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Beatles forums => Songs => Song Of The Week Series => Topic started by: nimrod on October 16, 2013, 11:41:59 PM

Title: Song Of The Week - If I Needed Someone
Post by: nimrod on October 16, 2013, 11:41:59 PM
If I needed someone to love
Youre the one that Id be thinking of
If I needed someone

If I had some more time to spend
Then I guess Id be with you my friend
If I needed someone

Had you come some other day
It might not have been like this
But you see now Im too much in love

Carve your number on my wall and
Maybe you will get a call from me
If I needed someone

- guitar solo -

If I needed someone to love
Youre the one that Id be thinking of
If I needed someone

If I had some more time to spend
Then I guess Id be with you my friend
If I needed someone

Had you come some other day
It might not have been like this
But you see now Im too much in love

Carve your number on my wall and
Maybe you will get a call from me
If I needed someone


"If I Needed Someone" is a song written by George Harrison. Versions by the Beatles and by the Hollies appeared simultaneously, both being released in the United Kingdom on 3 December 1965. The Hollies version appeared on a single. Most of the Hollies' previous singles had been big top ten hits. When their version of "If I Needed Someone" only reached the lower half of the top 20 in the UK, they were quite critical and said they had made a mistake recording it.
The Beatles' recording of the song first appeared in the UK on the 1965 album Rubber Soul and was later included in the 1966 North American release, Yesterday and Today.

"If I Needed Someone" was the only Harrison composition played during any of the Beatles' tours; otherwise Harrison sang only covers onstage. Hence, it is the first and only song written by Harrison performed by him in concert until the group disbanded in 1970. "If I Needed Someone" is one of only two tracks from Rubber Soul that the Beatles performed live (the other was "Nowhere Man")

Within a month of "If I Needed Someone" being recorded by the Beatles in October 1965 at Abbey Road, The Hollies' were brought a demo of the song by their producer Ron Richards, who in turn was offered the demo by George Martin.
They recorded their version in three takes on 17 November 1965 in the same studio as the Beatles, and it was released by Parlophone on 3 December 1965, the same day as Rubber Soul. The single was released by Imperial Records in the United States in November 1967.

"If I Needed Someone" was the first George Harrison composition to be a UK chart hit, as a result of the Hollies' cover. Their version reached No. 20 on 9 December 1965, but by their standards it was one of their least successful singles. Many in the public perceived the song as the Hollies attempting to ride on the Beatles' coattails.
Dismissive comments about the Hollies' track by Harrison, basically calling it "rubbish" in an interview with NME magazine, effectively stalled its run on the charts and led to angry exchanges between the groups

Personnel

George Harrison – double-tracked vocal, twelve-string lead guitar
John Lennon – harmony vocal, rhythm guitar
Paul McCartney – harmony vocal, bass guitar
Ringo Starr – drums, tambourine
George Martin – harmonium

Personnel per Ian MacDonald

If I Needed Someone (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCNqHIKJ4wk#)



The Hollies - If I Needed Someone (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6mIMbAq03E#ws)
Title: Re: Song Of The Week - If I Needed Someone
Post by: tkitna on October 17, 2013, 12:52:52 AM
The first great song that George wrote and one of his best ever in my opinion. I love this song and never get tired of it. I cant think of anything negative to say about it.
Title: Re: Song Of The Week - If I Needed Someone
Post by: KelMar on October 17, 2013, 01:17:02 AM
I really like this song too. The lyrics are just so George; just satirical enough. It's got a neat sound to it that proves that George could do cool things too. I didn't realize the Hollies version came out the same day as the Beatles'. I've always liked it but that release date was kind of a strange move. I'm trying to think; were there any other covers out at the same as the Beatles originals?
Title: Re: Song Of The Week - If I Needed Someone
Post by: Normandie on October 17, 2013, 01:21:05 AM

I love this song, too, and never skip it, which for me is rare. It seems "classic George" to me, with the subtle satire, as Kelley already pointed out.
Title: Re: Song Of The Week - If I Needed Someone
Post by: Hello Goodbye on October 17, 2013, 02:10:04 AM
"If I Needed Someone" was the only Harrison composition played during any of the Beatles' tours; otherwise Harrison sang only covers onstage. Hence, it is the first and only song written by Harrison performed by him in concert until the group disbanded in 1970. "If I Needed Someone" is one of only two tracks from Rubber Soul that the Beatles performed live (the other was "Nowhere Man")


The Beatles If I Needed Someone (Live In Japan) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppucXfuU7Pc#)


The Beatles If I Needed Someone (Live At Candlestick Park) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTye1MOTpls#)


I love this song!  Rickenbacker 360/12.  Capo above the 7th fret...

