I've Always Got You

"I've Always Got You"
Single by Robin Zander
from the album Robin Zander
B-side "Everlasting Love"
Released 1993
Format CD, Cassette
Genre Rock
Length 3:40
Label Interscope Records, Atlantic Records
Writer(s) Mike Campbell, Robin Zander, J.D. Souther
Producer(s) Jimmy Iovine, Mike Campbell
Robin Zander singles chronology
"Surrender to Me"
(1988)		 "I've Always Got You"
(1993)		 "Show Me Heaven"
(1993)
Alternative Cover
German cover of "I've Always Got You"

"I've Always Got You" is a single by American vocalist Robin Zander, best known as lead vocalist for the American rock band Cheap Trick. The single was released in 1993 as the lead single from Zander's debut solo album Robin Zander.[1] The song was written by American guitarist/songwriter/producer Mike Campbell, Zander and American musician/songwriter J.D. Souther. Campbell is best known for his work with American rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Background

Released as the lead single from the "Robin Zander" album, the track was commercially unsuccessful, just like the album. Despite this, the song did peak at #13 on the American Mainstream Rock Chart for a total of seven weeks,[2] as well as #64 in Canada for a total of 4 weeks.[3]

The track remains the only solo track from Zander to have made any national impact somewhere in the world, although a duet with rock band Heart singer Ann Wilson, titled "Surrender to Me", would peak at #6 in America during 1988.[4]

A music video was created for the single,[5] although both the single and album received limited promotion.

Since the song's release, a bootleg recording exists of Zander performing an acoustic version of the song live, surfacing unofficially on YouTube.[6]

Release

The single was released as a CD and cassette single only whilst a one track American promotional CD was also released. The song was released as the same version that appeared on the album, with the American release of the single dubbing both tracks as the "LP Version". In Germany, the single was released with alternate artwork on CD only. All versions of the single featured the track "Everlasting Love" as the b-side whilst the German version added another b-side, a cover of the song "Stone Cold Rhythm Shake".[7][8]

The b-side "Everlasting Love" was featured on the "Robin Zander" album, written by Scottish composer/keyboardist Mick MacNeil, best known as part of the Scottish rock band Simple Minds, and Zander. The German version bonus track "Stone Cold Rhythm Shake" was a non-album track, written and originally performed by singer/songwriter Robert Vaughan on his 1991 album "Songs from the Riverhouse".[9]

"I've Always Got You" was produced by American producer Jimmy Iovine and Campbell. The b-side "Everlasting Love" was produced by Iovine and Zander, as well as being co-produced by MacNeil. "Stone Cold Rhythm Shake" was produced by Iovine and Zander, as well as being co-produced and engineered by Phil Kaffel.[10]

The American version of the single featured simple artwork of Zander's head, down to his eyes,[11] whilst the German version featured artwork of Zander sitting in a diner with some cake, whilst being poured a coffee.[7]

Track listing

CD Single
  1. "I've Always Got You" - 3:40
  2. "Everlasting Love" - 4:34
CD Single (American promo)
  1. "I've Always Got You" - 3:40
CD Single (German Maxi-CD release)
  1. "I've Always Got You" - 3:40
  2. "Everlasting Love" - 4:34
  3. "Stone Cold Rhythm Shake" - 4:48
Cassette Single
  1. "I've Always Got You" - 3:40
  2. "Everlasting Love" - 4:34

Critical reception

In the review for the album "Robin Zander", allmusic.com mentioned the song when listing the different musical styles on certain tracks, describing the track as "taut, power pop".[12]

In the July 21, 1993, issue of St. Petersburg Times, a review of the album spoke of the song, stating "Sure, there are a few radio-ready cuts here (Show Me Heaven and I've Always Got You), but overall the album is fairly bland guitar-and-synthesizer formula."[13][14]

Chart performance

Chart (1993) Peak
position
Canadian Singles Chart[3] 64
US Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart[2] 13

Personnel

Footnotes

  1. ↑ "Robin Zander - Robin Zander at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Robin Zander - Robin Zander". AllMusic. 1993-07-06. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
  4. ↑ "Tequila Sunrise - Original Soundtrack". AllMusic. 1988-12-14. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
  5. ↑ YouTube (2012-06-03). "Robin Zander I've Always Got You". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  6. ↑ "Robin Zander "I've Always Got You" Live, Acoustic". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Robin Zander - I've Always Got You (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
  8. ↑ Image of album
  9. ↑ "Songs from the Riverhouse - Robert Vaughan". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
  10. ↑ Credits listed in booklet for "I've Always Got You" maxi-CD single
  11. ↑ "I'Ve Always Got You - Robin Zander: CD". GEMM.com. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
  12. ↑ Demalon, Tom (1993-07-06). "Robin Zander - Robin Zander". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
  13. ↑ "SOUND BITES Series%3A SOUND BITES". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. 1993-07-23. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
  14. ↑ https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&gl=uk&tbm=nws&q=+there+are+a+few+radio-ready+cuts+here+%28Show+Me+Heaven+and+I%27ve+Always+Got+You%29&oq=+there+are+a+few+radio-ready+cuts+here+%28Show+Me+Heaven+and+I%27ve+Always+Got+You%29&gs_l=news-cc.3..43j43i400.2616.2616.0.2944.1.1.0.0.0.0.147.147.0j1.1.0...0.0...1ac.1.UxNODgMku_4#q=there+are+a+few+radio-ready+cuts+here+%28Show+Me+Heaven+and+I%27ve+Always+Got+You%29&hl=en&gl=uk&tbm=nws&source=lnt&tbs=ar:1&sa=X&psj=1&ei=_NKPULrjMKqg0QW7-IHgCw&ved=0CCMQpwUoBQ&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=83c523529644c326&bpcl=36601534&biw=1280&bih=587