"You" is a 1977 single by Australian recording artist Marcia Hines, first recorded by writer Tom Snow on his 1975 Taking It All in Stride LP. "You" was the second single from her third studio album, Ladies and Gentlemen, released in October 1977. It peaked at No. 2 in Australia, and remains Hines' highest charting single in Australia.[1]
The song was nearly kept from Hines as Robie Porter, the producer, had put the song into his "don't use" pile. Mark Kennedy – her backing band's drummer – saw the sheet music in the studio and began arguing the song's worth to Porter. Porter subsequently changed his mind about the song.[2]
Hines' "You" is a dance song. Her version was not released in North America, and the following year it was covered in the U.S. by Rita Coolidge.[3]
Rita Coolidge covered "You" and released it as the first single from her sixth album, 1978's Love Me Again. Her version, in contrast to Hines', is more mellow in tone. Coolidge's version became a Top 40 hit in both the United States and Canada during the summer of 1978, debuting on the Hot 100 at No. 83 on 1 July 1978 and reaching No. 25 there on 26 August 1978 and No. 17 in Canada. "You" was a major success on the Adult Contemporary charts, reaching No. 3 in the U.S. and No. 1 in Canada. Coolidge's version did not chart in Australia, even though Hines' version had hit there.