"I Need You So"

[Juan Luis]

A beautiful ballad ending side two (non-soundtrack side) of the 1957 "Loving You" album. "I Need You So" is an Ivory Joe Hunter penned and recorded #1 R&B hit in 1950. Elvis attempted recording the song as far back as September 1956 session. According to Ernst Jorgensen's "A Life In Music" Elvis and band were well rehearsed by February 23, 1957. The master was captured in eight takes at Radio Recorders Studio 1-Hollywood , California. Thorne Nogar behind the console with Steve Sholes credited as producer. Dudley Brooks is featured on piano.

This is one of my favorites of the several Elvis recordings of Hunter compositions (a great composer in blues, rhythm & blues, and country). Elvis injects so much feeling in this song and in my opinion, was improving his ballad singing by leaps and bounds. Elvis was determined and it showed. It's great for me to enjoy "I Need You So" again after quite a while. Enjoy!

"When the day is done
I miss you so!"...


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[Hobbes]

This is one of my favorite ballads. And the second bridge gives me goose bumps the way he belts it out. It sounds very heartfelt.

[colonel snow]

A few more early recordings:
00-06-50 - Don Cornell with Hugo Winterhalter Orchestra (RCA 20-3884);
18-08-50 - The Orioles (Jubilee 5037);
24-09-54 - Grady Chapman & The Suedes (Money 204).

colonel snow

[drjohncarpenter]

This is one of my favorite ballads. And the second bridge gives me goose bumps the way he belts it out. It sounds very heartfelt.

Elvis gives the song his all, and perhaps this plaintive, unassuming but heartfelt ballad track on Loving You is what brought the singer to the attention of Ivory Joe Hunter, so much so that the songwriter soon met Presley at Graceland that summer, and crafted a tune especially for him, "My Wish Came True."

Hunter released the first version of the song, and it went to #1 on the r&b chart in May 1950. And there is a stunning recording from the same period by the Orioles. Elvis knew these releases, but the recording that apparently influenced what he did at Radio Recorders in 1957 as much as anyone's was done by Joni James, released just about the time he went into the studio. James, of course, was the inspiration for one of the songs he tried to impress Sam Phillips with at his second personal demo visit to the Memphis Recording Service in January 1954, "I'll Never Stand In Your Way." It seems evident that a great number of his recordings, especially in the beginning of his career, have a female voice inspiration.



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Ivory Joe Hunter "I Need You So" (MGM 10663, March 25, 1950)
Billboard "Most-Played Juke Box Rhythm & Blues Records" #1, May 13, 1950



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Orioles "I Need You So" (Jubilee 5037, September 1950)
Lead vocal by Sonny Til



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Joni James "I Need You So" (MGM 12450, February 16, 1957)
B-side to "Only Trust Your Heart"

[ale]

Albert Collins also recorded a great version

[Davelee]

This is one of my favorite ballads. And the second bridge gives me goose bumps the way he belts it out. It sounds very heartfelt.

+1.

[MikeFromHolland]

Albert Collins also recorded a great version

Wow. He certainly did:

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[r&b]

Great song, arrangement and performance. Back in the 50's, they called these type of song arrangements rock-a-ballads and Elvis recorded and aced so many of them back in the day.

[drjohncarpenter]

Great song, arrangement and performance. Back in the 50's, they called these type of song arrangements rock-a-ballads and Elvis recorded and aced so many of them back in the day.

And he made it look easy. Unfortunately, it wasn't, and fans got similar attempts by Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran that were ... less remarkable. Even Buddy Holly had a misstep or two in this direction, until he found himself.

[r&b]

Great song, arrangement and performance. Back in the 50's, they called these type of song arrangements rock-a-ballads and Elvis recorded and aced so many of them back in the day.

And he made it look easy. Unfortunately, it wasn't, and fans got similar attempts by Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran that were ... less remarkable. Even Buddy Holly had a misstep or two in this direction, until he found himself.

Vincent was pretty good at it with songs like She Wears My Ring, Cochran was too forced (Sittin In The Balcony) and Holly was better as a rocker. Elvis did make it look easy and his voice was just sublime for this type of tune (Playing For Keeps, Anyplace Is Paradise, Anyway You Want Me, Love Me, etc). All are ballads with a beat. I am probably in the minority here, but I think Elvis' best ballad voice was in the 50's. it was a sound like no other . Pure milk & honey.

[poormadpeter2]

Great song, arrangement and performance. Back in the 50's, they called these type of song arrangements rock-a-ballads and Elvis recorded and aced so many of them back in the day.

And he made it look easy. Unfortunately, it wasn't, and fans got similar attempts by Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran that were ... less remarkable. Even Buddy Holly had a misstep or two in this direction, until he found himself.

