You Turn Me On, I'm a Radio

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For the Ed Bruce song, see You Turn Me On (Like a Radio).
"You Turn Me On, I'm a Radio"
Joni Mitchell--You Turn Me On I'm a Radio.jpg
Single by Joni Mitchell
from the album For the Roses
B-side"Urge for Going"
ReleasedNovember 1972
Recorded1972
StudioHollywood, California[1]
GenreFolk
Length2:39
LabelAsylum
Songwriter(s)Joni Mitchell
Producer(s)Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell singles chronology
"California"
(1971) 		"You Turn Me On, I'm a Radio"
(1972) 		"Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire"
(1973)

"You Turn Me On, I'm a Radio" is a song written and originally recorded by Canadian singer songwriter Joni Mitchell. It was released on her fifth studio album entitled For the Roses and was issued as a single as well.

Background[]

Joni Mitchell originally wrote the song in response to her record label's desire for her to write a hit song. Mitchell reveals her purpose on lines such as, "And I'm sending you out this signal here, I hope you can pick it up loud and clear".[2] She believed that including words in the song about radio themes would convince stations to play the recording.[3] The song was recorded in preparation for Mitchell's then-upcoming fifth studio album in Hollywood, California at A&M Studios.[1] Although Graham Nash, David Crosby, and Neil Young all contributed to the recording session for the song, only the harmonica piece performed by Graham Nash was included on the official release.[3]

"You Turn Me On, I'm a Radio" was released as a single in November 1972 via Asylum Records. The song became Mitchell's first top-ten hit in Canada, reaching the tenth position on the RPM Top Singles chart.[4] Additionally, the single became her first top-forty hit in the United States, reaching number twenty-five on the Billboard Hot 100.[5] Outside North America, "You Turn Me On, I'm a Radio" peaked within the top forty on the Australian Kent Music Report chart.[6] The single was included on Mitchell's fifth studio effort For the Roses, which was issued in November 1972.[1]

Chart performance[]

Chart (1972–1973) Peak
position
Australia Top 100 Singles (Kent Music Report)[6] 37
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[4] 10
Canada Adult Contemporary Songs (RPM)[7] 3
US Billboard Hot 100[5] 25
US Cashbox Top 100[8] 20
US Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks (Billboard)[5] 13

"Urge for Going"[]

The single features the only non-album B-side of Mitchell's career, a song originally recorded by Tom Rush that features on his 1968 album The Circle Game. Mitchell had performed the song since at least 1966 and was inspired by her hometown of Saskatoon.[9] The Mitchell version remained unreleased on LP until her 1996 compilation album Hits.

Gail Davies version[]

"You Turn Me On, I'm a Radio"
Gail Davies--You Turn Me On I'm a Radio.jpg
Single by Gail Davies
from the album Givin' Herself Away
B-side"All the Fire Is Gone"[10]
ReleasedJune 1982
RecordedJuly 1981
StudioHollywood, California[10]
GenreCountry
Length4:49
LabelWarner Bros. Nashville
Songwriter(s)Joni Mitchell
Producer(s)Gail Davies
Gail Davies singles chronology
"Round the Clock Lovin'"
(1982) 		"You Turn Me On, I'm a Radio"
(1982) 		"Hold On"
(1982)

Among numerous cover versions, American country artist Gail Davies released her version of "You Turn Me On, I'm a Radio" as a single in 1982. Davies befriended Joni Mitchell during the early 1970s after becoming a session musician for A&M Records in California.[11] As a tribute to Mitchell, Davies decided to record the song. Following the single's release to radio, Davies was congratulated by both Mitchell and Henry Lewy. Lewy was responsible for introducing Davies to the self-production of her own recordings.[12] The song was recorded at the "Producer's Workshop" in Hollywood, California, United States in July 1982. It was produced entirely by Davies in preparation for her fourth studio record Givin' Herself Away.[10]

"You Turn Me On, I'm a Radio" was released as a single via Warner Bros. Records in June 1982. The song reached the seventeenth position on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1982. It became her seventh top-twenty hit on the country singles chart and her second from her fourth studio album.[13] Additionally, the single peaked at number seven on the Canadian RPM Country Singles chart, becoming her second top-ten single on that chart.[14]

Chart performance[]

Chart (1982) Peak
position
Canada Country Songs (RPM)[14] 7
US Hot Country Singles (Billboard)[13] 17

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Words and Music: For the Roses". Joni Mitchell. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  2. ^ "Joni Mitchell -- Fun Facts and Information". Fun Trivia. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b ""You Turn Me On, I'm a Radio" by Joni Mitchell". Song Facts. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "Search results for "Joni Mitchell" under "Top Singles"". RPM.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Billboard chart positions > singles". Allmusic.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b David Kent (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970 - 1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  7. ^ "Search results for "Joni Mitchell" under "AC"". RPM.
  8. ^ "Cashbox Top 100: January 27, 1973". cashboxmagazine.com. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  9. ^ "Joni Mitchell - Urge For Going - lyrics". jonimitchell.com. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Praguefrank's Country Music Discographies: Gail Davies". Praguefrank's Country Discographies. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  11. ^ Walker, Bruce. "Gail Davies Biography". Musician Guide. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  12. ^ "Gail Davies -- Givin' Herself Away". Gail Davies. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research.
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b "Search results for "Gail Davies" under Country Singles". RPM. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
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