| When Will I Be Loved | |
| Cover: | When_will_I_be_loved_Everly_Bros.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | The Everly Brothers |
| Album: | The Fabulous Style of The Everly Brothers |
| B-Side: | Be-Bop-A-Lula |
| Released: | May 1960 |
| Recorded: | February 18, 1960 |
| Genre: | |
| Length: | 2:00 |
| Label: | Cadence |
| Producer: | Wesley Rose |
| Prev Title: | Cathy's Clown |
| Prev Year: | 1960 |
| Next Title: | So Sad |
| Next Year: | 1960 |
"When Will I Be Loved" is a popular song written by Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers, who had a US top-ten hit with it in 1960. Linda Ronstadt covered the song in 1975, and her version was an even bigger hit in the US, peaking at No. 2. Vince Gill also covered it in 1994 on the soundtrack of the film 8 Seconds.
The Everly Brothers scored a number 8 hit single with "When Will I Be Loved" in the summer of 1960 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The track had been recorded in 1960 while the duo were contracted to Cadence Records; they moved to Warner Brothers and rerecorded it in a more mainstream pop/rock style. The belated release by Cadence of "When Will I Be Loved" provided the Everly Brothers with a final rockabilly-style hit.[2]
The session, produced by Archie Bleyer, took place on February 18, 1960, at the RCA Studio in Nashville. Those present at the session included:
| Chart (1960) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Chart | 3 | |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 16 | |
| UK Singles Chart | 4 | |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 8 |
| When Will I Be Loved | |
| Cover: | When_Will_I_Be_Loved_-_Linda_Ronstadt.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Linda Ronstadt |
| Album: | Heart Like a Wheel |
| B-Side: | It Doesn't Matter Anymore |
| Released: | March 25, 1975 |
| Genre: | |
| Length: | 2:04 |
| Label: | Capitol |
| Producer: | Peter Asher |
| Prev Title: | You're No Good |
| Prev Year: | 1974 |
| Next Title: | Heat Wave |
| Next Year: | 1975 |
The song had its highest profile when Linda Ronstadt covered it on her album Heart Like A Wheel. This version (which is technically a group vocal with Ronstadt, Kenny Edwards, and a then-up-and-coming singer/songwriter, Andrew Gold) rearranges the verses of the Everly Brothers original, transposing the first and fourth verses. Capitol Records was reportedly unsure whether to release "When Will I Be Loved" or "You're No Good" as the lead 45 off Heart Like a Wheel, finally deciding to issue "You're No Good" as the premier single.[7] "When Will I Be Loved" was issued as the second single in March 1975.[8]
The song hit number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June of that year, as well as number 1 in Cash Box;[2] only the chart dominance of the year's biggest hit, "Love Will Keep Us Together" by Captain & Tennille, prevented Ronstadt from having consecutive number 1 hit singles on the Hot 100.[9] Billboard did afford a number 1 ranking to "When Will I Be Loved" on its C&W chart.[10] The song has sold 268,000 copies in the United States since becoming available for digital download as of January 2020.[11]
As Ronstadt's "When Will I Be Loved" descended the charts, its B-side, a remake of Buddy Holly's "It Doesn't Matter Anymore", garnered enough airplay to chart at number 47 Pop, number 20 Adult Contemporary, and number 54 Country.[2]
| Chart (1975) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Country Singles | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 7 |
| Chart (1975) | Rank |
|---|---|
| Canada RPM Top Singles[12] | 78 |
| Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[13] | 23 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[14] | 47 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[15] | 42 |
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[16] | 28 |
| US Cash Box [17] | 39 |
| When Will I Be Loved | |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Little River Band |
| Album: | Too Late to Load |
| Released: | June 1989 |
| Label: | EMI |
| Prev Title: | Soul Searching |
| Prev Year: | 1988 |
| Next Title: | If I Get Lucky |
| Next Year: | 1990 |
Australian band Little River Band released a version in June 1989 as the only single from the rarities compilation album Too Late to Load. The song peaked at number 169 on the ARIA Charts.