Vincent was pretty good at it with songs like She Wears My Ring, Cochran was too forced (Sittin In The Balcony) and Holly was better as a rocker. Elvis did make it look easy and his voice was just sublime for this type of tune (Playing For Keeps, Anyplace Is Paradise, Anyway You Want Me, Love Me, etc). All are ballads with a beat. I am probably in the minority here, but I think Elvis' best ballad voice was in the 50's. it was a sound like no other . Pure milk & honey.

You mean Wear My Ring, presumably? A Bobby Darin-penned song which certainly came out sounding better in Vincent's hands than in Bobby's own.

[r&b]

Great song, arrangement and performance. Back in the 50's, they called these type of song arrangements rock-a-ballads and Elvis recorded and aced so many of them back in the day.

And he made it look easy. Unfortunately, it wasn't, and fans got similar attempts by Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran that were ... less remarkable. Even Buddy Holly had a misstep or two in this direction, until he found himself.

Vincent was pretty good at it with songs like She Wears My Ring, Cochran was too forced (Sittin In The Balcony) and Holly was better as a rocker. Elvis did make it look easy and his voice was just sublime for this type of tune (Playing For Keeps, Anyplace Is Paradise, Anyway You Want Me, Love Me, etc). All are ballads with a beat. I am probably in the minority here, but I think Elvis' best ballad voice was in the 50's. it was a sound like no other . Pure milk & honey.

You mean Wear My Ring, presumably? A Bobby Darin-penned song which certainly came out sounding better in Vincent's hands than in Bobby's own.

Yes. Sorry! Elvis' song title automatically came to mind! Wear My Ring. Great song by Vincent. Also like Darin's version.

[Dan_T]

I remember my Brother in law's reaction to hearing Elvis sing this, God, it must be almost 40 years ago, he was shocked it was Elvis singing... don't know why, but he said it didn't sound like a typical Elvis song, the way he held the notes on some of the words. I love it too !

[drjohncarpenter]

Great song, arrangement and performance. Back in the 50's, they called these type of song arrangements rock-a-ballads and Elvis recorded and aced so many of them back in the day.

And he made it look easy. Unfortunately, it wasn't, and fans got similar attempts by Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran that were ... less remarkable. Even Buddy Holly had a misstep or two in this direction, until he found himself.

Vincent was pretty good at it with songs like She Wears My Ring, Cochran was too forced (Sittin In The Balcony) and Holly was better as a rocker. Elvis did make it look easy and his voice was just sublime for this type of tune (Playing For Keeps, Anyplace Is Paradise, Anyway You Want Me, Love Me, etc). All are ballads with a beat. I am probably in the minority here, but I think Elvis' best ballad voice was in the 50's. it was a sound like no other . Pure milk & honey.

When Holly found his voice he was superior to both fellows in ballads, equal or better in rockers. I don't see a single example in Vincent's run of singles from 1956 to 1960 that offer even one ballad that holds its own among Presley's finest, including the 1957 B-side "Wear My Ring" (Capitol 3763).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Vincent#Singles

[rlj4ep]

Thanks so much. A tremendous song by Elvis. He is totally committed as is the band.

rlj

[minkahed]

"I Need You So" is an awesome tune.

Just the sound, the sonic quality is raw and Elvis' voice and vocal technique is stellar, pure emotion.

[MikeFromHolland]

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Because this one became part of the discussion.

I kinda like it

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[Chris Roberts]

A fantastic version by Elvis sung as only he can.

Buddy Holly made a very good version of 'Send Me Some Lovin' ' a great rock-a-ballad. It took me a while to like it as Little Richards version was so fantastic, however once I did, I began to really appreciate it. Gene Vincent IMO made the best double - sided singles, next only to Elvis, in the 50's. Unfortunately the charts didn't reflect this with fantastic singles such as 'Baby Blue', 'Say Mama', 'Rocky Road Blues', 'Summertime', 'I Gotta Baby' plus many more hardly making a dent. It was a sin, but unfortunately Gene was his own worst enemy.

[r&b]

Great song, arrangement and performance. Back in the 50's, they called these type of song arrangements rock-a-ballads and Elvis recorded and aced so many of them back in the day.

And he made it look easy. Unfortunately, it wasn't, and fans got similar attempts by Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran that were ... less remarkable. Even Buddy Holly had a misstep or two in this direction, until he found himself.

Vincent was pretty good at it with songs like She Wears My Ring, Cochran was too forced (Sittin In The Balcony) and Holly was better as a rocker. Elvis did make it look easy and his voice was just sublime for this type of tune (Playing For Keeps, Anyplace Is Paradise, Anyway You Want Me, Love Me, etc). All are ballads with a beat. I am probably in the minority here, but I think Elvis' best ballad voice was in the 50's. it was a sound like no other . Pure milk & honey.

