I Don't Wanna Go On with You Like That explained

I Don't Wanna Go On with You Like That
Cover:I_don't_wanna_go_on_with_you_like_that.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Elton John
Album:Reg Strikes Back
B-Side:Rope Around a Fool
Released:23 May 1988
Genre:Dance[1]
Length:4:33 (album version)
3:58 (single version)
Label:
Composer:Elton John
Lyricist:Bernie Taupin
Producer:Chris Thomas
Prev Title:Take Me to the Pilot
Prev Year:1988
Next Title:Town of Plenty
Next Year:1988

"I Don't Wanna Go On with You Like That" is a song by English musician Elton John from his 21st studio album Reg Strikes Back (1988), released as the lead single of the album. The track was written by John and his long-time songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin.

Upon its release in 1988, the song peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 in August 1988, becoming John's highest-charting hit of the 1980s in the US. The song also became John's eighth number-one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.[2] In Canada, the single peaked atop the RPM 100 Singles chart for three weeks, giving John his 13th chart-topper there. It became a top ten hit in Austria and Switzerland, and a top 40 hit in nine countries including the UK, where it reached at number 30 on the UK Singles Chart.

Live performances

When John played this song with the band on his concerts, the intro had different arrangements as he regularly played it in his tours during the album tour, Sleeping with the Past Tour and the rest of 1990s before he retired it in 2000 as the One Night Only concert in Madison Square Garden remains the most recent performance of it.[3] [4]

Critical reception

American magazine Cash Box called "I Don't Wanna Go On with You Like That" "a straight-ahead dance/rocker that gets on a forward track and stays there" with "biting lyrics."[5] Robin Smith from Record Mirror felt that John is "right on target" with the classic rock of the song.[6] Richard Lowe from Smash Hits wrote, "His new tune's not much cop though. It's a lacklustre ditty that he probably knocked out one lazy afternoon and its only saving grace is the rather extraordinary popping noise that runs all the way through. Must be one of these new-fangled electric drums. Quite odd."[7] Jerry Smith of Music Week considered the song a "totally irresistible and thumpingly energic track".[8]

Other versions

A 12-inch extended remix of the song by Shep Pettibone was released on vinyl during the song's initial release period. This remix appears on the CD box set compilation, To Be Continued..., released in 1990. The Just-Elton-and-His-piano mix of the song is also available (on the reissued 1999 version of the Reg Strikes Back album).

Track listings

  1. "I Don't Wanna Go On with You Like That" – 4:32
  2. "Rope Around a Fool" – 3:46
  1. "I Don't Wanna Go On with You Like That" (Shep Pettibone 12-inch Mix) – 7:20
  2. "I Don't Wanna Go On with You Like That" – 4:32
  3. "Rope Around a Fool" – 3:46
  1. "I Don't Wanna Go On with You Like That" – 4:33
  2. "Rope Around a Fool" – 3:48
  3. "I Don't Wanna Go On with You Like That" (Shep Pettibone 12-inch Mix) – 7:16

Personnel

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (1988)Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[9] 30
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[10] 28
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[11] 27

Year-end charts

Chart (1988)Position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[12] 26
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[13] 22
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[14] 79
US Billboard Hot 100[15] 43
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[16] 9
West Germany (Official German Charts)[17] 72

Notes and References

  1. E.J. Hits the Road. Billboard. 100. 27. 30. 2 July 1988. 23 September 2020.
  2. The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 6th Edition, 1996
  3. Web site: I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That by Elton John song statistics. Setlist.fm. 29 November 2021.
  4. Web site: Elton John – I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That (Madison Square Garden, NYC 2000) HD *Remastered . en . 3 April 2022. YouTube.
  5. Single Releases. Cash Box. June 18, 1988. 2022-12-21. 8.
  6. Robin. Smith. Albums. Record Mirror. July 9, 1988. 32. March 12, 2023.
  7. Richard. Lowe. Singles. Smash Hits. 18 May 1988. 63. 8 March 2023.
  8. Jerry . Smith . Singles . . 4 June 1988 . 21 . 28 August 2023 .
  9. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 5. 31. 11. 30 July 1988. 13 March 2020.
  10. Book: Pennanen, Timo. Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021. 2021. Elton John. 117. Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. Helsinki. 27 June 2022. fi.
  11. Web site: SA Charts 1965 – March 1989. 5 September 2018.
  12. Web site: Jahreshitparade Singles 1988. de. 13 March 2020.
  13. Top 100 Singles of '88. RPM. 49. 10. 9. 24 December 1988. 11 March 2020.
  14. 1988 Year End Eurocharts. Music & Media. 6. 52/1. 30. 1 January 1989. 14 January 2020.
  15. Web site: Billboard Top 100 – 1988. Billboardtop100of.com. 23 September 2020.
  16. No. 1 Awards: Top Adult Contemporary Singles. Billboard. 100. 52. Y-26. 24 December 1988.
  17. Web site: Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1988. GfK Entertainment. de. 13 March 2020.