Most people hear the name Robert John and immediately start humming "Sad Eyes." You know the one. That high-pitched, 1979 soft-rock anthem that somehow knocked "My Sharona" off the top of the charts. But a full decade before he was the king of the "winning weepers," Robert John was a soul singer with a very different vibe. Honestly, if you haven't heard Robert John If You Don't Want My Love, you're missing the grittier, more urgent side of a guy usually pigeonholed as a disco-era balladeer.
It’s a weird piece of music history. Released in 1968, this track wasn't just a random single; it was the moment Robert John Pedrick Jr. tried to reinvent himself for the adult market. He’d already been a child star. At age 12, he was "Bobby Pedrick," singing "White Bucks and Saddle Shoes." But by '68, he was done with the kid stuff. He wanted to be a soul man.
The Sound of 1968 and the Northern Soul Connection
What makes Robert John If You Don't Want My Love so interesting is that it doesn't sound like a "Sad Eyes" prequel at all. It’s got this driving, frantic energy. The production is lush—classic Columbia Records style—but Robert’s vocal is raw. He’s pleading. He’s pushing his range.
It’s no wonder the song eventually became a staple in the Northern Soul scene in the UK. If you aren't familiar with that subculture, it basically consists of British soul fanatics who obsess over rare, uptempo American R&B records. They don't want the hits; they want the "could-have-beens." And this track fits that mold perfectly. It has that stomping beat and the dramatic orchestral swells that make people want to slide across a dance floor in a baggy pair of trousers.
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Why it Didn't Become a Monster Hit
You’d think a song this catchy would have been everywhere. It did okay, peaking at #49 on the Billboard Hot 100 and doing slightly better in Canada and the UK. But it never quite exploded.
Why?
Timing. 1968 was a chaotic year for music. You had the Beatles’ "Hey Jude" and the rise of psychedelic rock. A straightforward, blue-eyed soul stomper like Robert John If You Don't Want My Love was caught between two worlds. It was too "pop" for the underground and too "soul" for the bubblegum crowd. Plus, Robert John was jumping between labels like crazy. Before landing at Columbia, he’d been at MGM. Later, he’d go to A&M, then Atlantic. That kind of label-hopping usually means your promotion budget disappears just when you need it most.
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The song was written by Robert John himself along with Michael Gately and Leizer David. Gately was a frequent collaborator who helped shape Robert's early sound. Together, they created something that felt much more authentic than the polished Top 40 fluff of the era.
The Chart Breakdown (1968)
- Billboard Hot 100: Peaked at #49.
- UK Official Singles Chart: Reached #42.
- Canada (RPM): Hit a respectable #21.
- Cash Box Top 100: Made it to #34.
Comparing the "Two" Robert Johns
If you play Robert John If You Don't Want My Love back-to-back with his 1972 cover of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" or his 1979 smash "Sad Eyes," the difference is jarring.
In the 60s, he was a belter. He was using his chest voice, hitting those notes with a certain desperation. By the time he reached his late-70s peak, he had transitioned into a falsetto-heavy, smooth-as-silk crooner. It’s almost like two different artists. It’s a testament to his versatility, but it’s also why his earlier work often gets lost in the shuffle. People remember the guy who sang about the "girl with the sad eyes," not the guy who was tearing his heart out over a Northern Soul beat.
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Sadly, we lost Robert John in early 2025 at the age of 79. Since his passing, there's been a bit of a resurgence in interest for his deep cuts. Collectors are hunting down the original 45s of the Columbia singles. If you find an original promo copy of "If You Don't Want My Love" on the white Columbia label, hang onto it. It’s a genuine piece of soul history.
Actionable Insights for Music Lovers
If this article has piqued your interest, here is how you can actually dive deeper into this era of music:
- Check out the "Endless Beach" collection: This 1990 compilation includes "If You Don't Want My Love" and gives a better overview of his pre-fame soul years than most "Best Of" albums that focus only on his EMI hits.
- Explore Michael Gately’s catalog: Since he co-wrote this track, his solo work and other collaborations from the late 60s have a similar vibe.
- Search for the "Northern Soul" version: Look for live DJ sets or playlists on platforms like YouTube that feature this track. Hearing it mixed with other rare soul gems gives you the proper context for why it’s still played in clubs today.
- Verify the label: If you’re a vinyl collector, look for Columbia 4-44435. That’s the specific US release.
Don't let Robert John be a one-hit-wonder in your mind. "Sad Eyes" might be the song that paid his bills, but Robert John If You Don't Want My Love is the song that showed he had some serious soul.