I Don't Want a Lover

"I Don't Want a Lover" is the debut single of Scottish band Texas, taken from their first album, Southside (1989). The music starts with blues slide guitar followed by a throbbing rhythm section before the vocals break in. It was released in January 1989 and peaked at number eight on the UK Singles Chart. It also performed well in the Netherlands and enjoyed significant airplay through July 1989 on Radio Luxembourg.

In 2001, Norwegian production team Stargate remixed and re-released the song to promote The Greatest Hits compilation album. Released on 9 July 2001, this version peaked at number 16 on the UK chart.

Critical reception
In an ironic review on 4 February 1989, Phil Cheeseman of British music newspaper Record Mirror chided the song for lack of individuality. He wrote: "It Begins brightly with some welcome slide guitar work but even before its slide towards American FM rock you're already scouring the sleeve in a vague attempt to find something, anything of interest".

Original release
7-inch, mini-CD, and cassette single
 * A. "I Don't Want a Lover"
 * B. "Believe Me"

CD and 12-inch single
 * 1) "I Don't Want a Lover" (full version)
 * 2) "Believe Me"
 * 3) "All in Vain"

2001 mix
UK CD1
 * 1) "I Don't Want a Lover" – 4:15
 * 2) "Superwrong" – 3:58
 * 3) "I Don't Want a Lover" (Stonebridge club remix) – 7:37
 * 4) "I Don't Want a Lover" (video)

UK CD2
 * 1) "I Don't Want a Lover" (live)
 * 2) "Summer Son" (live)
 * 3) "Suspicious Minds" (live)
 * All songs were recorded live at the Greatest Hits tour 2001

UK cassette single
 * 1) "I Don't Want a Lover" – 4:15
 * 2) "Summer Son" (live) – 4:16
 * 3) "I Don't Want a Lover" (Trailermen remix) – 4:43

European CD single
 * 1) "I Don't Want a Lover" (2001 mix) – 4:15
 * 2) "Superwrong" – 3:58

European maxi-CD single
 * 1) "I Don't Want a Lover" (2001 mix) – 4:15
 * 2) "Superwrong" – 3:58
 * 3) "Suspicious Minds" (live in Paris, 2001) – 5:03
 * 4) "I Don't Want a Lover" (Stonebridge bed mix) – 7:37

Personnel
Personnel are lifted from The Greatest Hits album booklet and the 2001 UK CD1 liner notes.


 * Johnny McElhone – writing, bass
 * Sharleen Spiteri – writing, backing vocals, guitars
 * Stuart Kerr – backing vocals, drums
 * Ally McErlaine – guitars
 * Giuliano Gizzi – guitars
 * Craig Armstrong – keyboards
 * Wix – keyboards
 * Mark Feltham – harmonica
 * Tim Palmer – production
 * Simon Vinestock – engineering
 * Stargate – remix, additional production (2001 mix)

Weekly charts
Original version

2001 mix