One Day at a Time (song)

For the Tupac Shakur song, see One Day at a Time (Em's Version).

"One Day at a Time"
Single by Marilyn Sellars
from the album One Day at a Time
Released	1974
Genre	Country
Length	3:32
Label	Mega
Writer(s)	Marijohn Wilkin, Kris Kristofferson
Producer	Steven C. Anderson
Marilyn Sellars singles chronology
"One Day at a Time" (1974) "He's Everywhere" (1974)

"One Day at a Time" is a popular Country and Western-style Christian song written by Marijohn Wilkin and Kris Kristofferson. It has been recorded by over 200 artists and has reached No.1 in several territories.

Marilyn Sellars version

The song was first recorded by American Country singer Marilyn Sellars in 1974.^[1] This version became a US top 40 hit and top 20 hit on the Country Charts. Following this, it won the 1975 Gospel Music Association (GMA) Dove Awards for best song.^[2]

Chart positions

Chart (1974)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles	19
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	37

Gloria version

"One Day at a Time"
Single by Gloria
from the album When I Sing for Him
Released	August 1977
Genre	Country
Writer(s)	Marijohn Wilkin, Kris Kristofferson
Gloria singles chronology
"One Day at a Time" (1977) "TBA" (TBA)

"One Day at a Time" was recorded by Gloria who released it as a single in August 1977. The song remained on the Irish charts for the rest of the year, throughout 1978 and well into 1979 - peaking at No.1 (over a year after it had entered the chart) and spending 90 weeks in the top 30 - the longest run by any song in Irish Chart history.^[3]

Chart positions

Chart (1977)	Peak position
Ireland (IRMA)	1

Other versions

The song went on to be recorded by many artists. Scottish singer Lena Martell recorded the song for the UK market in 1979. The song again became a big success and reached No.1 in October 1979 for three weeks.^[4]. The song was also recorded by the following; The Alexander Brothers; Judy Collins; Phil Coulter; Floyd Cramer; Carlene Davis; Florida Boys; Tennessee Ernie Ford; Foster & Allen; Bill Gaither; Don Gibson; Arthur Greenslade; Lee Greenwood; George Hamilton IV; and Sharon Hardman.

Cristy Lane version

"One Day at a Time"
Single by Cristy Lane
from the album Ask Me to Dance
B-side	I Knew the Mason
Released	February 1980
Format	Country, country gospel
Recorded	November 19, 1979
Genre	Country
Length	3:12
Label	United Artists X1342-Y
Writer(s)	Marijohn Wilkin and Kris Kristofferson
Producer	Charlie Black
Cristy Lane singles chronology
"Come to My Love" (1979) "One Day at a Time" (1980) "Sweet Sexy Eyes" (1980)

"One Day at a Time" became best known among country fans when recorded by American country gospel singer Cristy Lane. Lane had started enjoying mainstream success in the late 1970s through the release of several secular hits, including "Let Me Down Easy" and "Simple Little Words." In 1979, Lane recorded the song after it became a No. 1 hit in Great Britain by Lena Martell. At first, United Artists Records balked at releasing the song, despite its previous track record of success, but Lane's husband-manager, Lee Stoller, predicted the song would be successful, and UA relented. The song was released in the late winter of 1980, and by the end of the spring, the song was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.

"One Day at a Time" was Lane's only No. 1 hit. For Kristofferson, the song became his sixth No. 1 as a songwriter and first in six years (his last being 1974's "Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends" by Ronnie Milsap).

Chart positions

Chart (1980)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles	1
Canadian RPM Country Tracks	10

See also

• Dove Award for Song of the Year

References

1. ^ Marilyn Sellars | One Day At a Time | Midwest Entertainer for Hire
2. ^ GMA Dove Awards - Song of the Year History
3. ^ The Irish Charts - All there is to know
4. ^ Chart Stats - Lena Martell - One Day At A Time

Preceded by "Summer Night City" by ABBA "Sandy" by John Travolta	Irish Singles Chart number-one single (Gloria version) 30 September 1978 11 November 1978	Succeeded by "Summer Nights" by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John "Hopelessly Devoted to You" by Olivia Newton John
Preceded by "Video Killed the Radio Star" by Buggles	UK Singles Chart number one single (Lena Martell version) 27 October 1979 - 10 November 1979	Succeeded by "When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman" by Dr. Hook
Preceded by "My Heart" by Ronnie Milsap	Billboard Hot Country Singles number-one single (Cristy Lane version) June 21, 1980	Succeeded by "Trying to Love Two Women" by The Oak Ridge Boys