When I Call Your Name (Vince Gill song)

"When I Call Your Name" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Vince Gill. It was released in May 1990 as the third single and title track from the album When I Call Your Name. The song reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.[1] It was written by Gill and Tim DuBois. Patty Loveless performed backing vocals on the song. Session veteran Barry Beckett played piano on the track. The Common Linnets performed a cover of the song to celebrate 50 years of the CMA Awards.[2] \

"When I Call Your Name"
Single by Vince Gill
from the album When I Call Your Name
B-side"Rita Ballou"
ReleasedMay 1990
Recorded1989
GenreCountry
LabelMCA
Songwriter(s)Vince Gill, Tim DuBois
Producer(s)Tony Brown
Vince Gill singles chronology
"Oklahoma Swing"
(1990)
"When I Call Your Name"
(1990)
"Never Knew Lonely"
(1990)

Cover versions

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Country music singer Cody Johnson covered the song from the television special CMT Giants: Vince Gill.

Critical reception

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In 2024, Rolling Stone ranked the song at #91 on its 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time ranking.[3]

Music video

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The music video was directed by Bill Pope and premiered in mid-1990. Although Patty Loveless sang the song with Gill in live performances, she did not appear in the video. Instead, country singer Matraca Berg appeared, lip-syncing to Loveless's vocals.[4]

Chart performance

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Chart (1990) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[5] 5
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[6] 2

Year-end charts

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Chart (1990) Position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[7] 82
US Country Songs (Billboard)[8] 39

References

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  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 135.
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ "The 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. May 24, 2014.
  4. ^ Hurst, Jack (November 21, 1991). "Sensitive Souls". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 4, 2012.
  5. ^ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 1316." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. August 25, 1990. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  6. ^ "Vince Gill Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  7. ^ "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1990". RPM. December 22, 1990. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  8. ^ "Best of 1990: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1990. Retrieved August 23, 2013.