| Johnny Tillotson | |
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Tillotson, c. 1965
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| Background information | |
| Born | April 20, 1939 Jacksonville, Florida, United States |
| Genres | Country, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Years active | 1957 – Present |
| Labels | Cadence, London, Apex, MGM |
Johnny Tillotson (born April 20, 1939 in Jacksonville, Florida) is an American singer-songwriter. He enjoyed his greatest success in the early 1960s, when he scored nine top-ten hits on the pop, country, and adult contemporary Billboard charts, including “Poetry in Motion” and the self-penned “It Keeps Right On a-Hurtin’“. He also sang “Yellow Bird“, an adaptation of the Haitian song.
“Another You” is a notable country-pop track by Johnny Tillotson, released in 1963. While it didn’t reach the same level of global fame as his massive hit “Poetry in Motion,” it remains a fan favorite for its smooth, melodic style.
Here is the breakdown of what you need to know about the song:
1. Release & Charts
- Release Date: October 1963.
- The B-Side Success: It was originally released as the B-side to his Top 10 hit “Talk Back Trembling Lips.”
- Regional Popularity: In the 1960s, it was common for radio stations to “flip” a record if they liked the B-side better. “Another You” became a local hit in several U.S. markets (reaching #5 in Milwaukee, for example) even though the A-side was the national chart-topper.
2. Credits & Production
- Songwriters: The song was co-written by Johnny Tillotson himself and Lucille Cosenza.
- Genre: It blends Country and Teen Pop, a signature sound for Tillotson that helped him bridge the gap between Nashville and the Billboard Hot 100.
- Label: MGM Records.
3. Key Lyrics & Theme
The song is a classic “lost love” ballad, focusing on the heartbreak of realizing a former partner is irreplaceable.
“I know there’ll never ever be another you…”
Comparison with his biggest hits
If you are exploring Johnny Tillotson’s discography, “Another You” sits comfortably alongside his other early ’60s ballads:
| Song Title | Year | Peak Chart Pos. (US) |
| Poetry in Motion | 1960 | #2 |
| It Keeps Right on a-Hurtin’ | 1962 | #3 |
| Talk Back Trembling Lips | 1963 | #7 |
| Another You (B-Side) | 1963 | — |
While Johnny Tillotson wrote and first popularized “Another You,” several other artists have covered it over the years. Because Tillotson had a foot in both the Pop and Country worlds, the song was picked up by artists in both genres.
Johnny Tillotson also sing in Italian.
The most notable cover is by:
Skeeter Davis (1964)
Just a few months after Tillotson’s version hit the charts, the legendary country singer Skeeter Davis (famous for “The End of the World”) recorded a beautiful cover.
- Her Version: It was included on her album Let Me Get Close to You and also released as a single.
- Success: Her version reached #45 on the Billboard Country Singles chart in 1964. It features the “Nashville Sound” with polished background vocals (arranged by Anita Kerr) and a slightly more melancholic tone than the original.
Other Versions & Notable Details
- The Songwriter Connection: Since Johnny Tillotson co-wrote the song with Lucille Cosenza, his version is the definitive “original.”
- Compilation Versions: Because of the song’s popularity in the ’60s, it has appeared on numerous country-pop and “oldies” compilations. You might occasionally find it covered by local or regional country artists who performed it during the mid-60s “Nashville Sound” era.
Important Distinction
Be careful when searching for this song! There are many famous songs with the title “Another You,” which can make finding Tillotson’s version a bit tricky. The most common “look-alikes” are:
- “There Will Never Be Another You” – A famous jazz standard (recorded by Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, etc.).
- “Another You” – A 1990s country hit by David Kersh.
- “Another You” – A dance track by Armin van Buuren.
- Loretta Lynn
- Cromok
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