This Night Won't Last Forever

"This Night Won't Last Forever" is a song written by Bill LaBounty and Roy Freeland, and originally recorded by LaBounty in 1978, whose version of the song was a minor Adult Contemporary and pop hit, reaching number 65 on the Billboard Hot 100.

"This Night Won't Last Forever"
Single by Bill LaBounty
from the album This Night Won't Last Forever
B-side"Corporate Rock & Roll"
ReleasedJuly 21, 1978
Recorded1978
GenreSoft rock
Length4:25
LabelWarner Bros., Curb
Songwriter(s)Bill LaBounty, Roy Freeland
Producer(s)Jay Senter
Bill LaBounty singles chronology
"Lie to Me"
(1976)
"This Night Won't Last Forever"
(1978)
"In 25 Words or Less"
(1978)

Michael Johnson version

edit
"This Night Won't Last Forever"
 
Single by Michael Johnson
from the album Dialogue
B-side"I Just Can't Say No to You"
ReleasedJuly 1979
GenreSoft rock
Length3:59
LabelEMI
Songwriter(s)Bill LaBounty, Roy Freeland
Producer(s)Brent Maher, Steve Gibson
Michael Johnson singles chronology
"Sailing Without a Sail"
(1979)
"This Night Won't Last Forever"
(1979)
"I'll Always Love You"
(1979)

The following year, American singer-songwriter Michael Johnson covered "This Night Won't Last Forever", released as the lead single from his fifth album Dialogue, backed with a cover of Parker McGee's "I Just Can't Say No to You", also included on the album. Johnson's version of "This Night Won't Last Forever" reached number 19 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and was also a top 10 Adult Contemporary hit in the United States (#5) and Canada (#9).

Bob Dylan version

edit

In the early 1980s, Bob Dylan recorded a cover version of the song, which was issued on his 2021 compilation album The Bootleg Series Vol. 16: Springtime in New York 1980–1985.

Lynn Anderson version

edit

In 1979, Lynn Anderson covered the song on her album Outlaw Is Just a State of Mind.

Moe Bandy version

edit

In 1988, Moe Bandy covered the song on his album Many Mansions. His version peaked at number 49 on the U.S. Hot Country charts in 1989.

Sawyer Brown version

edit
"This Night Won't Last Forever"
Single by Sawyer Brown
from the album Six Days on the Road
B-side"Six Days on the Road"[1]
ReleasedJune 16, 1997
GenreCountry
Length3:56
LabelCurb
Songwriter(s)Bill LaBounty, Roy Freeland
Producer(s)Mark Miller, Mac McAnally
Sawyer Brown singles chronology
"Six Days on the Road"
(1997)
"This Night Won't Last Forever"
(1997)
"Another Side"
(1997)

In 1997, Sawyer Brown covered the song. It was released in June 1997 as the second single from the album Six Days on the Road. Sawyer Brown's version went to number 6 on the U.S. Hot Country Songs charts.

Critical reception

edit

Larry Flick of Billboard reviewed Sawyer Brown's version and wrote, "It's a song that most people will remember and find themselves singing along with. The familiarity and strong performance should make for a potent combination at country radio."[2]

Chart performance

edit

Weekly charts

edit

Bill LaBounty

edit
Chart (1978) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks[3] 46
US Billboard Hot 100[4] 65
Canadian RPM Top Singles[5] 81

Michael Johnson

edit
Chart (1979) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks[6] 5
US Billboard Hot 100[7] 19
US Cash Box Top 100[8] 18
Australia (Kent Music Report)[9] 75
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary[10] 9
Canadian RPM Top Singles[11] 66

Moe Bandy

edit
Chart (1989) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[12] 49

Sawyer Brown

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. pp. 369–370. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
  2. ^ Price, Deborah Evans, and Larry Flick. "Singles: Country." Billboard 109.25 (1997): 73. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 6 June 2011.
  3. ^ "Billboard charted singles (page 32)" (PDF). Mike Curb official website. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  4. ^ "Bill LaBounty Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  5. ^ RPM
  6. ^ "Michael Johnson: Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  7. ^ "Michael Johnson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  8. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, November 24, 1979". Archived from the original on February 14, 2015. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  9. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 160. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  10. ^ RPM
  11. ^ RPM
  12. ^ "Moe Bandy Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  13. ^ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 3352." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. October 13, 1997. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  14. ^ "Sawyer Brown Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard.
  15. ^ "Sawyer Brown Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  16. ^ "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1997". RPM. December 15, 1997. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  17. ^ "Best of 1997: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1997. Retrieved July 17, 2013.