"If I Had My Wish Tonight" is a song written by Randy Goodrum and Dave Loggins originally released in 1979 by Dave Loggins on his self-titled album. American singer-songwriter David Lasley covered the song on his Missin' Twenty Grand album, releasing it as the first single. The song debuted on March 13, 1982, and reached a peak position of 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 on May 1, 1982.
The song was produced by Lasley with strings arranged by Arif Mardin. Dave Iveland is credited as co-producer and recording engineer. Bonnie Raitt contributed background vocals. It appears on Lasley's Back To Blue-Eyed Soul Collected Works released in 2001 and on EMI compilations Lost Hits of the 80s Vol. 2 and AOL Light Mellow: EMI Edition.
Composition, lyrics and style
Don Shewey for the Boston Phoenix described the performance and delivery of the lyrics "while the singer wails, a sort of Greek chorus led by Bonnie Raitt emblazons the wish on the back of the departing lover: "'Stead of walkin' away/You'd want me to stay/You would want me" (note the insistence of those "w" sounds)."
Credits and personnel
Bonnie Raitt – backing vocals
Chuck Cochran – backing vocals, guitar
David Lasley – lead and backing vocals, producer
Wade Short – bass
David Benoit – conductor, electric piano, organ
Jody Linscott – congas
Willie Wilcox – drums
Marty Walsh – guitar
David Garibaldi – percussion
Bill Schnee – engineer, mixing
Benny Facone – engineer
Paul McKenna – engineer, assistant
Dave Iveland – producer, recording
Derek DuNann – recording
David Loggins – songwriter
Randy Goodrum – songwriter
Arif Mardin – string arrangement
Critical reception
Don Shewey for the Boston Phoenix praised the song writing "the sumptuous semi-hit" calling Lasley's falsetto "so passionate that the second verse trails off midway (perhaps to allow the singer to break down a la James Brown)" declaring it "a mini-masterpiece, milked for every drop by Arif Mardin's superb string arrangement."