To Be a Lover
original song written and composed by Booker T. Jones and William Bell; first recorded by William Bell
"To Be a Lover" is a song written by William Bell and Booker T. Jones as "I Forgot to Be Your Lover".
| "I Forgot to Be Your Lover" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by William Bell | ||||
| B-side | "Bring the Curtain Down" | |||
| Released | November 1968 | |||
| Recorded | 1968 | |||
| Genre | Southern soul | |||
| Length | 2:19 | |||
| Label | Stax | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Booker T. Jones | |||
| William Bell singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Billy Idol version change
| "To Be a Lover" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Billy Idol | ||||
| from the album Whiplash Smile | ||||
| B-side | "All Summer Single" | |||
| Released | 22 September 1986 | |||
| Recorded | 1986 | |||
| Genre | New wave | |||
| Length | 3:52 | |||
| Label | Chrysalis | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Keith Forsey | |||
| Billy Idol singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "To Be a Lover" at YouTube | ||||
In 1986, singer Billy Idol reworked the track for his third studio album Whiplash Smile. It went to number 6 in the United States, number 2 in New Zealand, number 3 in Australia, number 7 in Canada and number 18 in Italy. It was covered by Bruce Springsteen in 2022 for his 21st studio album Only the Strong Survive.
Formats and track listings change
7″: Chrysalis - IDOL 8 (UK) change
- "To Be a Lover" – 3:50
- "All Summer Single" – 4:33
12″: Chrysalis - IDOLX 8 (UK) change
- "To Be a Lover (Mother of Mercy Mix)" – 6:45
- "To Be a Lover" – 3:50
- "All Summer Single" – 4:33
- Also available as a picture disc (IDOLP 8)
12″: Festival Records - X 14449 (Australia and New Zealand) change
- "To Be a Lover (Rock 'n' Roll Mix)" – 7:11
- "To Be a Lover (Mother of Mercy Mix)" – 6:45
- "All Summer Single" – 4:33