The Beatles: "If I Needed Someone" Rickenbacker 360/12 C63 & Vox AC30 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6Ie7x4K7Co#)
Title: Re: Song Of The Week - If I Needed Someone
Post by: Klang on October 17, 2013, 09:14:44 AM

Another classic from the great RS. What can I say? But you see now Im too much in love.

 :P

Title: Re: Song Of The Week - If I Needed Someone
Post by: blmeanie on October 17, 2013, 11:53:03 AM
Perfect song, love the tongue in cheek lyrics.  As others have said above, it's a "never skip" George classic.
Title: Re: Song Of The Week - If I Needed Someone
Post by: oldbrownshoe on October 18, 2013, 06:37:42 PM
Wonderful song, one of George's best.

Given The Hollies successful track record up to 12/65 (their two previous 45s had been the No. 1 'I'm Alive' and the terrific 'Look Through Any Window') the choice by such a successful group to put this out as a 45 was a bizarre one.
Indeed the b-side of 'Window' was the self-penned and brilliant 'So Lonely' - why didn't they hold that back for an a-side?

Someone asked whether it was common for covers to come out on the same day as the Beatles own version came out, and I think that it was - certainly the NME always had a crop of Beatles covers to review on, or at least very close to, the release date of their LPs in the mid-60s.
 
Title: Re: Song Of The Week - If I Needed Someone
Post by: nimrod on October 18, 2013, 10:36:13 PM
Wonderful song, one of George's best.

Given The Hollies successful track record up to 12/65 (their two previous 45s had been the No. 1 'I'm Alive' and the terrific 'Look Through Any Window') the choice by such a successful group to put this out as a 45 was a bizarre one.
Indeed the b-side of 'Window' was the self-penned and brilliant 'So Lonely' - why didn't they hold that back for an a-side?

Someone asked whether it was common for covers to come out on the same day as the Beatles own version came out, and I think that it was - certainly the NME always had a crop of Beatles covers to review on, or at least very close to, the release date of their LPs in the mid-60s.
 

I actually think it was a decent choice as for me the song is as good as something like 'Im Alive' but theyre version lacks something, like they didnt put theyre heart into it.....maybe like The Beatles version of How Do You Do It ? not really quite there.

Maybe they didnt really want to do it but were kinda forced/coerced by Ron Richards
Title: Re: Song Of The Week - If I Needed Someone
Post by: tkitna on October 19, 2013, 06:53:13 AM
The Hollies version has the right sound, its just that they did the song in a choppy, herky-jerky type way. It never flows like the Beatles version.
Title: Re: Song Of The Week - If I Needed Someone
Post by: oldbrownshoe on October 19, 2013, 07:16:22 AM
Yes, fair enough, but my point wasn't about whether 'If I Needed Someone' was better than 'I'm Alive', it's that covering a Beatles song for a 45 was bound to (a) draw unfavourable comparisons, and (b) place the covering group squarely behind the group being covered. For such an obviously successful group such as The Hollies, this was a very strange choice in 1965.
In 1963, I'd have understood it - The Rolling Stones covered 'I Wanna Be Your Man' in '63 but weren't fully established at that point.

In '66, The (largely successful) Pretty Things covered The Kinks' 'House In The Country' for a 45 - again a strange decision by all involved.
Title: Re: Song Of The Week - If I Needed Someone
Post by: nimrod on October 19, 2013, 12:16:14 PM
The Hollies version has the right sound, its just that they did the song in a choppy, herky-jerky type way. It never flows like the Beatles version.


herky-jerky ?












(http://www.freesmileys.org/custom/image/laugh%5E_%5Earial%5E_%5E0%5E_%5E0%5E_%5Eis that a song by Donovan%5E_%5E.gif) (http://www.freesmileys.org/custom)
Title: Re: Song Of The Week - If I Needed Someone
Post by: Dcazz on October 19, 2013, 05:47:10 PM
One of, if not the first of their songs to have that droning, dirge like sound. I like it!
Title: Re: Song Of The Week - If I Needed Someone
Post by: Hello Goodbye on October 20, 2013, 04:31:22 AM
"If I Needed Someone" was the only Harrison composition played during any of the Beatles' tours; otherwise Harrison sang only covers onstage. Hence, it is the first and only song written by Harrison performed by him in concert until the group disbanded in 1970. "If I Needed Someone" is one of only two tracks from Rubber Soul that the Beatles performed live (the other was "Nowhere Man")


