| I Knew You When | |
| Cover: | I_Knew_You_When_-_Billy_Joe_Royal.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Billy Joe Royal |
| Album: | Down in the Boondocks |
| B-Side: | Steal Away |
| Released: | 1965 |
| Genre: | Rock |
| Label: | Columbia 43390 |
| Prev Title: | Down in the Boondocks |
| Prev Year: | 1965 |
| Next Title: | I've Got to Be Somebody |
| Next Year: | 1965 |
| I Knew You When | |
| Cover: | I_Knew_You_When_-_Linda_Ronstadt.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Linda Ronstadt |
| Album: | Get Closer |
| B-Side: | Talk to Me of Mendocino |
| Released: | November 23, 1982 |
| Genre: | Rock |
| Label: | Asylum |
| Producer: | Peter Asher |
| Prev Title: | Get Closer |
| Prev Year: | 1982 |
| Next Title: | Easy for You to Say |
| Next Year: | 1983 |
"I Knew You When" is a song written and composed by Joe South. It became a popular hit in 1965 when recorded by American pop and country singer Billy Joe Royal. There have also been several other hit cover versions of this song, including by Donny Osmond and Linda Ronstadt.
"I Knew You When" was first recorded by Billy Joe Royal for his 1965 studio album, Down in the Boondocks. The song reached No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of November 6, 1965.[1] The song went to No. 1 on the Canadian music chart in November 1965.[2]
Donny Osmond released a version in 1971 as the B-side of "Hey Girl" that went to No. 9 on the Hot 100 as a double-sided hit.[3]
Linda Ronstadt recorded a cover version for her Gold-plus 1982 album, Get Closer.[4] Her single was produced by Peter Asher and released on Asylum Records. Aided by a popular music video, it reached #30 on the Cash Box Top 100 chart and #37 on the Billboard Hot 100 as the album's second single.
Additionally, it reached No. 84 on the country chart, and No. 90 in the United Kingdom.[5] The song was also a Top 40 Hit in Australia, giving Ronstadt an underappreciated hit, reaching #36 on the Kent Music Report chart in early 1983.[6] It did best on the adult contemporary charts, reaching #29 (U.S.) and #17 (Canada).