Still the One

Last updated
"Still the One"
Still the one by orleans US single blue PRC label side-A.png
One of side-A labels of the US single
Single by Orleans
from the album Waking and Dreaming
B-side "Siam Sam"
ReleasedAugust 1976
Recorded1975
Genre Soft rock [1]
Length3:54
Label Asylum
Songwriter(s) Johanna Hall, John Hall
Producer(s) Chuck Plotkin
Orleans singles chronology
"Dance with Me"
(1975)		"Still the One"
(1976)		"Reach"
(1977)
Audio
"Still the One" on YouTube

"Still the One" is a song written by Johanna Hall and John Hall, and recorded by the soft rock group Orleans on their album Waking and Dreaming , released in 1976, which reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Contents

Country singer Bill Anderson recorded and released a successful cover version, peaking at No. 11 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart in 1977.

Song lyrics

The lyrics of the uptempo love song are of someone (as the lyrics were written by a woman and sung by a man, it does not state the gender of the singer or of their beloved) describing their feelings for a person with whom they have a long-lasting relationship ("Now I want you to know / After all these years"); with trust ("You're still the one / I want whispering in my ears"); that they are close ("You're still the one / I want to talk to in bed"); find them attractive ("Still the one that turns my head"); and of an intimate or sexual nature ("You're still the one / Who can scratch my itch / You're still the one, that I wouldn't switch") and all the reasons why their lover is "Still the One" for whom they have feelings.

Background

Orleans bass player Lance Hoppen recalls that Johanna Hall wrote the lyrics for "Still the One" after a friend "asked her why somebody couldn't write a song about staying together, as opposed to breaking up"; Johanna Hall wrote the lyrics on an envelope which she then handed to John Hall who Hoppen says "created the music in about fifteen minutes". [2] Johanna Hall's recollection is that the realization that there was a dearth of songs about long-term relationships came to her while she was doing laundry, and that she handed John Hall a napkin on which she'd written the song's lyric. [3] John Hall would recall that "Still the One" was not an automatic choice for lead single from Waking and Dreaming saying rather that "we had several songs that were candidates. We were too close to it to see. Fortunately, our producer, Chuck Plotkin, had a strong feeling about the song." [4]

Record World said that it was a "suitable follow-up to 'Dance with Me'" and that "chiming guitars and confident harmony work are the ingredients to make it happen." [5]

The B-side was a non-album track called "Siam Sam" that was sung by Wells Kelly and composed by both Kelly and songwriter/instrumentalist Chris Myers.

In 1977, "Still The One" was used as a jingle by the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) to promote the 1977-78 television season, [6] and again in the 1979-80 television season, [7] when the network was the highest rated in the country. The lyrics were sometimes adapted for local station promotional advertisements, sometimes awkwardly; e.g. "We're still having fun, Dayton Twenty-Two's the one."

The song was also used in adverts and promotions for the Nine Network of Australia from the late 1970s to the mid-2000s, and even though the song only charted at No. 61 in Australia in its original chart run, it is most remembered for its usage by the Nine Network. It was also used at RPN in the Philippines in 1978, EM TV in Papua New Guinea in the 1980s (at the time owned by the Nine Network), and by Sky Television in the United Kingdom. [8] [9] In 2004, the Bush campaign played the song at campaign events until Orleans co-founder (and future Democratic congressman and Bush critic) John Hall commented publicly that the campaign had never received permission to use the song. The campaign later dropped the song from its playlist. Hall expressed similar criticisms when John McCain used the song in his 2008 presidential campaign. [10] A version of the song's chorus was sung at the 2008 Democratic National Convention, following the conclusion of Senator Ted Kennedy's speech. [11]

A remade version of the song has been used to promote Oklahoma City's Riverwind Casino throughout 2018-19.

The original version of the song appears in a 2020 TV commercial for Applebee's.

Charts

Bill Anderson version

"Still the One"
Still the one by bill anderson US retail single side-A.png
Side A of the US retail single
Single by Bill Anderson
from the album Scorpio
B-side "This Ole Suitcase"
ReleasedMarch 1977 (1977-03)
RecordedDecember 13, 1976
Genre
Length3:20
Label MCA
Producer(s) Buddy Killen
Bill Anderson singles chronology
"Where Are You Going, Billy Boy"
(1977)		"Still the One"
(1977)		"I Can't Wait Any Longer"
(1978)

"Still the One" was notably recorded by American country singer-songwriter Bill Anderson. It was released as a single in 1977 via MCA Records and became a major hit the following year.

