"If I Only Had Time" is a song recorded by the New Zealand singer John Rowles in 1968 that became a worldwide hit single. It was his first release in the UK.

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Background

The song is the English translation of "Je n’aurai pas le temps", a French ballad, recorded by Michel Fugain in 1967. Peter Gormley who had signed Rowles to MCA, got Mike Leander to handle the arrangements for the song.[1]

As reported in the issue of Billboard on July 6th, 1968, the single was at that time number 2 in Belgium, number 27 in Britain, number 5 in the Netherlands, and number 5 in New Zealand.[2] It had eventually peak at number 1 in Rhodesia, number 3 in the UK, number 2 in New Zealand, number 2 in Belgium, number 2 in the Netherlands, number 15 in Germany, and number 17 in Austria. It did well in the Australian cities, registering at number 5 in Sydney, number 14 in Melbourne, number 3 in Brisbane, number 6 in Adelaide and number 7 in Perth.[3]

The song was re-released in 1988 on the Old Gold label. It was backed with "Hush Not A Word To Mary".[4]

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