"I Need Somebody To Lean On"
Moderators: FECC-Moderator, Moderator5, Moderator3, Site Mechanic
-
Topic author
"I Need Somebody To Lean On"
The Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman penned number was recorded on July 10, 1963, at Radio Recorders Studio B-Hollywood with David Wiechman behind the console, and assisting Elvis Presley in the production.
I first heard this Jazz-Blues-lounge type ballad, on the 1985 Tom Parker-esque titled release "A Valentine Gift You". I have appreciated and loved it ever since. Elvis's singing is extra fine on this number, showing growth, and maturity as a vocalist. The arrangement is good with prominent acoustic guitar and piano. The musician that saves the day in my opinion, is Bob Moore and his exquisite bass playing. It starts off the record and continuous throughout in an understated fashion. Perfect! Depending on my mood, I find the guitar a bit busy at times. Nevertheless, I find this record made for the "Viva Las Vegas" soundtrack excellent!
..
More here....http://www.elvis-collectors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=76784
http://www.elvis-collectors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=76784
http://www.elvis-collectors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=75644
I first heard this Jazz-Blues-lounge type ballad, on the 1985 Tom Parker-esque titled release "A Valentine Gift You". I have appreciated and loved it ever since. Elvis's singing is extra fine on this number, showing growth, and maturity as a vocalist. The arrangement is good with prominent acoustic guitar and piano. The musician that saves the day in my opinion, is Bob Moore and his exquisite bass playing. It starts off the record and continuous throughout in an understated fashion. Perfect! Depending on my mood, I find the guitar a bit busy at times. Nevertheless, I find this record made for the "Viva Las Vegas" soundtrack excellent!
..
More here....http://www.elvis-collectors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=76784
http://www.elvis-collectors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=76784
http://www.elvis-collectors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=75644
-
- Posts: 529
- Joined: 14 years 3 months
- Location: 51°30'05
- Has thanked: 4 times
- Been thanked: 50 times
- Age: 66
Re: "I Need Somebody To Lean On"
Just a question:
Are you gonna rewrite/copy paste this text for every upcomming Elvis song you "feel something about."
Cause this feel much like a "song without a end" if you know what i mean.
Are you gonna rewrite/copy paste this text for every upcomming Elvis song you "feel something about."

Cause this feel much like a "song without a end" if you know what i mean.
-
Topic author
Re: "I Need Somebody To Lean On"
By copy-paste do you mean they are all the same? Because if it is that. I do not agree with you.moffringa wrote:Just a question:
Are you gonna rewrite/copy paste this text for every upcomming Elvis song you "feel something about."
Cause this feel much like a "song without a end" if you know what i mean.
-
- