I ONLY WANT MY LOVE TO GROW IN YOU
Oyster, 1976
Release date: 23 Jul 1976 (UK)
"I Only Want My Love" was the first single under the Strawbs new record deal with Oyster Records, and the new radio-friendly Cousins/Cronk writing team had produced what seemed to be a real winner. The single got great airplay, was a Radio 1 record of the week, but failed to achieve the chart placing it deserved, owing to some undisclosed skullduggery and/or cock-up along the way. To make up for that, the single seems to have been released in more countries than any other 45 since "Part Of The Union". It even got a CD release when Airac in Japan were licensed by Witchwood Media to release 8 Strawbs/Dave Cousins CDs in facsimile card sleeves, and they added it as a 1-track bonus CD in the boxed set.
UK vinyl
US vinyl
Canada vinyl
Europe vinyl
Back to main 1976-1980 singles page
UK vinyl
"I Only Want My Love To Grow In You"/"(Wasting My Time) Thinking Of You"
(2066 705, Oyster, 1976)
UK promo release
Whereas A&M always had paper labels, Polydor's standard in the UK was the moulded "self-labelling" single. The promo version of the single had a little Oyster sticker over the middle black section. Also seen a copy with a nice white Oyster sleeve.
"I Only Want My Love To Grow In You"/"(Wasting My Time) Thinking Of You"
(2066 705, Oyster, 1976)
UK release
US vinyl
"I Only Want My Love To Grow In You [stereo]"/"I Only Want My Love To Grow In You [mono]"
(OY 702, 1976)
US promo release
The US promo release had stereo and mono versions.
"I Only Want My Love To Grow In You"/"(Wasting My Time" Thinking Of You"
(OY 702, 1976)
US releases
This was fully released in the US, with the same B-side as elsewhere. There seem to have been three variants of the release
Variant 1
Variant 2
Variant 3 (*)
Canada vinyl
"I Only Want My Love To Grow In You"/"(Wasting My Time) Thinking Of You"
(OY 702(C), Oyster, 1976)
Canadian promo release
This was a promo release in Canada - anyone got one?
"I Only Want My Love To Grow In You"/"(Wasting My Time) Thinking Of You"
(OY 702(C), Oyster, 1976)
Canadian release
This was fully released in Canada. The label states that it was manufactured and distributed by Polydor in Canada - but it also says "made in USA".
Europe vinyl
"I Only Want My Love To Grow In You"/"(Wasting My Time) Thinking Of You"
(2066 705, Oyster, 1976)
Irish release
Straightforward Polydor company sleeve.
"I Only Want My Love To Grow In You"/"(Wasting My Time) Thinking Of You"
(2066 705, Oyster, 1976)
Dutch release
This familiar promo photo appears on both sides of this sleeve
"I Only Want My Love To Grow In You"/"(Wasting My Time) Thinking Of You"
(2066 705, Oyster, 1976)
French release
A sixties style "psychedelic" lettering style features on this French release.
"I Only Want My Love To Grow In You"/"(Wasting My Time) Thinking Of You"
(2066 705, Oyster, 1976)
German release
The German picture sleeve features this design on both sides.
Promotional copies seem to be stamped.
I Only Want My Love To Grow In You [stereo]"/"(Wasting My Time) Thinking Of You"
(2066 705, Oyster, 1976)
Belgian release
First known Strawbs release in Belgium (as far as I can tell, not even "Lay Down" or "Part Of The Union" were released there. The same design as for the German sleeve on the front, ads for various albums on the back.
Asia Pacific vinyl
"I Only Want My Love To Grow In You "/"(Wasting My Time) Thinking Of You"
(PS453, Polydor, 1976)
New Zealand release
Polydor also picked this release up for New Zealand.
"I Only Want My Love To Grow In You"/"(Wasting My Time) Thinking Of You"
(DWQ 6016, Oyster, no date)
Japanese release
The Japanese excelled themselves on the packaging for this one, picking up on the striking image used on the Deep Cuts album, which would have been released in 1976.
"I Only Want My Love To Grow In You"/"(Wasting My Time) Thinking Of You"
(DWQ 6016, Oyster, no date)
Japanese promo release
It has also appeared as a promo release with a white version of the label.
Other vinyl
"I Only Want My Love To Grow In You "/"(Wasting My Time) Thinking Of You"
(PS453, Polydor, 1976)
South African release
A release on Oyster's parent Polydor label for the single in South Africa.
"I Only Want My Love To Grow In You "/"(Wasting My Time) Thinking Of You"
(2006 705, Polydor, 1976)
Guatemalan release (*)
A release on Oyster's parent Polydor label for the single in Guatemala. Lots of writing on the labels, so difficult to read the translated titles; it's owner clearly didn't rate the B-side!
"Que Mi Amor Brille En Ti (I Only Want My Love To Grow In You)"/"Todo El Tiempo Pienso En Ti (Wasting My Time - Thinking Of You)"
(773, 2006 705, Polydor, 1976)
Mexican release
Local catalogue number is 773, but the main Polydor cat number 2006 705 is also quoted. Plain sleeve.
"Que Mi Amor Brille En Ti (I Only Want My Love To Grow In You)"/"Todo El Tiempo Pienso En Ti (Wasting My Time - Thinking Of You)"
(773, 2006 705, Polydor, 1976)
Mexican promo release (*)
Spotted online. Local catalogue number is 773, but the main Polydor cat number 2006 705 is also quoted.
Was there a full release?
CD
"I Only Want My Love To Grow In You"
(AIRPROMO-077, Airac, 2013)
Japanese CD single release
This one-track CD was released at the same time as 8 albums licensed from Witchwood Media in 2013 and included in the boxed set which was got up to look like the All Our Own Work album. The front of the insert looks like the Japanese 45, the back lists the 8 albums in Japanese and sets out the song lyrics. There's a nice little protective inner slevee and the CD itself has been got up to look like a UK Polydor "molded label" 45 release. Nice package!
Insert front and back
CD and inner
