I Wouldn't Be a Man

"I Wouldn't Be a Man"
"I Wouldn't Be a Man"
Single by Josh Turner
from the album Haywire
Released	October 25, 2010
Genre	Country
Length	3:32
Label	MCA Nashville
Songwriter(s)	Mike Reid; Rory Bourke
Producer(s)	Frank Rogers
Josh Turner singles chronology

"I Wouldn't Be a Man"
"I Wouldn't Be a Man"
Single by Billy Dean
from the album It's What I Do
Released	October 21, 1996
Genre	Country
Length	4:24
Label	Capitol
Songwriter(s)	Mike Reid; Rory Bourke
Producer(s)	Tom Shapiro; Nancy H. Williams
Billy Dean singles chronology

"I Wouldn't Be a Man"
"I Wouldn't Be a Man"
Single by Don Williams
from the album Traces
B-side	"The Light in Your Eyes"
Released	October 1987
Genre	Country
Length	3:21
Label	Capitol Nashville
Songwriter(s)	Mike Reid; Rory Bourke
Producer(s)	Don Williams; Garth Fundis
Don Williams singles chronology

"I Wouldn't Be a Man" is a song written by Mike Reid and Rory Bourke. Originally recorded by Don Williams, it has also been covered by Billy Dean and Josh Turner. Williams's version of the song was a Top Ten country hit in late 1987–early 1988, while versions by Dean and Turner also charted.

Don Williams version

Williams' version of the song appears on his 1987 album Traces for Capitol Records.^[2] It was released as a single in October of that year and his version peaked at number nine on the Hot Country Singles (now Hot Country Songs) charts published by Billboard,^[1] and number seven on the Canadian country music charts published by RPM.

Chart positions

Chart (1987–1988)	Peak position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[3]	9
Canadian RPM Country Tracks^[4]	7

Billy Dean version

Billy Dean recorded the song for his 1996 album It's What I Do, also released through Capitol Records. His version of the song was the third single from it, spending fourteen weeks on the country charts and peaking at number 45 by January 1997.^[6]

Background

In October 1996, Dean told Billboard magazine that he chose to cut the song because he thought that it was different from the material that he had cut before; he called it a "one-on-one, man-to-woman song". He recorded the vocals in one take. He also said that he had heard Mike Reid, the original co-writer, sing it and it "knocked [him] out".^[7] Richard Murray directed the video for Dean's version.^[8]

Critical reception

Deborah Evans Price, of Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably, saying that the tune boasts a "romantic lyric and wistful melody." She goes on to call Dean's rendition "bluesier" than Williams' "straight-ahead country cut." She says that while it is impossible to top Williams' original "sensitive rendering", Dean manages to do a "more-than-adequate job" of bringing the song back to life.^[9]

Music video

The music video was directed by Richard Murray and premiered in late 1996.

Chart positions

"I Wouldn't Be a Man" debuted at number 69 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of November 2, 1996.

Chart (1996–1997)	Peak position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)^[10]	32
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[11]	45

Josh Turner version

In late September 2010, Universal Music Group Nashville announced that Josh Turner's version of the song would be the third single from his album Haywire. He began filming the music video for it on September 27, 2010, under the direction of Peter Zavadil.^[12]^[13] The song debuted at number 56 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart the week of November 13, 2010.

Critical reception

Juli Thanki of Engine 145 thought that Turner's rendition of the song sounded like he was "phoning it in".^[14] Bobby Peacock of Roughstock rated it 4 stars out of 5, saying that Turner "finds the right balance of emotions". He also thought that it was better than both Williams' and Dean's versions.^[15]

Music video

The music video was directed by Peter Zavadil and premiered in late 2010.

Chart positions

Chart (2010–2011)	Peak position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[16]	18
US Billboard Hot 100^[17]	92

Year-end charts

Chart (2011)	Position
US Country Songs (Billboard)^[18]	67

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)^[19]	Gold	500,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

^ ^a ^b Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 464. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
^ "Traces". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
^ "Don Williams Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
^ "RPM Country Tracks for February 6, 1988". RPM. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
^ It's What I Do (CD liner notes). Billy Dean. Nashville, Tennessee: Capitol Records Nashville. 1996. 30525.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Whitburn, p. 119
^ Price, Deborah Evans (26 October 1996). "They're Playing My Song". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 43. p. 44.
^ "Music video for "I Wouldn't Be a Man"". CMT. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
^ Billboard, August 26, 1995
^ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 9797." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. January 20, 1997. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
^ "Billy Dean Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
^ "Josh Turner appears tonight on NBC Nightly News". Universal Music Group Nashville. 28 September 2010. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
^ ""I Wouldn't Be a Man" video". Vevo. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
^ Thanki, Juli. "Haywire review". Engine 145. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
^ Peacock, Bobby (2 December 2010). "Josh Turner — "I Wouldn't Be a Man"". Roughstock. Archived from the original on 6 December 2010. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
^ "Josh Turner Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
^ "Josh Turner Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
^ "Best of 2011: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
^ "American single certifications – Josh Turner – I Wouldn't Be a Man". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 28, 2023.

