backing vocals, producer
- Wade Short – bass
- David Benoit – conductor, electric piano, organ
- Jody Linscott – congas
- Willie Wilcox – drums
- Marty Walsh – guitar
- David Garibaldi – percussion
- Bill Schnee – engineer, mixing
- Benny Facone – engineer
- Paul McKenna – engineer, assistant
- Dave Iveland – producer, recording
- Derek DuNann – recording
- David Loggins – songwriter
- Randy Goodrum – songwriter
- Arif Mardin – string arrangement
Critical reception
Don Shewey for the Boston Phoenix praised the song writing "the sumptuous semi-hit" calling Lasley's falsetto "so passionate that the second verse trails off midway (perhaps to allow the singer to break down a la James Brown)" declaring it "a mini-masterpiece, milked for every drop by Arif Mardin's superb string arrangement."[10]
References
- Holden, Stephen (July 11, 1982). "TWO DEBUT ALBUMS IN SEARCH OF AN AUDIENCE". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
- Cashbox Magazine – New Faces To Watch (PDF). June 5, 1982. p. 8.
- Billboard Magazine – New On The Charts (PDF). May 1, 1982. pp. 25, 27.
- "The Hot 100: Week of May 8, 1982". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
- Billboard. April 3, 1982.
- "US Top 40 Singles For The Week Ending March 13, 1982". Top40Weekly.com. March 13, 1982. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
- Billboard Magazine – First Time Around (PDF). March 20, 1982. p. 69.
- Mims, Taylor (December 11, 2021). "David Lasley, Musician-Songwriter and Prized Backup Singer for Music Legends, Dies at 74". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
- If I Had My Wish Tonight – David Lasley | Song Info | AllMusic, retrieved January 19, 2022
- Shewey, Don (June 15, 1982). "Street Corner Serenade: David Lasley leads us on". The Boston Phoenix.