The Beatles - If I Needed Someone 25 June 1966 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLVbNCt4R4o#)
Title: Re: Song Of The Week - If I Needed Someone
Post by: Hello Goodbye on October 20, 2013, 04:33:54 AM
George Harrison - If I Needed Someone (Live In Japan 1991) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ak7hFxY0_M#)
1991
Title: Re: Song Of The Week - If I Needed Someone
Post by: tkitna on October 20, 2013, 06:39:54 AM
herky-jerky ?


(http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m84ah9GK4G1r76lino1_250.gif)
Title: Re: Song Of The Week - If I Needed Someone
Post by: Kaleidoscope_Eyes on October 22, 2013, 10:01:47 PM
Herky-jerky! :D

It is a very good early George song.
I never knew The Hollies did a version - gonna listen to it now
Title: Re: Song Of The Week - If I Needed Someone
Post by: Hello Goodbye on October 23, 2013, 06:00:08 AM

I never knew The Hollies did a version - gonna listen to it now

What did you think, KE?
Title: Re: Song Of The Week - If I Needed Someone
Post by: Hello Goodbye on October 23, 2013, 06:07:24 AM
Hey, y'all, here's some bluegrass fer ya...


Jericho Bridge at Jerusalem Mill 2010: #5 of 8 "If I Needed Someone" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHRLQ7R1N1k#ws)




(http://i48.tinypic.com/2rcq4v7.jpg)




Title: Re: Song Of The Week - If I Needed Someone
Post by: Dcazz on October 24, 2013, 05:27:38 PM
Hey, y'all, here's some bluegrass fer ya...


Jericho Bridge at Jerusalem Mill 2010: #5 of 8 "If I Needed Someone" ([url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHRLQ7R1N1k#ws[/url])Good one!




([url]http://i48.tinypic.com/2rcq4v7.jpg[/url])
Title: Re: Song Of The Week - If I Needed Someone
Post by: Kaleidoscope_Eyes on October 25, 2013, 01:01:22 AM
What did you think, KE?
I think I burnt me finger! .... Kidding, I realized I dont have headphones at work hehe. I will listen to it soon though

I am suprised that so many people covered this song. It is certainly not a very well known Bealte song, I would have said
Title: Re: Song Of The Week - If I Needed Someone
Post by: Hello Goodbye on October 25, 2013, 03:16:47 AM
I think I burnt me finger! ....



(http://i40.tinypic.com/34zizja.jpg)



 ;)
Title: Re: Song Of The Week - If I Needed Someone
Post by: Snoopy66 on October 25, 2013, 12:14:30 PM
The first great song that George wrote and one of his best ever in my opinion. I love this song and never get tired of it. I cant think of anything negative to say about it.
I couldn't agree more; I've always loved that song right from the beginning  :)

It's probably one of the best song of George. Whenever I listen to it, I wish that George had written more songs like that.

Snoopy
Title: Re: Song Of The Week - If I Needed Someone
Post by: Hello Goodbye on October 26, 2013, 01:26:05 AM
And I've always loved this song too.  The vocal harmonies are terrific.  And, oh, that 360/12 capoed at the seventh fret!
Title: Re: Song Of The Week - If I Needed Someone
Post by: Kaleidoscope_Eyes on October 26, 2013, 07:45:26 AM
Nah, the Hollies dont give this song justice. They do it too monotonious (or whatever the word is)
Title: Re: Song Of The Week - If I Needed Someone
Post by: Hombre_de_ningun_lugar on October 26, 2013, 02:02:34 PM
Great song from one of the greatest albums ever. I was lately paying more attention to the lead guitar playing during the break, which is overshadowed by the magnificent harmony vocals. The way George plays there is quite simple, but I like how the guys combined different melodies at the same time with different sources.
Title: Re: Song Of The Week - If I Needed Someone
Post by: KelMar on October 27, 2013, 06:40:43 AM
herky-jerky ?

([url]http://www.freesmileys.org/custom/image/laugh%5E_%5Earial%5E_%5E0%5E_%5E0%5E_%5Eis[/url] that a song by Donovan%5E_%5E.gif) ([url]http://www.freesmileys.org/custom[/url])


Yeah, that's the man who came singing songs of love.  ;D