I Don't Want to Talk About It
Encyclopedia
"I Don't Want to Talk About It" is the name of a song written by Danny Whitten
. Whitten's band, Crazy Horse
released it as a track on their 1971 eponymous album
.
In 1975, Rod Stewart
recorded the song at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio
in Muscle Shoals, Alabama
, for his album Atlantic Crossing
. This became successful when it was released as a single. In the United States, it became a top fifty hit on the Billboard Hot 100
in 1979. In the United Kingdom, it topped the UK Singles Chart
as a double A-side with "The First Cut Is the Deepest
" in 1977, although it has been controversially suggested that the charts were manipulated to keep The Sex Pistols' single "God Save the Queen
" from number 1.
In 1988, Everything but the Girl
released their remake as a single. This version also met with great success in the UK, peaking at number three on the UK Singles Chart. It was their first British top ten hit and would remain their only until 1995, when the remix of "Missing
" also peaked at number three.
In 1989, Rod Stewart recorded a new version of "I Don't Want to Talk About It", which received extensive airplay on adult contemporary radio stations in the United States, reaching number two on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart
.
Rod Stewart sang this song as a duet with Amy Belle during his 2004 tour and is included in his concert DVD.
This song was also performed on TV in the UK recently by Daryl Markham and was one of the stand out auditions of the show.
Other notable artists who have recorded versions of this song include Rita Coolidge
, Billie Jo Spears
, Ian Matthews
, D'ZRT
, Nils Lofgren
who also helped Whitten write the song though he received no album credit for this, Dina Carroll
, David Sneddon
winner of the BBC
's Fame Academy
, Geoff Muldaur
, Llama Farmers, Alex Parks
, Indigo Girls
on the Philadelphia
soundtrack, Everything But the Girl
, the famous Taiwanese diva, Tracy Huang & artist A-Mei (Chang Hui-Mei).
Danny Whitten
Daniel Ray Whitten was an American musician and songwriter best known for his work with Neil Young and Crazy Horse, and for the song "I Don't Want To Talk About It", a hit for Rita Coolidge, Rod Stewart and Everything but the Girl.- Biography :Whitten was born on May 8, 1943, in Columbus, Georgia....
. Whitten's band, Crazy Horse
Crazy Horse (band)
Crazy Horse is an American rock band best known for its association with Neil Young. It has been co-credited on a number of albums throughout Young's career and has released five albums of its own.-Early years:...
released it as a track on their 1971 eponymous album
Crazy Horse (album)
Crazy Horse is the 1971 debut album by Crazy Horse, released by Reprise Records. It peaked at number 84 on the Billboard album chart.- History :...
.
In 1975, Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
recorded the song at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio
Muscle Shoals Sound Studio
The Muscle Shoals Sound Studio was formed in Muscle Shoals, Alabama,in 1969 when musicians Barry Beckett , Roger Hawkins , Jimmy Johnson and David Hood left FAME Studios to create their own studio...
in Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Muscle Shoals is a city in Colbert County, Alabama, United States. As of 2007, the United States Census Bureau estimated the population of the city to be 12,846. The city is included in The Shoals MSA. It is famous for its contributions to American popular music.-Geography:Muscle Shoals is located...
, for his album Atlantic Crossing
Atlantic Crossing
Atlantic Crossing is Rod Stewart's sixth album, released in 1975, and peaking at number nine on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart. On June 30, 2009, Rhino released a two-disc version with bonus tracks....
. This became successful when it was released as a single. In the United States, it became a top fifty hit on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in 1979. In the United Kingdom, it topped the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
as a double A-side with "The First Cut Is the Deepest
The First Cut Is the Deepest
"The First Cut Is the Deepest" is a 1967 song written by Cat Stevens, originally released by P. P. Arnold in the spring of 1967. Stevens' own version of the song is technically a cover, and originally appeared on his album New Masters in December 1967....
" in 1977, although it has been controversially suggested that the charts were manipulated to keep The Sex Pistols' single "God Save the Queen
God Save the Queen (Sex Pistols song)
"God Save the Queen" is a song by the English punk rock band The Sex Pistols. It was released as the band's second single and was featured on their only album, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols. The song was released during Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee in 1977...
" from number 1.
