One Day at a Time (song)
Encyclopedia
"One Day at a Time" is a popular Country and Western-style Christian
song written by Marijohn Wilkin
and Kris Kristofferson
. It has been recorded by over 200 artists and has reached No.1 in several territories.
in 1974. This version became a US top 40 hit and top 20 hit on the Country Charts. Following this, it won the 1975 Gospel Music Association (GMA) Dove Awards for best song.
who released it as a single in August 1977. The song remained on the Irish charts for the rest of the year, throughout 1978 and well into 1979 - peaking at No.1 (over a year after it had entered the chart) and spending 90 weeks in the top 30 - the longest run by any song in Irish Chart history.
recorded the song for the UK market in 1979. The song again became a big success and reached No.1 in October 1979 for three weeks.. The song was also recorded by the following; The Alexander Brothers; Judy Collins; Phil Coulter; Floyd Cramer; Carlene Davis; Florida Boys; Tennessee Ernie Ford; Foster & Allen; Bill Gaither; Don Gibson; Arthur Greenslade; Lee Greenwood; George Hamilton IV; and Sharon Hardman.
. Lane had started enjoying mainstream success in the late 1970s through the release of several secular hits, including "Let Me Down Easy" and "Simple Little Words." In 1979, Lane recorded the song after it became a No. 1 hit in Great Britain
by Lena Martell
. At first, United Artists Records
balked at releasing the song, despite its previous track record of success, but Lane's husband-manager, Lee Stoller, predicted the song would be successful, and UA relented. The song was released in the late winter of 1980, and by the end of the spring, the song was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles
chart.
"One Day at a Time" was Lane's only No. 1 hit. For Kristofferson, the song became his sixth No. 1 as a songwriter and first in six years (his last being 1974's "Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends
" by Ronnie Milsap).
Christian music
Christian music is music that has been written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life and faith. Common themes of Christian music include praise, worship, penitence, and lament, and its forms vary widely across the world....
song written by Marijohn Wilkin
Marijohn Wilkin
Marijohn Wilkin , née Melson, was an American songwriter, famous in the country music genre for writing a number of hits. Wilkin won numerous awards over the years and was referred to as "The Den Mother of Music Row," as chronicled in her 1978 biography from Word Books--Lord, Let Me Leave a Song...
and Kris Kristofferson
Kris Kristofferson
Kristoffer "Kris" Kristofferson is an American musician, actor, and writer. He is known for hits such as "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night"...
. It has been recorded by over 200 artists and has reached No.1 in several territories.
Marilyn Sellars version
The song was first recorded by American Country singer Marilyn SellarsMarilyn Sellars
Marilyn Sellars is an American country music and gospel singer who had several hits during the mid 1970s on Mega Records, most notably the original version of "One Day At A Time" in 1974.-Early career:...
in 1974. This version became a US top 40 hit and top 20 hit on the Country Charts. Following this, it won the 1975 Gospel Music Association (GMA) Dove Awards for best song.
Chart positions
| Chart (1974) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 19 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 37 |
Gloria version
"One Day at a Time" was recorded by GloriaGloria (Irish singer)
Gloria is an Irish singer. She later toured under her married name of Gloria Sherry.Gloria's first experience on stage was at the age of 10 when she danced and played accordion with her father's showband. After leaving school, Gloria found work playing piano with another band, but it was as a...
who released it as a single in August 1977. The song remained on the Irish charts for the rest of the year, throughout 1978 and well into 1979 - peaking at No.1 (over a year after it had entered the chart) and spending 90 weeks in the top 30 - the longest run by any song in Irish Chart history.
Chart positions
| Chart (1977) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Ireland (IRMA Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... ) |
1 |
Other versions
The song went on to be recorded by many artists. Scottish singer Lena MartellLena Martell
Lena Martell is a Scottish singer, who had a number one UK single with "One Day at a Time" in 1979....
recorded the song for the UK market in 1979. The song again became a big success and reached No.1 in October 1979 for three weeks.. The song was also recorded by the following; The Alexander Brothers; Judy Collins; Phil Coulter; Floyd Cramer; Carlene Davis; Florida Boys; Tennessee Ernie Ford; Foster & Allen; Bill Gaither; Don Gibson; Arthur Greenslade; Lee Greenwood; George Hamilton IV; and Sharon Hardman.
Cristy Lane version
"One Day at a Time" became best known among country fans when recorded by American country gospel singer Cristy LaneCristy Lane
Eleanor Johnston, known by her professional name as Cristy Lane is an American country music and gospel music singer, best known for a number of major country hits in the late 70s and the early 1980s, including her cover version of the song, "One Day at a Time".Lane's career began to take shape in...
. Lane had started enjoying mainstream success in the late 1970s through the release of several secular hits, including "Let Me Down Easy" and "Simple Little Words." In 1979, Lane recorded the song after it became a No. 1 hit in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
by Lena Martell
Lena Martell
Lena Martell is a Scottish singer, who had a number one UK single with "One Day at a Time" in 1979....
. At first, United Artists Records
United Artists Records
United Artists Records was a record label founded by Max E. Youngstein of United Artists in 1957 initially to distribute records of its movie soundtracks, though it soon branched out into recording music of a number of different genres.-History:...
balked at releasing the song, despite its previous track record of success, but Lane's husband-manager, Lee Stoller, predicted the song would be successful, and UA relented. The song was released in the late winter of 1980, and by the end of the spring, the song was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart.
"One Day at a Time" was Lane's only No. 1 hit. For Kristofferson, the song became his sixth No. 1 as a songwriter and first in six years (his last being 1974's "Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends
Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends
"Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends" is song written by Kris Kristofferson. Ronnie Milsap recorded the song in 1974 and the song become his fourth country hit and second number on the country chart. The single stayed at number one for two weeks and spent a total of nine weeks on the country...
" by Ronnie Milsap).
Chart positions
| Chart (1980) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 10 |