Anderson's version was recorded on December 13, 1976 in Nashville, Tennessee. The session was produced by Buddy Killen, who recently became Anderson's producer after many years of working with Owen Bradley. Killen would continue producing Anderson until his departure from MCA Records. "Still the One" was the only song recorded during this particular session. [22]

"Still the One" was released as a single by MCA Records in October 1977. [23] The song spent 12 weeks on the Billboard Hot Country Singles before reaching number 11 in June 1977. [24] The song was among Anderson's final major hits as a recording artist. His final top ten hit would be released in 1978, followed by his final top 20 release in 1979. [23] In Canada, the single also reached the top 20, reaching number 13 on the RPM Country Songs chart in 1977. [25] It was Anderson's second single that was a cover version of an original recording. His first was 1969's "But You Know I Love You", which reached the country top 10. [23] It was first released on his 1977 studio album Scorpio , which also included the major hit "Head to Toe". [22]

7" vinyl single

Chart performance

Chart (1977)Peak
position
Canada Country Songs ( RPM ) [25] 13
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [26] 11

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afternoon Delight</span> 1976 single by Starland Vocal Band

"Afternoon Delight" is a song recorded by Starland Vocal Band. It was written by band member Bill Danoff. In the US, it became a #1 single on July 10, 1976, and earned a gold record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing</span> 1968 single by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell

"Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" is a 1968 single released by American R&B/soul duo Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, on the Tamla label in 1968. The B-side of the single is "Little Ole Boy, Little Ole Girl" from the duo's United LP. The first release off the duo's second album: You're All I Need, the song—written and produced by regular Gaye/Terrell collaborators Ashford & Simpson—became a hit within weeks of release eventually peaking at number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Hot Soul Singles chart, the first of the duo's two number-one R&B hits. In the UK "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" reached number 34.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)</span> 1976 single by Rod Stewart

"Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)" is a song written by Rod Stewart, and recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Sheffield, Alabama for his 1976 album A Night on the Town. The song, controversial at the time of release, proved to be a massive commercial success and became his second US chart topper on the Billboard Hot 100. It made its debut at number 81 on 2 October 1976 and rose quickly, climbing from number eight to the top of the chart on 13 November 1976, and remained on top for eight consecutive weeks until 8 January 1977. It was the longest stay of any song during 1976, the longest run at the top for a single in the US in over eight years (since the Beatles’ "Hey Jude" in November 1968), and the longest stay at number one for Rod Stewart in his entire recording career, and the final number one of the US Bicentennial year. The song also peaked at No. 5 in the UK, No. 1 for six weeks in Canada, No. 3 in Australia and charted well in other parts of the world. It was the number 1 song on both Billboard's 1977 year-end chart and the year-end Canadian singles chart. It became the best-selling single of 1977 in the United States. As of 2018, it is the 19th-most popular song in the history of the chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You're My World</span> 1964 single by Cilla Black

"You're My World" is a cover of Italian ballad originally recorded in 1963 as "Il mio mondo" by Umberto Bindi, who co-wrote the original version with Gino Paoli. Subsequently, an English version was commissioned, and the lyrics were written by Carl Sigman as "You're My World". The song reached No. 1 in Australia (twice), Belgium, Mexico, Netherlands, South Africa and United Kingdom in recordings by Cilla Black, Daryl Braithwaite, Guys 'n' Dolls and Helen Reddy. Black's and Reddy's versions reached the US Top 40 in 1964 and 1977, respectively. The song also reached No. 1 in France and Spain in the respective translations "Ce monde" and "Mi Mundo", both sung by Richard Anthony.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love the One You're With</span> 1970 single by Stephen Stills

"Love the One You're With" is a song by American folk rock musician Stephen Stills. It was released as the lead single from his debut self-titled studio album in November 1970. The song, inspired by a remark Stills heard from musician Billy Preston, became his biggest hit single, peaking at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1971. David Crosby and Graham Nash, Stills' fellow members of Crosby, Stills & Nash, provide background vocals on the song. Also providing the backups are Rita Coolidge, her sister Priscilla Jones, and John Sebastian. They all sing the "Do Dos" that come before the instrumental portion and the Outro. The song was also recorded by the Isley Brothers, The Meters, Bucks Fizz, Luther Vandross, Bob Seger and Richard Clapton, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rich Girl (Hall & Oates song)</span> 1977 single by Hall & Oates