In 1988, Everything but the Girl
Everything but the Girl
Everything but the Girl was a two-person English band, formed in Hull during 1981, consisting of lead singer and occasional guitarist Tracey Thorn and guitarist, keyboardist, and singer Ben Watt . They are currently inactive although vocalist Tracey Thorn hinted that they may reform someday...
released their remake as a single. This version also met with great success in the UK, peaking at number three on the UK Singles Chart. It was their first British top ten hit and would remain their only until 1995, when the remix of "Missing
Missing (Everything but the Girl song)
"Missing" is a song written and recorded by British pop music duo Everything but the Girl. The song was released as a single from the band's 1994 album Amplified Heart...
" also peaked at number three.
In 1989, Rod Stewart recorded a new version of "I Don't Want to Talk About It", which received extensive airplay on adult contemporary radio stations in the United States, reaching number two on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart
Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
.
Rod Stewart sang this song as a duet with Amy Belle during his 2004 tour and is included in his concert DVD.
This song was also performed on TV in the UK recently by Daryl Markham and was one of the stand out auditions of the show.
Other notable artists who have recorded versions of this song include Rita Coolidge
Rita Coolidge
Rita Coolidge is a multiple Grammy Award-winning American vocalist. During the 1970s and 1980s, she charted hits on Billboard's Pop, Country, Adult Contemporary and Jazz charts.-Career:...
, Billie Jo Spears
Billie Jo Spears
Billie Jo Spears is an American country music singer. She reached the top-10 of the Country music charts five times between 1969 and 1977, her biggest hit being "Blanket on the Ground", which, in 1975, became her only number one...
, Ian Matthews
Iain Matthews
Iain Matthews is an English musician and songwriter. He was born Iain Matthew McDonald, in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England. He was known in the 1960s first as Ian McDonald, then as the 1960s progressed, as Ian Matthews...
, D'ZRT
D'ZRT
D'ZRT was a Portuguese boy band consisting of Paulo Vintém, Angélico Vieira, Vítor Fonseca and Edmundo Vieira.The band was created when TVI cast a band for Morangos com Açucar. The four members portrayed Topê, David, Zé Milho and Ruca. Ruca already had musical experience as a contestant on Operação...
, Nils Lofgren
Nils Lofgren
Nils Hilmer Lofgren is an American rock music recording artist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist...
who also helped Whitten write the song though he received no album credit for this, Dina Carroll
Dina Carroll
Dina Carroll is an English singer of Scottish and African American descent who had a string of hits from the late 1980s to the early 2000s.-Early career:...
, David Sneddon
David Sneddon
David Sneddon is a Scottish musician and singer-songwriter.He has performed on British television, radio and theatre. Sneddon won the first BBC UK series of Fame Academy in 2002...
winner of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Fame Academy
Fame Academy
Fame Academy is a televised competition to search for and educate new musical talents. The winner received a chance to become a successful music artist. The prize consisted of a £1m recording contract with a major record company, plus the use of a luxury apartment in London and a sports car for one...
, Geoff Muldaur
Geoff Muldaur
Geoff Muldaur is an American founding member of the Jim Kweskin Jug Band of Cambridge, Massachusetts; a member of Paul Butterfield's Better Days; and an accomplished solo guitarist, singer, and songwriter....
, Llama Farmers, Alex Parks
Alex Parks
Alex Parks is an English singer-songwriter. She is best known for winning Fame Academy in 2003, for her singles, and for the albums, Introduction and Honesty.-Biography:...
, Indigo Girls
Indigo Girls
The Indigo Girls are an American folk rock music duo, consisting of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers. They met in elementary school and began performing together as high school students in Decatur, Georgia, part of the Atlanta metropolitan area...
on the Philadelphia
Philadelphia (film)
Philadelphia is a 1993 American drama film that was one of the first mainstream Hollywood films to acknowledge HIV/AIDS, homosexuality and homophobia. It was written by Ron Nyswaner and directed by Jonathan Demme. The film stars Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington...
soundtrack, Everything But the Girl
Everything but the Girl
Everything but the Girl was a two-person English band, formed in Hull during 1981, consisting of lead singer and occasional guitarist Tracey Thorn and guitarist, keyboardist, and singer Ben Watt . They are currently inactive although vocalist Tracey Thorn hinted that they may reform someday...
, the famous Taiwanese diva, Tracy Huang & artist A-Mei (Chang Hui-Mei).