[whitburn_williams-1] Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 464. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.

[2] "Traces". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 October 2010.

[sc_Billboardcountrysongs_Don_Williams-3] "Don Williams Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.

[4] "RPM Country Tracks for February 6, 1988". RPM. Retrieved 5 October 2010.

[5] It's What I Do (CD liner notes). Billy Dean. Nashville, Tennessee: Capitol Records Nashville. 1996. 30525.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[whitburn_dean-6] Whitburn, p. 119

[7] Price, Deborah Evans (26 October 1996). "They're Playing My Song". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 43. p. 44.

[8] "Music video for "I Wouldn't Be a Man"". CMT. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2010.

[9] Billboard, August 26, 1995

[sc_Canadacountry_-10] "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 9797." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. January 20, 1997. Retrieved July 20, 2013.

[sc_Billboardcountrysongs_Billy_Dean-11] "Billy Dean Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.

[12] "Josh Turner appears tonight on NBC Nightly News". Universal Music Group Nashville. 28 September 2010. Retrieved 5 October 2010.

[13] ""I Wouldn't Be a Man" video". Vevo. Retrieved 3 December 2010.

[thanki-14] Thanki, Juli. "Haywire review". Engine 145. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2010.

[15] Peacock, Bobby (2 December 2010). "Josh Turner — "I Wouldn't Be a Man"". Roughstock. Archived from the original on 6 December 2010. Retrieved 3 June 2011.

[sc_Billboardcountrysongs_Josh_Turner-16] "Josh Turner Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2011.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Josh_Turner-17] "Josh Turner Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2011.

[18] "Best of 2011: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2011.

[United_StatesJosh_TurnerI_Wouldn't_Be_a_MansingleCertRef-19] "American single certifications – Josh Turner – I Wouldn't Be a Man". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 28, 2023.

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v t e Don Williams
Studio albums	Don Williams Volume One Don Williams Volume Two Don Williams Vol. 3 You're My Best Friend Harmony Visions I Believe in You Especially for You Listen to the Radio Yellow Moon Cafe Carolina New Moves One Good Well True Love And So It Goes
Singles	"The Shelter of Your Eyes" "Come Early Morning" "Atta Way to Go" "We Should Be Together" "I Wouldn't Want to Live If You Didn't Love Me" "The Ties That Bind" "You're My Best Friend" "(Turn Out the Light And) Love Me Tonight" "'Til the Rivers All Run Dry" "Say It Again" "I Recall a Gypsy Woman" "She Never Knew Me" "Some Broken Hearts Never Mend" "I'm Just a Country Boy" "I've Got a Winner in You" "Rake and Ramblin' Man" "Tulsa Time" "Lay Down Beside Me" "It Must Be Love" "Love Me Over Again" "Good Ole Boys Like Me" "I Believe In You" "Falling Again" "Miracles" "If I Needed You" (with Emmylou Harris) "Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good" "Listen to the Radio" "Mistakes" "If Hollywood Don't Need You (Honey I Still Do)" "Love Is on a Roll" "Nobody but You" "Stay Young" "That's the Thing About Love" "Maggie's Dream" "Walkin' a Broken Heart" "It's Time for Love" "We've Got a Good Fire Goin''" "Heartbeat in the Darkness" "Then It's Love" "Señorita" "I'll Never Be in Love Again" "I Wouldn't Be a Man" "Another Place, Another Time" "Desperately" "Old Coyote Town" "One Good Well" "I've Been Loved by the Best" "Just as Long as I Have You" "Maybe That's All It Takes" "Back in My Younger Days" "True Love" "Lord Have Mercy on a Country Boy"
Related articles	Discography List of songs written by Don Williams "Amanda" Pozo Seco Singers Bob McDill Allen Reynolds

v t e Billy Dean
Studio albums	Young Man Billy Dean Fire in the Dark Men'll Be Boys It's What I Do Real Man Let Them Be Little
Compilation albums	Greatest Hits
Notable singles	"Only Here for a Little While" "Somewhere in My Broken Heart" "You Don't Count the Cost" "Only the Wind" "Billy the Kid" "If There Hadn't Been You" "Tryin' to Hide a Fire in the Dark" "I Wanna Take Care of You" "I'm Not Built That Way" "We Just Disagree" "Cowboy Band" "It's What I Do" "That Girl's Been Spyin' on Me" "I Wouldn't Be a Man" "Real Man" "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" "Let Them Be Little"
Guest singles	"Buy Me a Rose"
Related articles	Discography

v t e Josh Turner
Discography
Studio albums	Long Black Train Your Man Everything Is Fine Haywire Punching Bag Deep South I Serve a Savior Country State of Mind
Compilation albums	Icon Icon 2 Greatest Hits
Notable singles	"Long Black Train" "Your Man" "Would You Go with Me" "Me and God" "Firecracker" "Another Try" "Everything Is Fine" "Why Don't We Just Dance" "All Over Me" "I Wouldn't Be a Man" "Time Is Love" "Lay Low" "Hometown Girl"