I Don't Want a Lover

"I Don't Want a Lover" is a song by the Scottish band Texas from their first album, Southside (1989). The music starts with blues slide guitar followed by a throbbing rhythm section before the vocals break in.^[2] It was released as the band's debut single in January 1989 and peaked at number eight on the UK Singles Chart. In the United States, it peaked at number 77 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in September 1989.

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

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: "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".^[3]

Track listings

Original release

7-inch, mini-CD, and cassette single^[4][5][6]

A. "I Don't Want a Lover"

B. "Believe Me"

CD and 12-inch single^[7][8]

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

2001 mix

UK CD1^[9]

1. "I Don't Want a Lover" – 4:15
2. "Superwrong" – 3:58
3. "I Don't Want a Lover" (Stonebridge club remix) – 7:37
4. "I Don't Want a Lover" (video)

UK CD2^[10]

1. "I Don't Want a Lover" (live)
2. "Summer Son" (live)
3. "Suspicious Minds" (live)

• All songs were recorded live at the Greatest Hits tour 2001

UK cassette single^[11]

1. "I Don't Want a Lover" – 4:15
2. "Summer Son" (live) – 4:16
3. "I Don't Want a Lover" (Trailermen remix) – 4:43

European CD single^[12]

1. "I Don't Want a Lover" (2001 mix) – 4:15
2. "Superwrong" – 3:58

European maxi-CD single^[13]

1. "I Don't Want a Lover" (2001 mix) – 4:15
2. "Superwrong" – 3:58
3. "Suspicious Minds" (live in Paris, 2001) – 5:03
4. "I Don't Want a Lover" (Stonebridge bed mix) – 7:37

Personnel

Personnel are lifted from The Greatest Hits album booklet and the 2001 UK CD1 liner notes.^[14][9]

• Johnny McElhone – writing, bass
• Sharleen Spiteri – writing, backing vocals, guitars
• Stuart Kerr – backing vocals, drums
• Ally McErlaine – guitars
• Giuliano Gizzi – guitars
• Craig Armstrong – keyboards
• Wix – keyboards
• Mark Feltham – harmonica
• Tim Palmer – production
• Simon Vinestock – engineering
• Stargate – remix, additional production (2001 mix)

Charts

Weekly charts

Original version

2001 mix

Year-end charts

Release history

References

1. ^ Walters, Barry (10 June 1999). "Texas: The Hush". Rolling Stone. No. 814. p. 120. Archived from the original on 13 October 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
2. ^ Denselow, Robin Glasgow, Texas: Rock/Pop The Guardian 17 March 1989
3. ^ Cheeseman, Phil (4 February 1989). "Review: Texas – I Don't Want a Lover". Record Mirror. London: Spotlight Publications Ltd. p. 29. ISSN 0144-5804. Archived 30 June 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 9 December 2021. – via World Radio History.
4. ^ I Don't Want a Lover (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Mercury Records, Phonogram Records. 1989. TEX 1, 872 350-7.
5. ^ I Don't Want a Lover (US cassette single sleeve). Mercury Records, Phonogram Records. 1989. 872 350-4.
6. ^ I Don't Want a Lover (Japanese mini-CD single liner notes). Mercury Records, Phonogram Records. 1989. PPDS-6.
7. ^ I Don't Want a Lover (UK CD single liner notes). Mercury Records, Phonogram Records. 1989. TEX CD 1, 872 351-2.
8. ^ I Don't Want a Lover (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Mercury Records. 1989. TEX 112, 872 351-1.
9. ^ I Don't Want a Lover (UK CD1 liner notes). Mercury Records. 2001. MERCD533, 588 652-2.
10. ^ I Don't Want a Lover (UK CD2 liner notes). Mercury Records. 2001. MERDD533, 588 653-2.
11. ^ I Don't Want a Lover (UK cassette single sleeve). Mercury Records. 2001. MERCS 533, 588 653-4.
12. ^ I Don't Want a Lover (European CD single liner notes). Mercury Records. 2001. 588 651-2.
13. ^ I Don't Want a Lover (European maxi-CD single liner notes). Mercury Records. 2001. 588 650-2.
14. ^ The Greatest Hits (UK CD album booklet). Mercury Records. 2000. 548 264-2.
15. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 10. 11 March 1989. p. 25. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
16. ^ "Playlist Report: RAI - Italy". Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 16. 22 April 1989. p. 6.
17. ^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 16, 1989" (in dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
18. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish). 1st ed. Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
19. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. 30 September 1989. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
20. ^ "Mainstream Rock Airplay". Billboard. 26 August 1989. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
21. ^ "Alternative Airplay". Billboard. 26 August 1989. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
22. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 19, no. 31. 28 July 2001. p. 7. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
23. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1989". ARIA. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
24. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 1989". Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 51. 23 December 1989. p. 6. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
25. ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 1989" (in German). Retrieved 1 July 2021.
26. ^ "Year End Singles". Record Mirror. 27 January 1990. p. 44.
27. ^ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1989" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
28. ^ 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.
29. ^ "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.
30. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting July 9, 2001: Singles". Music Week. 7 July 2001. p. 25. Retrieved 14 August 2021.