| If I Only Had Time | |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | John Rowles |
| B-Side: | Now Is the Hour |
| Released: | 17 February 1968 |
| Genre: | Pop |
| Length: | 3:20 |
| Label: | MCA MU 1000 |
| Producer: | Mike Leander |
| Chronology: | John Rowles UK singles |
| Next Title: | Hush ... Not a Word to Mary |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
"If I Only Had Time" is a song recorded by the New Zealand singer John Rowles in 1968 that became a worldwide hit single. It is based on a French song "Je n'aurai pas le temps" by Michel Fugain. Rowles' song was his first release in the United Kingdom where it reached number 3 on the chart.
"If I Only Had Time" is an English version of "Je n'aurai pas le temps", a French ballad written by Michel Fugain and Pierre Delanoë, and recorded by Fugain. Fugain's recording was released as a single and charted in 1967.[1] [2]
Manager Peter Gormley signed the New Zealander John Rowles to MCA in London, and for his first record release in the UK; Mike Leander was chosen to produce and arrange the song.[3] New lyrics in English were written by Jack Fishman.[4] It was released in the UK on 17 February 1968.[3] Rowles' version peaked at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart, number 2 in New Zealand, Belgium and the Netherlands, number 15 in Germany, and number 17 in Austria. It also performed well in the Australian cities, registering at number 5 in Sydney, number 14 in Melbourne, number 3 in Brisbane, number 6 in Adelaide and number 7 in Perth.[5]
The song was re-released in 1988 on the Old Gold label. It was backed with "Hush Not a Word to Mary".[6]