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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2022}}
{{distinguish|Part Time Love|Part-Time Lover}}
{{distinguish|Part Time Love|Part-Time Lover}}
{{Infobox single
{{Infobox song
| Name = Part-Time Love
| name = Part-Time Love
| cover = Part-Time Love by Elton John UK single.png
| Cover = Part-Time_Love_-_Elton_John.jpg
| Artist = [[Elton John]]
| alt =
| caption = Standard artwork
| Album = [[A Single Man (album)|A Single Man]]
| B-side = "[[I Cry at Night]]"
| type = single
| artist = [[Elton John]]
| Released = October 4, 1978 <small>(UK)</small><br>November 11, 1978 <small>(U.S.)</small>
| Genre = [[Pop music|Pop]], [[Rock music|rock]], [[Disco music|disco]]
| album = [[A Single Man (album)|A Single Man]]
| Length = 3:16
| B-side = [[I Cry at Night]]
| released = 13 October 1978<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1978/Music-Week-1978-10-14.pdf|title=Music Week|page=70}}</ref>
| Label = [[MCA Records|MCA]] <small>(U.S.)</small><br/>[[The Rocket Record Company|Rocket]] <small>(UK)</small>
| recorded = January–September 1978
| Writer = [[Elton John]], [[Gary Osborne]]
| studio =
| Last single = "[[Ego (Elton John song)|Ego]]"<br>(1978)
| venue =
| This single = "'''Part-Time Love'''"<br>(1978)
| Next single = "[[Song for Guy]]"<br>(1978)
| genre = [[Pop rock]], [[disco]]
| Misc = {{Extra track listing
| length = 3:16
| label = [[MCA Records|MCA]] <small>(U.S.)</small><br/>[[The Rocket Record Company|Rocket]] <small>(UK)</small>
| Album = [[A Single Man (album)|A Single Man]]
| Type = single
| writer = [[Elton John]], [[Gary Osborne]]
| producer = Elton John, Clive Franks
| prev_track = "[[It Ain't Gonna Be Easy]]"
| prev_title = [[Ego (Elton John song)|Ego]]
| prev_no = 5
| prev_year = 1978
| this_track = "'''Part-Time Love'''"
| next_title = [[Song for Guy]]
| track_no = 6
| next_year = 1978
| next_track = "[[Georgia (Elton John song)|Georgia]]"
| next_no = 7
| misc =
}}
}}


"'''Part-Time Love'''" is a song written by English musician [[Elton John]] with lyrics by [[Gary Osborne]]. It is the sixth track off his 1978 album, ''[[A Single Man (album)|A Single Man]]''. It is also the opening track of side two. It proved to be one of the most popular singles the pair wrote, along with 1982's "[[Blue Eyes (Elton John song)|Blue Eyes]]" and the 1980 US million seller "[[Little Jeannie]]". It was banned in the Soviet release of the album along with another song, "[[Big Dipper (Elton John song)|Big Dipper]]". The single reached No. 15 in the UK and peaked just outside the Top 20 in the US at No. 22.
{{Extra album cover
| Upper caption = Alternative cover
| Type=single
| Cover = "Part-Time_Love"_by_Elton_John.jpg
| Lower caption = International single sleeve
}}
}}


==Lyrical meaning==
"'''Part-Time Love'''" is a song written by [[Elton John]] with lyrics by [[Gary Osborne]]. It is the sixth track off his 1978 album, ''[[A Single Man (album)|A Single Man]]''. It is also the opening track of side two. It proved to be one of the most popular singles the pair wrote, along with 1982's "[[Blue Eyes (Elton John song)|Blue Eyes]]" and the 1980 US million seller Little Jeannie. It was banned in the Soviet release of the album along with another song, "[[Big Dipper (Elton John song)|Big Dipper]]". The single reached #15 in the [[United Kingdom|UK]] and peaked just outside the Top 20 in the [[United States|U.S.]] at #21.
In the 29 September 1979 edition of the [[Ann Landers]] advice column, one writer going by the title "Want A Better Environment For Our Youth" alleged that these lyrics of this song dealt with [[adultery]]: ''"You've been seen running around...Don't tell me what to do when you've been doing it too."''<ref>{{cite news|last=Landers|first=Ann|title=Some Rock Lyrics Are Offensive|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1734&dat=19790929&id=UT8eAAAAIBAJ&pg=6520,10287478|work=The Dispatch (Lexington, N.C.)|page=6|date=29 September 1979}} Some newspapers published this column on 1 October.</ref>