When Holly found his voice he was superior to both fellows in ballads, equal or better in rockers. I don't see a single example in Vincent's run of singles from 1956 to 1960 that offer even one ballad that holds its own among Presley's finest, including the 1957 B-side "Wear My Ring" (Capitol 3763).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Vincent#Singles

Vincent became a better ballad singer in the early 60's. In the 50's he excelled at rockabilly and had one of the great guitar players as well in Cliff Gallup, a name that goes almost unnoticed when discussing great lead guitarists. Holly was a great singer on ballads like It Doesnt Matter Anymore, and of course True Love Ways. For the record, I never said Vincent or anyone else came close to Elvis when it comes to these types of tunes. Wear My Ring as good as it is, is not Elvis singing Is It So Strange. But even Elvis didnt even come close to his own rock-a-ballad style of the 50s with his 60s ballads. The beat was no longer there in the ballads and songs like Just For Old Times Sake & Staring Today, although very good,were sung in a more crooner style lacking the emotion of say Hows The World treating You or I Need You So. The 50s were such a unique time and a unique sound.

[ICanHelp]

Great information Juan on a great tune. Thank you.

[Chris Roberts]

Cliff Gallup was on a level with Scotty Moore when it comes to early lead rock guitarist's. His successor Johnny Meeks, who was the guitarist on 'Wear My Ring', was also up there with them. Gene made many good ballads in the 50's such as 'True To You', 'Waltz Of The Wind', 'Important Words', 'In My Dreams'. 'You'll Never Walk Alone' and his subline version of 'Over The Rainbow' to name a few.

Elvis, of course. is the main man. But Gene does deserve more credit than he gets, to many people he only recorded one record 'Be-Bop-A-Lula. Like so many of the great 50's artists he seemed to loose his way after 1961.

[drjohncarpenter]

Cliff Gallup was on a level with Scotty Moore when it comes to early lead rock guitarist's. His successor Johnny Meeks, who was the guitarist on 'Wear My Ring', was also up there with them. Gene made many good ballads in the 50's such as 'True To You', 'Waltz Of The Wind', 'Important Words', 'In My Dreams'. 'You'll Never Walk Alone' and his subline version of 'Over The Rainbow' to name a few.

Elvis, of course. is the main man. But Gene does deserve more credit than he gets, to many people he only recorded one record 'Be-Bop-A-Lula. Like so many of the great 50's artists he seemed to loose his way after 1964.

Both of those fellows did good work, neither came close to what Scotty Moore achieved with Elvis. And outside of the Gene Vincent fan base, no one looks back at those ballads as remarkable.

[Davelee]

Cliff Gallup was on a level with Scotty Moore when it comes to early lead rock guitarist's. His successor Johnny Meeks, who was the guitarist on 'Wear My Ring', was also up there with them. Gene made many good ballads in the 50's such as 'True To You', 'Waltz Of The Wind', 'Important Words', 'In My Dreams'. 'You'll Never Walk Alone' and his subline version of 'Over The Rainbow' to name a few.

Elvis, of course. is the main man. But Gene does deserve more credit than he gets, to many people he only recorded one record 'Be-Bop-A-Lula. Like so many of the great 50's artists he seemed to loose his way after 1964.

Both of those fellows did good work, neither came close to what Scotty Moore achieved with Elvis. And outside of the Gene Vincent fan base, no one looks back at those ballads as remarkable.

Yeah, Gene was a better rocker then a ballad singer for sure, things like "I Flipped", "B-I-Bicky-BI-Bo-Bo-Go", "Double Talking Baby" etc are Killers and thats where his talent was. As a ballad singer he was nothing exceptional, he really didn't have the voice for it, a couple of his ballads were just ok - his version of "Unchained Melody" was pretty lacking.

[Lonely Summer]

I am going to have to get some Gene Vincent records. I have a lot of the 50's rockers in my collection, but for some reason, never bought any of his stuff. No excuse, really. It's only been in recent years that I got some Eddie Cochran and Johnny Burnette stuff. Especially love the wild rockabilly of the Burnette's, every bit as good as Carl Perkins' and Elvis'.
"I Need You So" is one of those great rock ballads Elvis just sings the hell out of, as only he could!

[drjohncarpenter]

I am going to have to get some Gene Vincent records. I have a lot of the 50's rockers in my collection, but for some reason, never bought any of his stuff. No excuse, really. It's only been in recent years that I got some Eddie Cochran and Johnny Burnette stuff. Especially love the wild rockabilly of the Burnette's, every bit as good as Carl Perkins' and Elvis'.
"I Need You So" is one of those great rock ballads Elvis just sings the hell out of, as only he could!

I'd never place the Rock 'n' Roll Trio's work on the same level as either of those men, save a few choice songs.