When I Call Your Name (Vince Gill song)
| "When I Call Your Name" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Vince Gill | ||||
| from the album When I Call Your Name | ||||
| B-side | "Rita Ballou" | |||
| Released | May 1990 | |||
| Recorded | 1989 | |||
| Genre | Neotraditional country[1] | |||
| Label | MCA | |||
| Songwriters | Vince Gill, Tim DuBois | |||
| Producer | Tony Brown | |||
| Vince Gill singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"When I Call Your Name" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Vince Gill. It was released in May 1990 as the third single and title track from the album When I Call Your Name. The song reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.[2] It was written by Gill and Tim DuBois. Patty Loveless performed backing vocals on the song. Session veteran Barry Beckett played piano on the track. The Common Linnets performed a cover of the song to celebrate 50 years of the CMA Awards.[3]
Cover versions
Country music singer Cody Johnson covered the song from the television special CMT Giants: Vince Gill.
Critical reception
In 2024, Rolling Stone ranked the song at #91 on its 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time ranking.[4]
Music video
The music video was directed by Bill Pope and premiered in mid-1990. Although Patty Loveless sang the song with Gill in live performances, she did not appear in the video. Instead, country singer Matraca Berg appeared, lip-syncing to Loveless's vocals.[5]
Chart performance
| Chart (1990) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[6] | 5 |
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[7] | 2 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1990) | Position |
|---|---|
| Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[8] | 82 |
| US Country Songs (Billboard)[9] | 39 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[10] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- ^ Sawyer, Bobbie Jean. "The 15 Most Underrated Country Songs from the 90s". Wide Open Country. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 135.
- ^ [1]
- ^ "The 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. May 24, 2014.
- ^ Hurst, Jack (November 21, 1991). "Sensitive Souls". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 4, 2012.
- ^ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 1316." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. August 25, 1990. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
- ^ "Vince Gill Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1990". RPM. December 22, 1990. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
- ^ "Best of 1990: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1990. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
- ^ "American single certifications – Vince Gill – When I Call Your Name". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