==Release==
==Musical structure==
While the lyrics on the A-side were written by Gary Osborne, those on the B-side, "[[I Cry at Night]]", were written by [[Bernie Taupin]]. It is one of the few singles John released with different lyricists on each side.
The song opens with a jaunty piano, and then goes into the main riff, an uptempo disco-flavoured party song. The lead guitar played here is by John's long-time bandmate [[Davey Johnstone]]. The song features strings in such a way that it could easily be referred to as a disco anthem. [[Ray Cooper]] also appears on percussion that flows together with the drums and bass. The bridge in the song is very messy, fitting in with the lyric.


The song appeared on his compilation ''[[The Very Best of Elton John]]'' in 1990 and the deluxe edition of his 2017 compilation ''[[Diamonds (Elton John album)|Diamonds]]''.
==Lyrical meaning==
In the September 29, 1979 edition of the [[Ann Landers]] advice column, one writer going by the title "Want A Better Environment For Our Youth" alleged that these lyrics of this song dealt with [[adultery]]: ''"You've been seen running around...Don't tell me what to do when you've been doing it too."''<ref>{{cite news|last=Landers|first=Ann|title=Some Rock Lyrics Are Offensive|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1734&dat=19790929&id=UT8eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Fb8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6520,10287478|work=The Dispatch (Lexington, N.C.)|page=6|date=September 29, 1979}} Some newspapers published this column on October 1.</ref>


==Reception==
Due to the disco craze at the time, the song wasn't popular, and John only played it in his live sets of 1978 and 1979. It did however appear on his compilation ''[[The Very Best of Elton John]]'' in 1990. Interestingly, while the A-side was written by Gary Osborne, the B-side, "[[I Cry at Night]]" was written by [[Bernie Taupin]]. It is one of the few singles John released with different lyricists on each side.
''[[Cash Box]]'' praised the "Fine singing, rhythm textures, big chorus, perky beat and nice [[arrangement (music)|arrangement]]."<ref name=cb>{{cite news|title=CashBox Singles Reviews|date=4 November 1978|page=26|newspaper=Cash Box|accessdate=2022-01-01|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1978/CB-1978-11-04.pdf}}</ref> ''[[Record World]]'' called it a "solid pop/rock offering with a bouncy beat and full vocal hook."<ref name=rw>{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=November 4, 1978|accessdate=2023-02-13|title=Hits of the Week|page=1|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/78/RW-1978-11-04.pdf}}</ref>


