By 1968, Jones' chart performance had declined, but he still scored minor hits, and the main chart he had success with was the Easy Listening chart.[6] The new single followed "Follow Me", which reached No. 20 on the charts and No. 117 on pop charts.[7] "I Really Want to Know You" was the fourth of eight singles that he released that year. It was produced by Ernie Altschuler and arranged by Pat Williams, as on his previous single.[8] It was featured on his album released two months later, Where Is Love?.[9] By this time, Jones had been recording with RCA Victor for nearly a year,[10] although Kapp would reissue some of Jones' material later as well.[5]
"I Really Want to Know You" was released as a seven-inch single in late June 1968 by RCA Victor Records.[8] The track was recorded as a ballad.[3] It was backed by an upcoming song from the Columbia pictures technicolor war-themed film Anzio,[5] titled "This World Is Yours" on the B-side,[8] which would not be included on the same LP as "I Really Want to Know You".[9]
The single received a positive critical reception. Record World put the single in its "Four Stars" singles section, believing that "Buyers of all ages will really want to have this Mann-Weil ballad." They stated that "Jack does it just right."[2] Cashbox chose it as a "pick" for adult stations, and said that it's a "Particularly tempting side from Jack Jones gains listener curiosity from the start by juxtaposing snappy folk-country flavored guitar work in the slower framework of the Mann-Weil ballad." The publication noted that "Interplay on the volume levels gives a novel punch to the single, and the spectacular vocal performance make this a candidate for easy listening showcases and top forty sales."[4] Billboard magazine reviewed the single on June 29, 1968, stating that "The fine voice of Jones, with top ballad material from Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil make this a top programmer with sales sure to follow."[3]
The track did not appear on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[7] It was ranked high on the Billboard Easy Listening survey, reaching number 15 during a nine-week run on it starting on July 13, 1968.[6] "I Really Want to Know You" debuted on the Record World Top-Non Rock survey as well, reaching number 11 in August during a seven-week run on it.[11]
7" vinyl single[8][4]
- "I Really Want to Know You" – 2:51
- "This World Is Yours" – 3:00
[2]