Travis had started writing songs when he was 17 years old, but he didn’t come up with any “keepers” for about five years. His first hit as a writer came with “I Told You So,” included on the “Always And Forever” package.
“I Told You So” had been recorded first by Darrell Clanton, whose only Top 30 appearance was a cover of Hawkshaw Hawkins’ 1963 hit, “Lonesome 7-7203.” “I Told You So” had been placed on the “B” side of Clanton’s last release. When the song failed to attract any attention, Travis intended to record it himself for his own debut album. When his producer, Kyle Lehning, didn’t show any encouragement for that plan, Randy put the song away for later use.
By the time the second album was ready to be recorded, Lehning was a bit more receptive to the idea of Randy cutting “I Told You So.” The song was released as the fourth single from the “Always And Forever” album and it (like its three predecessors) shot to number one on Billboard’s country chart, June 11, 1988.