"Long Long Time" is a song written by Gary White which became a hit for Linda Ronstadt in 1970. "Long Long Time" is about a lasting love for someone who did not last as a lover.
Linda Ronstadt version In 1970, Linda Ronstadt released the song as a single and on the album Silk Purse. The single spent 12 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 25,Hot 100 - Linda Ronstadt Long Long Time Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved March 26, 2018. while reaching No. 15 on Canada's "RPM 100" (her first single there),"R.P.M. 100", RPM Weekly, Volume 14, No. 10, October 24, 1970. Accessed May 30, 2016 No. 8 on Canada's CHUM 30 chart, CHUM 30, Official Issue No. 119. and No. 20 on Billboards Easy Listening chart.Adult Contemporary Linda Ronstadt Long Long Time Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved March 26, 2018."Billboard Top 40 Easy Listening", Billboard, October 3, 1970. p. 45. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
In 1971, Ronstadt was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Female Vocal Performance for her rendition of "Long Long Time"."Grammy Awards Final Nominations", Billboard, February 6, 1971. p. 12. Accessed May 31, 2016.
Chart performance Chart (1970) Peakposition Canada - RPM 10015 Canada - CHUM 308 U.S. Billboard Hot 10025 U.S. Billboard Easy Listening20 U.S. Cash Box Top 100Cash Box Top 100, Cash Box, October 17, 1970. Accessed July 13, 2016.26 U.S. Record World 100 Top Pops100 Top Pops, Record World, October 24, 1970. Accessed January 2, 2021.21 U.S. Record World Top Non-RockTop Non-Rock, Record World, October 17, 1970. Accessed January 2, 2021.12
Cover versions In 1973, Harry Belafonte recorded the song as a duet with vocalist Eloise Laws for his album "Play Me". In 1974, Cliff Richard recorded the song for his album "The 31st of February Street". In 1976, Larry Santos released a cover of the song, which reached No. 38 on Billboards Easy Listening chartAdult Contemporary - Larry Santos Long Long Time Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved March 26, 2018."Billboard Top 50 Easy Listening", Billboard, December 11, 1976. p. 37. Accessed May 31, 2016. and No. 109 on Billboards "Bubbling Under the Hot 100"."Bubbling Under the Hot 100", Billboard, December 11, 1976. p. 24. Accessed May 31, 2016.
Country singer Mindy McCready recorded the song for her 1997 album "If I Don't Stay the Night".
In 1998 Canadian singer Alannah Myles covered the song as one of two new recordings for her Greatest Hits album The Very Best Of Alannah Myles.
In popular culture The song is played during the third episode (which shares the name with the song but adds a comma to the episode title that the song release does not contain) of the 2023 television series The Last of Us, serving as a motif for the relationship between Bill and Frank. After the episode was broadcast, Spotify announced that streams of the song increased by 4,900% over the previous week; several outlets compared it to the 2022 resurgence of Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" after its use in the fourth season of Stranger Things. In the period after the episode was broadcast, the song topped three separate Billboard charts, more than 50 years after its release, placing at No. 1 on the Rock Digital Song Sales ranking dated February 11, 2023. The song also features in a scene from the 2024 comedy road movie Drive-Away Dolls.
References
External links Lyrics of this song