If You Think You're Lonely Now

"If You Think You're Lonely Now" is a song recorded and released by American soul singer-songwriter Bobby Womack in 1981 from his album The Poet. It was initially released as the B-side to his song "Secrets"^[4] but proved to be the more popular track. The single reached number three for four weeks on the Hot Soul Singles chart.^[5] This is significant because Womack released the song during a time when R&B was on a down slope and the charts were largely dominated by dance music.

"If You Think You're Lonely Now"
Single by Bobby Womack
from the album The Poet
Released	August 1981[1]
Recorded	1981
Genre	R&B[2] gospel[3] soul
Length	5:30
Label	Beverly Glen Music
Songwriter(s)	Bobby Womack, Patrick Moten, Sandra Sully
Producer(s)	Bobby Womack
Bobby Womack singles chronology
"Secrets" (1981) "If You Think You're Lonely Now" (1981) "Where Do We Go From Here" (1982)
K-Ci Hailey singles chronology
"What About Us" (1994) "If You Think You're Lonely Now" (1995) "Freek'n You" (1995)

Reception

For Record Collector, Tim Brown wrote, "There was a major hit single in the form of the rambling ballad 'If You Think You’re Lonely Now', a true return to form."^[6]

Charts

Chart (1982)	Peak position[7]
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[8]	3

K-Ci Hailey version

The song was later revised in 1994 by K-Ci Hailey, which is featured on the soundtrack to the film, Jason's Lyric. K-Ci's version was a pop hit, which peaked to number seventeen on Billboard's Hot 100 and eleven on Hot R&B Singles charts. The song's main hook is also invoked by Mariah Carey in her 2005 song "We Belong Together".

Chart (1995)	Peak position[9]
US Billboard Hot 100[10]	17
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[11]	11

References

1. "Bobby Womack - Secrets".
2. Gallery: Bobby Womack – "If You Think You're Lonely Now" Rolling Stone
3. Harrington, Jim (2016). "Bobby Womack - The Poet". In Dimery, Robert (ed.). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. London: Cassell Illustrated. p. 482.
4. "Bobby Womack - Secrets".
5. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 634.
6. Brown, Tim (August 11, 2013). "If You Think You're Lonely Now…". Record Collector. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
7. Billboard singles
8. "Bobby Womack Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
9. [https://www.billboard.com/artist/cedric-"k-ci"-hailey/chart-history/ K-Ci Hailey Billboard singles]
10. "K-Ci & JoJo Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
11. "K-Ci & JoJo Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 26, 2017.