"Rich Girl" is a song by Daryl Hall & John Oates. It debuted on the Billboard Top 40 on February 5, 1977, at number 38 and on March 26, 1977, it became their first of six number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. The single originally appeared on the 1976 album Bigger Than Both of Us. At the end of 1977, Billboard ranked it as the 23rd biggest hit of the year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lonely Night (Angel Face)</span> 1976 single by Captain & Tennille

"Lonely Night (Angel Face)" is a song written by Neil Sedaka. The song was first recorded by Sedaka and appeared as a track on his 1975 studio album, The Hungry Years. The following year the song was made popular when covered by the pop music duo Captain & Tennille, who took their version to number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Say You Love Me (Fleetwood Mac song)</span> 1976 single by Fleetwood Mac

"Say You Love Me" is a song written by English singer-songwriter Christine McVie for Fleetwood Mac's 1975 self-titled album. The song peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks, and remains one of the band's most recognizable songs. Its success helped the group's eponymous 1975 album sell over eight million copies worldwide.

"Swayin' to the Music (Slow Dancin')", initially titled "Slow Dancing", is a song written by Jack Tempchin. Under the title "Slow Dancing", the song originally was a minor US hit in 1976 for the band Funky Kings (of which Tempchin was a member). The song became much better known as "Swayin' to the Music (Slow Dancin')" in a 1977 cover version by Johnny Rivers, which became a top ten US hit. It was Rivers' last Top 40 hit in the United States, and became his second Gold record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Throw It All Away</span> Song written by Gary Benson (NOT Andy Gibb)

"Don't Throw It All Away" is a song written by British musician Gary Benson and first released by the Shadows on their 1975 album Specs Appeal. Benson released his version as a single later the same year, which reached number 20 on the UK Singles Chart in the fall of 1975.

"Liars One, Believers Zero" is a song written by Glenn Martin. It was first recorded by American country singer-songwriter Bill Anderson. It was released as a single in 1976 via MCA Records and became a major hit the following year.

<i>Bill</i> (Bill Anderson album) 1973 studio album by Bill Anderson

Bill is a studio album by American country singer-songwriter Bill Anderson. It was released in July 1973 on MCA Records and was produced by Owen Bradley. It was Anderson's first studio album to be released on the MCA label after Decca Records merged with the label. It was also his twenty first studio recording to be released and only album project to be issued in 1973. The album included three singles, two of which became number one hits in either the United States and Canada. The album itself also would reach peak positions on national publication charts.

<i>Sometimes</i> (Bill Anderson and Mary Lou Turner album) 1976 studio album by Bill Anderson and Mary Lou Turner

Sometimes is a studio album by American country music artists Bill Anderson and Mary Lou Turner. It was released in January 1976 on MCA Records and was produced by Owen Bradley. It was Anderson's twenty fourth studio recording and Turner's first. The album's title track became a major hit on the country charts in both the United States and Canada. The album also reached major positions on the country chart in the United States. Sometimes was the first collaborative project between Anderson and Turner. Anderson hired Turner to work as his duet partner during this period and the project was one of two recordings they made.

<i>Peanuts and Diamonds and Other Jewels</i> 1976 studio album by Bill Anderson

Peanuts and Diamonds and Other Jewels is a studio album by American country singer-songwriter Bill Anderson. It was released in September 1976 on MCA Records. It was co-produced by Owen Bradley and Buddy Killen. It was Anderson's twenty fifth studio recording released during his musical career and second to be released in 1976. The album included three singles issued between 1975 and 1976, two of which became major country hits in both the United States and Canada.

<i>Scorpio</i> (Bill Anderson album) 1977 studio album by Bill Anderson

Scorpio is a studio album by American country singer-songwriter Bill Anderson. It was released in April 1977 on MCA Records and was produced by Buddy Killen. Scorpio was Anderson's 26th studio album as a recording artist and first album release of 1977. Another album would follow later in the year. The project produced two singles that became major hits.