==Chart performance==
==Chart performance==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-begin|width=65%}}
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly singles charts===
===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
|-
!align="left"|Chart (1978-79)
!align="left"|Chart (1978–79)
!align="left"|Peak<br />position
!align="left"|Peak<br />position
|-
|-
|align="left"|Australia ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref name="aus79">{{cite web|url=https://i.imgur.com/VVyraDN.jpg|title=Kent Music Report No 288 – 31 December 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1979|publisher=[[Kent Music Report]]|via=Imgur.com|access-date=10 January 2023}}</ref>
|align="left"|[[ARIA Charts|Australia]]
| style="text-align:center;"|
| style="text-align:center;"|12
|-
|-
|align="left"|Canadian ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' Top Singles<ref>https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.0064a&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=183djard4e9f2sinhndnmvitl2</ref>
|align="left"|Canadian ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' Top Singles<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.0064a&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=183djard4e9f2sinhndnmvitl2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150608173709/https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.0064a&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=183djard4e9f2sinhndnmvitl2 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2015-06-08 |title=Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada |publisher=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |access-date=2015-10-27 }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|13
| style="text-align:center;"|13
|-
|-
{{singlechart|Canadaadultcontemporary|7|chartid=0075|access-date=November 19, 2024}}
|align="left"|Canadian ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' Adult Contemporary
| style="text-align:center;"|7
|-
|-
|{{singlechart|Ireland2|11|song=Part-Time Love|access-date=June 22, 2017}}
|align="left"|[[New Zealand Singles Chart|New Zealand]]
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
|-
|align="left"|[[New Zealand Singles Chart|New Zealand]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20rianz&qsongid=805#n_view_location |title=NZ Listener chart statistics for Part Time Love |publisher=Flavour of New Zealand |date=4 March 1979 |access-date=2020-04-24 |archive-date=2 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220802174525/http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20rianz&qsongid=805#n_view_location |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|align="left"|[[UK Singles Chart|UK]]
| style="text-align:center;"|14
|-
|South Africa ([[Springbok Radio|Springbok]])<ref>{{cite web|title=SA Charts 1965 – March 1989|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(J).html|access-date=5 September 2018}}</ref>
|align="center"|6
|-
|align="left"|[[UK Singles Chart|UK Singles]] ([[Official Charts Company|OCC]])<ref>{{cite web|title=Elton John Chart History {{!}} officialcharts.com|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/21478/elton-john/|website=officialcharts.com|date=23 January 1971 |accessdate=August 2, 2022}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|15
| style="text-align:center;"|15
|-
|-
|align="left"|U.S. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard Hot 100]]''
|align="left"|U.S. [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]<ref>{{cite book |title= Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012 |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |authorlink=Joel Whitburn |year=2013 |publisher=Record Research |page=436}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|22
| style="text-align:center;"|22
|-
|-
|align="left"|U.S. ''Billboard'' [[Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks]]
|align="left"|U.S. ''Billboard'' [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Easy Listening]]<ref>{{cite book |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |authorlink=Joel Whitburn |year=2002 |publisher=Record Research |page=128}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|40
| style="text-align:center;"|40
|-
|-
|align="left"|U.S. ''[[Cash Box]]'' Top 100 <ref>http://50.6.195.142/archives/70s_files/19781230.html</ref>
|align="left"|U.S. ''[[Cash Box]]'' Top 100<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/19781230.html |title=Cash Box Top 100 12/30/78 |publisher=cashboxmagazine.com |date=30 December 1978 |access-date=2015-10-27 |archive-date=4 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004091038/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/19781230.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|13
| style="text-align:center;"|13
|-
|}
|}
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}


===Year-end charts===
===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
!align="left"|Chart (1978)
!align="left"|Chart (1978)
! style="text-align:center;"|Position
! style="text-align:center;"|Rank
|-
|-
|Canada<ref>https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.0070b&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=183djard4e9f2sinhndnmvitl2</ref>
|Canada<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.0070b&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=183djard4e9f2sinhndnmvitl2 |title=Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada |publisher=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |access-date=2015-10-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305202149/https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.0070b&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=183djard4e9f2sinhndnmvitl2 |archive-date=2016-03-05 }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|141
| style="text-align:center;"|141
|-
|-
|U.S. ([[Joel Whitburn]]'s ''Pop Annual'')<ref>{{cite book |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |date=1999 |title=Pop Annual |location=Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin |publisher=Record Research Inc. |isbn=0-89820-142-X}}</ref>
|UK <ref>http://www.old-charts.com/charts70/yearend70/1978yearend_uk.htm</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|114
|-
|U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>http://www.bullfrogspond.com/whitburn/1978wye.htm</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|146
| style="text-align:center;"|146
|-
|-
!align="left"|Chart (1979)
! style="text-align:center;"|Rank
|-
|align="left"|Australia ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref name="aus79"/>
| style="text-align:center;"|88
|}
|}
{{col-end}}
{{col-end}}


