(Don & Phil Everly)
Australia
#30 Sydney #7 Melbourne #1 Brisbane #1 Adelaide #10 Perth
B-side on Columbia July 1968, a double-sided hit with the A-side Jamie . The exception was Perth, where I Don’t Want To Love You charted alone.
The A-side Jamie was an Aussie original written by Hans Poulsen who also wrote Johnny Farnham’s 1968 hit Rose Coloured Glasses. See also Hans Poulsen‘s own records Boom Sha La La Lo and Lady Scorpio, both written by Poulsen with Bruce Woodley of The Seekers. (♫ Listen to ‘Jamie’ at YouTube)
Johnny Farnham: enduring Melbourne pop star whose career took off after his first single, the neo-vaudeville novelty Sadie The Cleaning Lady became the best-selling Australian single of the 60s. He had a run of hits into the first half of the 70s, and branched out into TV and stage drama.
In the early 80s, by then known as John Farnham, he had a further hit with a powered-up version of the Beatles’ Help, and he fronted the Little River Band for a time. His real career revival came in 1986 with the hugely popular contemporary album Whispering Jack and its three hit singles including the #1 You’re The Voice.
Thanks to Frank Calabrese through Rock’n’Roll Scars Group (now defunct).
Further reading: Milesago’s John Farnham page. The official site is at JohnFarnham.com.au.
A note on the charts: Chart positions from Gavin Ryan’s Australian chart books. Through differing statistical methods, I Don’t Want To Love You is
not listed in either Tom Guest’s Melbourne chart book or Top 40 Research’s Sydney chart book,
(Don & Phil Everly)
USA
Original version
Single on Warner Brothers April 1967, B-side of Bowling Green, also on The Everly Brothers Sing (1967).
The A-side peaked in the US at #60 Cash Box and #40 Billboard, ending a run of pop hits that had started in 1957 with Bye Bye Love.
(Don & Phil Everly)
UK
Influential version
Single on Columbia November 1967, one of four in 1967-68 by Norfolk band from Aylsham, previously known as Barry Lee and The Planets, later as The Performing Lees and – without Barry – The Brothers Lee.
Thanks to Noel Forth for spotting this one and its likely influence on the Johnny Farnham version.
Reference: Vernon Joynson, The Tapestry of Delights.
Not to be confused with US band Barry Lee & The Action.
(Don & Phil Everly)
USA
Single on Decca subsidiary Parrot February 1968 by London singer-songwriter-actor Patricia Fuller who played Sandra Butler in British TV serial Coronation Street. Produced by David Nicolson.
♫ Listen at YouTube
See also: Patricia Fuller at IMDb and Patsy Fuller page at Discogs.com.
(Barry Mann - Cynthia Weil)
USA
Red herring
Similar title but not the same song as “I Don’t Want To Love You” by
Johnny Farnham.
On 1964 album The Very Thought Of You.
Also recorded by Cliff Richard on Cliff Richard (1965).
(Henry Pritchard)
USA
Red herring
Same title but not the same song as “I Don’t Want To Love You” by Johnny
Farnham.
(Sutherland Brothers)
UK
Red herring
#35 Sydney #10 Brisbane #30 Adelaide #32 Perth
Not to be confused with “I Don’t Want To Love You” by Johnny
Farnham.
First hit by London folk-rockers whose Sailing (1973) became a hit for Rod Stewart in 1975. Later teamed with rock band Quiver, their biggest hit was The Arms Of Mary (1976, #5 UK, #81 USA).
Further reading: Sutherland Brothers overview at All Music Guide
Pop Archives
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Website by Lyn Nuttall. © Lyn Nuttall 2004-2024. Chart positions courtesy of Gavin Ryan’s Australian Chart Books and Dean Scapolo’s Complete NZ Music Charts. Special thanks to Terry Stacey for information, corrections and suggestions. Thanks also to Tony Watson, Philippe Edouard, Dave Overett.., More…