The Best of You

"The Best of You"
Single by Booker T. Jones
from the album The Best of You
B-side"Let's Go Dancin'"
Released1980 (1980)
Length3:57
LabelA&M 2234-S
SongwriterBooker T. Jones
ProducersDavid Anderle & Booker T. Jones

"The Best of You" is a song by American musician Booker T. Jones and a single from the album The Best of You (1980). The B-side to the single is "Let's Go Dancin'".

Booker T. Jones version

Background

"The Best of You" backed with "Let's Go Dancin'" was released as a 45 rpm single on A&M 2234-S in 1980.

The song is also used as the B side for Jones' single "We Could Stay Together" which was a hit in Australia in 1980, and "You Got Me Spinning" which was a hit in New Zealand in 1982.

Reception

Jones' album was one of the four Record World Picks of the Week for the week of 3 May. The review of the album was positive with his pleasant voice and the pop appeal being noted. The reviewer also wrote that Jones was most effective on the slow ballads and gave "The Best of You" and "Will You Be the One" as examples.

"The Best of You" was a Record World Single Pick for the week of 21 June. The reviewer wrote that Jones was in rare form with the song and his voice was shimmering alongside the prominent guitar. The reviewer also mentioned the strong crossover potential of the song.

Kenny Thomas version

"Best of You"
Single by Kenny Thomas
from the album Voices
B-side"De Grooveski"
ReleasedSeptember 23, 1991 (1991-09-23)
Length3:43
LabelCooltempo
SongwriterBooker T. Jones
ProducerIan Green
Kenny Thomas singles chronology
"Thinking About Your Love"
(1991)		 "Best of You"
(1991)		 "Tender Love"
(1991)

Background

The song was given a new audience in 1991 when the song was covered by English singer Kenny Thomas, retitled "Best of You", from his debut album, Voices (1991). Thomas's version, produced by Ian Green was released by Cooltempo Records and reached No. 11 in the United Kingdom and also charted in France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1991–1992) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) 197
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 27
Europe (European Hit Radio) 10
France (SNEP)23
Germany (GfK)66
Ireland (IRMA)27
Luxembourg (Radio Luxembourg) 9
Netherlands (Single Top 100)87
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)31
UK Singles (Official Charts)11
UK Airplay (Music Week) 2
UK Dance (Music Week) 2
UK Club Chart (Record Mirror) 2

Year-end charts

Chart (1991) Position
UK Club Chart (Record Mirror) 46

References

  1. ↑ Discogs - Booker T. Jones – The Best Of You
  2. ↑ 45Cat - Booker T. Jones And Rita Coolidge - 7" Singles Discography, Australia
  3. ↑ Top 100 Singles - Every AMR Top 100 Single in 1980, We Could Stay Together Booker T. Jones & Rita Coolidge 27 OCT '80 #60
  4. ↑ 45Cat - Booker T. Jones - You Got Me Spinning
  5. ↑ Hitparade.ch - Booker T. Jones – You Got Me Spinning
  6. ↑ Record World, May 3, 1980 - Page 41 PICKS OF THE WEEK, THE BEST OF YOU BOOKER T JONES-A&M SP-4798
  7. ↑ Record World, June 21, 1980 - Page 12 Record World Single Picks, BOOKER T. JONES-A&M 2234 THE BEST OF YOU
  8. ↑ Best of You (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Kenny Thomas. Cooltempo Records. 1991. COOL 243.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ↑ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. September 21, 1991. p. 21.
  10. ↑ "Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing 27 July 1992". Bubbling Down Under. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 43. October 26, 1991. p. 33.
  12. ↑ "European Hit Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 47. November 23, 1991. p. 31. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Kenny Thomas – Best of You" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Best of You | IRMA". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  16. ↑ Radio Luxembourg Singles. October 20, 1991.
  17. ↑ "Kenny Thomas – Best of You" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Kenny Thomas – Best of You". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 19/10/1991 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. November 2, 1991. p. 18. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. October 5, 1991. p. 26. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  22. ↑ "The Record Mirror Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). October 5, 1991. p. 8. Retrieved September 7, 2025.
  23. ↑ "The Record Mirror Club Chart 1991" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). January 4, 1992. p. 8. Retrieved September 2, 2025.