1971 single by Bread
"If" is a song written by American singer-songwriter David Gates in 1971. Originally popularized by his group Bread, "If" charted at No. 4 on the U.S. "Billboard" Hot 100 when released as a single in 1971 and No. 6 in Canada. It also spent three weeks at No. 1 on the U.S. Easy Listening chart, and one week at the top of the Canadian AC chart.
"Record World" said that the "gentle song by group's own David Gates (he produced and arranged also) will score in short order." 
In the U.S., Bread's tune was the shortest song title to become a top ten hit until 1993, when Prince hit No. 7 with "7", later matched by Britney Spears' No. 1 hit "3" in 2009. The song is distinguished by its opening line "If a picture paints a thousand words..."
Chart performance.
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Telly Savalas version.
Telly Savalas recorded a mostly-spoken interpretation which reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks and No. 1 in Ireland in March 1975. It has the shortest title of any song to reach No. 1 in the UK. This version also charted at No. 12 on the US "Billboard" Easy Listening chart in late 1974. In Canada, "If" reached No. 88 on the Pop chart, and No. 40 on the AC chart. It also peaked at number 12 in Australia and was the 81st biggest selling single in Australia in 1975.
Other versions.
Olivia Newton-John was one of the first to cover the song, recording a version for her 1971 debut solo album, "If Not for You", performing the song during her first American TV performance that year on "The Dean Martin Show".
A parody take on Savalas' rendition, by voice over artists Chris Sandford and Bill Mitchell performing as Yin and Yan, reached No. 25 in the UK in 1975.
Sissel Kyrkjebø covered the song in her 1993 album Gift of Love. And Sephira covered the song on their 2015 album, "Believe".
References.
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