"If I Only Had Time" | ||||
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Single by John Rowles | ||||
B-side | "Now Is the Hour" | |||
Released | 17 February 1968 | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 3:20 | |||
Label | MCA MU 1000 | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Mike Leander | |||
John Rowles UK singles chronology | ||||
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"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]
Chart (1968) | Peak position |
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Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[7] | 17 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8] | 2 |
Ireland (IRMA)[9] | 6 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[10] | 2 |
New Zealand[11] | 2 |
UK Singles (OCC)[12] | 3 |
West Germany (Official German Charts)[13] | 15 |