<i>Billy Boy & Mary Lou</i> 1977 studio album by Bill Anderson and Mary Lou Turner

Billy Boy & Mary Lou is a studio album by American country music artists Bill Anderson and Mary Lou Turner. It was released in June 1977 on MCA Records and was produced by Buddy Killen. It was the duo's second studio album together since pairing up as a duet team in the mid 1970s. The album produced two singles between 1977 and 1978. It would be the duo's final studio album together.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lynn Anderson singles discography</span>

The singles discography of American country music artist Lynn Anderson contains 72 singles, three promotional singles, one charting B-side, two music videos and nine other song appearances. She signed her first recording contract with Chart Records in 1966. The following year, her single "Ride, Ride, Ride" debuted on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. Also in 1967, her single "If I Kiss You " became her first major hit when it reached number five on the country singles chart. Anderson had a series of hits that reached the top ten and 20 during the 1960s including "Promises, Promises" (1969), "No Another Time" (1968), "Big Girls Don't Cry" (1968) and "That's a No No" (1969).

"Head to Toe" is a song written by Bobby Braddock. It was first recorded by American country singer-songwriter Bill Anderson. It was released as a single in 1977 via MCA Records and became a major hit the following year.

"That's What Made Me Love You" is a song written by Lawrence Shoberg. It was first recorded as a duet by American country artists Bill Anderson and Mary Lou Turner. It was released as a single in 1976 via MCA Records and became a major hit the same year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Anderson singles discography</span>

The singles discography of American country singer-songwriter Bill Anderson contains 84 singles, three promotional singles, 6 other charted songs and four music videos. After signing to Decca Records in 1958, Anderson released a series of early singles that became hits, reaching the top ten and 20. This included "That's What It's Like to Be Lonesome" (1958), "The Tip of My Fingers" (1960) and "Po' Folks" (1961). The following year, he reached number one on the Billboard Country and Western Sides chart with "Mama Sang a Song." In 1963, Anderson released his most commercially successful single, "Still." The song was his second number one country single and his first top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100, climbing to number eight. His follow-up single, "8×10" reached similar crossover success. Anderson released 11 more top ten country hits during the rest of the decade. This included the number one singles "I Get the Fever" (1966) and "My Life " (1969). He also had a number one hit with Jan Howard called "For Loving You" in 1968. Anderson also had top ten hits with "I Love You Drops" (1965), "Happy State of Mind" (1968) and a cover of "But You Know I Love You" (1969).

References

  1. ↑ "VH1's 40 Most Softsational Soft-Rock Songs". Stereogum . SpinMedia. May 31, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Orleans and Friends at Ridgefield Playhouse, folk icon Jonathan Edwards in Newtown". NewsTimes. 2011-09-15. Retrieved 2016-10-11.
  3. ↑ Rudetsky, Seth (2016-04-04). "Onstage & Backstage: How Disaster! Plans to Beat the Fundraising Competition in Honor of BC/EFA". Playbill. Retrieved 2016-10-11.
  4. ↑ "John Hall Aug 1996, Rocknet Interview". Orleansforever.com. Retrieved 2016-10-11.
  5. ↑ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. July 17, 1976. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  6. ↑ "ABC-TV "Still the One" Promos: 1977 and 1979" . Retrieved 15 September 2023– via YouTube.
  7. ↑ "ABC 1979 | We're Still the One" . Retrieved 15 September 2023– via YouTube.
  8. ↑ "EMTV Promo 1987". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  9. ↑ "Sky Advert We're The One". YouTube. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  10. ↑ "Rep. To McCain: Stop using my song! - First Read - MSNBC.com". Archived from the original on 2008-09-22. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  11. ↑ "DNC Tribute and Speech by Sen. Edward Kennedy". YouTube . Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  12. ↑ Steffen Hung. "Forum - Top Singles of 1976 (Personal Charts: Your Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2016-10-11.
  13. ↑ "RPM Top Singles" (PDF). Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 9 October 1976. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  14. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1976-09-11. Retrieved 2018-12-31.
  15. ↑ "Flavour of New Zealand, 5 November 1976". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  16. ↑ "Top 100 1976-10-16". Cashbox Magazine . Retrieved 2015-07-30.
  17. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 180.
  18. ↑ "RPM Top Singles". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 8 January 1977. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 2016-10-11.
  19. ↑ "Top 100 Hits of 1976/Top 100 Songs of 1976". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-11.
  20. ↑ "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1976". Cashbox Magazine . Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Scorpio: Bill Anderson: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  22. 1 2 Anderson, Bill (April 1977). "Scorpio (Album Information and Liner Notes)". MCA Records .
  23. 1 2 3 Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. ISBN   978-0-89820-177-2.
  24. ↑ ""Still the One" chart history". Billboard . Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  25. 1 2 "Search results for "Bill Anderson" -- Country Singles". RPM . 17 July 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  26. ↑ "Bill Anderson Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.