This song was written in Phoenix, Arizona in 1959 by the singer-songwriter and producer Gary S. Paxton who was later a member of the Hollywood Argyles. At the time he was a member of the duo Skip & Flip, where he was Flip. Skip was the singer-songwriter and bassist Clyde “Skip” Battin who was later a member of The Byrds, New Riders of the Purple Sage and The Flying Burrito Brothers.
The song lyrics are about problems through a break-up in a relationship and trying to keep going with it and it was recorded by the duo in 1959 with the song “Lunch Hour” on the B-side.
It had been recorded as an acoustic demo which was given to the producer and record label owner Bob Shad. The single was released in May 1959 and the first that the duo knew of it being released was when Gary S. Paxton heard it being played on a radio when he was working on a tree. They then learned it had been released by Brent Records and soon after were appearing on television shows.
It went on to enter the charts and achieved No. 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was later named as No. 84 of the Top Hot 100 songs of 1959 by Billboard magazine. The song was included o the compilation album It Was I: The Very Best of Skip & Flip.
In 1981 the song was covered by Lindsay Buckingham, known for his work with Fleetwood Mac, on his solo debut album Law ad Order. It was released as a single in 1982 but didn’t manage to get into the Billboard Hot 100 although reaching No. 10 on the Billboard Bubbling Under chart. It did, however, see more success in Australia when it reached No. 74 on its Kent Music Report chart.
Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Was_I
- https://www.all-about-vinylrecords.com/skip-and-flip-vinyl-memories.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skip_%26_Flip
- https://www.waybackattack.com/skipandflip.html
- https://www.billboard.com/artist/skip-and-flip/chart-history/hsi/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20140102011043/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts/1959.php
- https://www.allmusic.com/album/it-was-i-the-very-best-of-skip-flip-mw0000044169
- https://www.discogs.com/release/2858991-Skip-And-Flip-It-Was-I
- https://secondhandsongs.com/performance/1331451