==Personnel==
==Personnel==
*Elton John - [[piano]], vocals
*Elton John - piano, vocals
*Tim Renwick - [[Electric guitar|guitars]]
*[[Tim Renwick]] - guitars
*Clive Franks - [[Bass guitar|bass]]
*Clive Franks - bass
*Steve Holly - [[Drum kit|drums]]
*[[Steve Holley]] - drums
*Ray Cooper - [[percussion]]
*[[Ray Cooper]] - percussion
*[[Vicki Brown (singer)|Vicki Brown]] - backing vocals
*[[Vicki Brown (singer)|Vicki Brown]] - backing vocals
*Joanne Stone - backing vocals
*[[Joanne Stone]] backing vocals
*Stevie Lange - backing vocals
*[[Stevie Lange]] backing vocals
*Gary Osborne - backing vocals
*[[Gary Osborne]] backing vocals
*Chris Thompson - backing vocals
*[[Chris Thompson (English musician)|Chris Thompson]] – backing vocals
*[[Davey Johnstone]] - backing vocals, lead guitar
*[[Davey Johnstone]] backing vocals, lead guitar
*Paul Buckmaster - orchestral arrangement
*[[Paul Buckmaster]] orchestral arrangement


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Songs with music by Elton John]]
[[Category:Songs with music by Elton John]]
[[Category:Songs with lyrics by Gary Osborne]]
[[Category:Songs with lyrics by Gary Osborne]]
[[Category:1978 songs]]
[[Category:The Rocket Record Company singles]]
[[Category:MCA Records singles]]
[[Category:Songs about infidelity]]

Latest revision as of 15:08, 7 December 2024

"Part-Time Love"
Standard artwork
Single by Elton John
from the album A Single Man
B-side"I Cry at Night"
Released13 October 1978[1]
RecordedJanuary–September 1978
GenrePop rock, disco
Length3:16
LabelMCA (U.S.)
Rocket (UK)
Songwriter(s)Elton John, Gary Osborne
Producer(s)Elton John, Clive Franks
Elton John singles chronology
"Ego"
(1978)
"Part-Time Love"
(1978)
"Song for Guy"
(1978)

"Part-Time Love" is a song written by English musician Elton John with lyrics by Gary Osborne. It is the sixth track off his 1978 album, A Single Man. It is also the opening track of side two. It proved to be one of the most popular singles the pair wrote, along with 1982's "Blue Eyes" and the 1980 US million seller "Little Jeannie". It was banned in the Soviet release of the album along with another song, "Big Dipper". The single reached No. 15 in the UK and peaked just outside the Top 20 in the US at No. 22.

Lyrical meaning

[edit]

In the 29 September 1979 edition of the Ann Landers advice column, one writer going by the title "Want A Better Environment For Our Youth" alleged that these lyrics of this song dealt with adultery: "You've been seen running around...Don't tell me what to do when you've been doing it too."[2]

Release

[edit]

While the lyrics on the A-side were written by Gary Osborne, those on the B-side, "I Cry at Night", were written by Bernie Taupin. It is one of the few singles John released with different lyricists on each side.

The song appeared on his compilation The Very Best of Elton John in 1990 and the deluxe edition of his 2017 compilation Diamonds.

Reception

[edit]

Cash Box praised the "Fine singing, rhythm textures, big chorus, perky beat and nice arrangement."[3] Record World called it a "solid pop/rock offering with a bouncy beat and full vocal hook."[4]

Chart performance

[edit]

Personnel

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 70.
  2. ^ Landers, Ann (29 September 1979). "Some Rock Lyrics Are Offensive". The Dispatch (Lexington, N.C.). p. 6. Some newspapers published this column on 1 October.
  3. ^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 4 November 1978. p. 26. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 4 November 1978. p. 1. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Kent Music Report No 288 – 31 December 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1979". Kent Music Report. Retrieved 10 January 2023 – via Imgur.com.
  6. ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 8 June 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  7. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 0075." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  8. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Part-Time Love". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  9. ^ "NZ Listener chart statistics for Part Time Love". Flavour of New Zealand. 4 March 1979. Archived from the original on 2 August 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  10. ^ "SA Charts 1965 – March 1989". Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  11. ^ "Elton John Chart History | officialcharts.com". officialcharts.com. 23 January 1971. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  12. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 436.
  13. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 128.
  14. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 12/30/78". cashboxmagazine.com. 30 December 1978. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  15. ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  16. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-142-X.