"I Don't Want to Be a Lone Ranger" is a song written by Johnny "Guitar" Watson. It was a hit for him in 1975 and did quite well on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart. It appears on his I Don't Want to Be a Lone Ranger aka I Don't Want to Be Alone, Stranger album. It was also a hit for the group Hidden Strength the following year.
Johnny "Guitar" Watson version
Background Johnny "Guitar" Watson recorded the song "I Don't Want to Be a Lone Ranger" which was backed with "You Can Stay but the Noise Must Go", and released on Fantasy F-739 in 1975.45Cat - Johnny "Guitar" Watson I Don't Want To Be A Lone Ranger It was mentioned in the R&B Ingredients section of the Cash Box 5 April issue that Watson's new single "I Don't Want to Be a Lone Ranger" was out and would appear on his upcoming Fantasy Records album.Cash Box, April 5, 1975 - Page 17 r&b ingredients
Charts Billboard Hot Soul Singles "I Don't Want to be a Lone Ranger" made its debut at No. 99 in the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart for the week of 14 June 1975.Billboard, June 14, 1976 - Page 36 Billboard Hot Soul Singles, This Week 99, NEW ENTRY >, I DON'T WANT TO BE A LONE RANGER-Johnny "Guitar" Watson It peaked at No. 28.MusicVF.com - I Don't Want to Be a Lone Ranger : Johnny Guitar Watson, Chart, US R&B
Billboard Hot 100 Johnny "Guitar" Watson's single, "I Don't Want to be a Lone Ranger" debuted at No. 100 in the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for the week of 4 October 1975.Billboard, October 4, 1975 - Page 68 Billboard HOT 100, 100 NEW ENTRY >, DON'T WANT TO BE A LONE RANGER -Johnny "Guitar" Watson At the time the single was at its seventeenth week in the Hot Soul Singles chart.Billboard, October 4, 1975 - Page 32 Billboard Hot Soul Singles In its third charting week, the single peaked at No. 99 for the week of 18 October. It held that position for another week.Billboard, October 18, 1975 - Page 68 Billboard HOT 100, THIS WEEK 99, LAST WEEK 100, WEEKS ON CHART 3, I DON'T WANT TO BE A LONE RANGER - Johnny "Guitar" WatsonBillboard, October 25, 1975 - Page 72 Billboard HOT 100, THIS WEEK 99, LAST WEEK 99, WEEKS ON CHART 4, I DON'T WANT TO BE A LONE RANGER - Johnny "Guitar" WatsonBillboard, November 1, 1975 - Page 74 Billboard HOT 100
Hidden Strength version
Background Hidden Strength released the single, "I Don't Want to Be a Lone Ranger" bw "Happy Song" on United Artists UA-XW847-Y in 1976.45Cat - Hidden Strength I Don't Want To Be A Lone Ranger
Charts Billboard Hot Soul Singles "I Don't Want to Be a Lone Ranger" debuted at No. 99 in the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart for the week of 25 September 1976.Billboard, September 25, 1976 - Page 38 Billboard Hot Soul Singles, This Week 99 NEW ENTRY >, I DON'T WANT TO BE A LONE RANGER- Hidden Strength At week four, peaked at No. 78 for the week of 16 October and held that position for an additional week.Billboard, October 16, 1976 - Page 46 Billboard Hot Soul Singles, This Week 78, Last Week 84, Weeks on Chart 4, I DON'T WANT TO BE A LONE RANGER- Hidden StrengthBillboard, October 23, 1976 - Page 57 Billboard Hot Soul Singles, This Week 78, Last Week 78, Weeks on Chart 5, I DON'T WANT TO BE A LONE RANGER- Hidden StrengthBillboard, October 30, 1976 - Page 56 Billboard Hot Soul Singles
Cash Box Top 100 R&B "I Don't Want to Be a Lone Ranger" debuted at No. 84 in the Cash Box Top 100 R&B chart for the week of 2 October.Cash Box, October 2, 1976 - Page 49 CASH BOX TOP 100 R&B October 2, 1976 84 I DON’T WANT TO BE A LONE RANGER HIDDEN STRENGTH (United Artists XW8 47), 9/25 -, Weeks on Chart 1 In its second week in the chart, it peaked at No. 74 for the week of 9 October. It was still at the same position for the week of 16 October.Cash Box, October 9, 1976 - Page 41 CASH BOX TOP 100 R&B October 9, 1976 74 I DON’T WANT TO BE A LONG RANGER HIDDEN STRENGTH (United Artists XW8 47), 10/2 -, Weeks on Chart 2Cash Box, October 16, 1976 - Page 49 CASH BOX TOP 100 R&B October 16, 1976 74, I DON’T WANT TO BE A LONG RANGER, 10/9 74, Weeks On Chart 3Cash Box, October 23, 1976 - Page 50 CASH BOX TOP 100 R&B October 23, 1976
References
External links Discogs - Johnny "Guitar" Watson* – I Don't Want To Be A Lone Ranger Johnny "Guitar" Watson - Topic channel, Jun 16, 2022 - I Don't Want To Be A Lone Ranger (audio) Discogs - I Don't Want To Be A Lone Ranger / Happy Song funkgetier channel, Nov 10, 2011 - HIDDEN STRENGTH I don't want to be a lone ranger l (audio) (3:29 mins) jaysuzuki channel, Dec 31, 2011 - Hidden Strength I Don't Want To Be A Lone Ranger (audio) (5:21 mins)