"If"
Single by Bread
from the album Manna
B-side"Take Comfort"
ReleasedMarch 21, 1971 (1971-03-21)
GenreSoft rock
Length2:33
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)David Gates
Producer(s)David Gates
Bread singles chronology
"Let Your Love Go"
(1971) 		"If"
(1971) 		"Mother Freedom"
(1971)

"If" is a song written by American singer-songwriter David Gates in 1971. Originally popularized by his group Bread, "If" charted at No. 4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 when released as a single in 1971 and No. 6 in Canada. It also spent three weeks at No. 1 on the U.S. Easy Listening chart,[1] and one week at the top of the Canadian AC chart.[2]

Record World said that the "gentle song by group's own David Gates (he produced and arranged also) will score in short order."[3]

In the U.S., Bread's tune was the shortest song title to become a top ten hit until 1993, when Prince hit No. 7 with "7", later matched by Britney Spears' No. 1 hit "3" in 2009. The song is distinguished by its opening line "If a picture paints a thousand words..."

Chart performance

Cover versions

Olivia Newton-John was one of the first to cover the song, recording a version for her 1971 debut solo album, If Not for You, performing the song during her first American TV performance that year on The Dean Martin Show.

Telly Savalas recorded a mostly-spoken interpretation which reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in March 1975,[12] and has the shortest title of any song to reach No. 1 in the UK.[13] This version also charted at No. 12 on the US Billboard Easy Listening chart in late 1974.[14] In Canada, "If" reached No. 88 in the Pop charts, and No. 40 in the AC charts.[15][16] The Savalas version peaked at number 12 in Australia and was the 81st biggest selling single in Australia in 1975.[17]

A parody take on Savalas' rendition, by voice over artists Chris Sandford and Bill Mitchell performing as Yin and Yan,[18] reached No. 25 in the UK.[19]

References

  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001. Record Research. p. 39.
  2. ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on October 5, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  3. ^ "Picks of the Week" (PDF). Record World. March 13, 1971. p. 1. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  4. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 45. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  5. ^ Canada, Library and Archives (July 17, 2013). "Image : RPM Weekly". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  6. ^ Canada, Library and Archives (July 17, 2013). "Image : RPM Weekly". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  7. ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 – ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  8. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 5/15/71". tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on June 7, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  9. ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". www.collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  10. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1971/Top 100 Songs of 1971". www.musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  11. ^ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles – 1971". tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on October 6, 2016. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  12. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 311. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  13. ^ Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 166. ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
  14. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary 1961-1993. Record Research. p. 212.
  15. ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - December 14, 1974" (PDF).
  16. ^ "RPM Top 50 AC - December 7, 1974" (PDF).
  17. ^ "National Top 100 Singles for 1975". Kent Music Report. December 29, 1975. Retrieved January 15, 2022 – via Imgur.
  18. ^ "About | Chris Sandford – Actor. Presenter. Angler. Writer. Flytyer". Chris Sandford. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  19. ^ "YIN & YAN | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
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