Never Had It So Good

This article is about the song. For the general election associated with the phrase, see 1959 United Kingdom general election. For the socioeconomic history book, see Dominic Sandbrook.
"Never Had It So Good"
Single by Mary Chapin Carpenter
from the album State of the Heart
B-side"Other Streets and Other Towns"
ReleasedSeptember 2, 1989
GenreCountry
Length4:05
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Mary Chapin Carpenter, John Jennings
Producer(s)Mary Chapin Carpenter, John Jennings
Mary Chapin Carpenter singles chronology
"How Do"
(1989) 		"Never Had It So Good"
(1989) 		"Quittin' Time"
(1990)

"Never Had It So Good" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Mary Chapin Carpenter. It was released in September 1989 as the second single from the album State of the Heart. The song reached #8 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.[1] Carpenter wrote and produced the song with John Jennings.

Content

The song is about a relationship with Carpenter's ex-boyfriend at the time, telling him that he "never had it so good" now that he is in another relationship. Carpenter said of the song, "when I wrote it, I had no idea it would wind up on the radio. Neither did he."[2]

Critical reception

An uncredited review in Cashbox was favorable toward the song, stating that "This cut brings out Carpenter’s distinct vocals like never before and lets us know just how beautifully she can handle a tune guaranteed to conquer radio airplay. 'Never Had It So Good'[...]expresses the true contentment within a relationship—and rising star Carpenter has never sounded so good."[3]

Chart performance

Chart (1989) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[4] 6
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[5] 8

Year-end charts

Chart (1989) Position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[6] 70

References

  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 69.
  2. ^ Thomas Goldsmith (March 5, 1990). "New faces strut their stuff at radio show". The Tennessean. pp. 1E, 6E. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  3. ^ "Single releases" (PDF). Cash Box: 23. August 26, 1989.
  4. ^ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 6643." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. December 23, 1989. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  5. ^ "Mary Chapin Carpenter Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  6. ^ "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1989". RPM. December 23, 1989. Retrieved August 28, 2013.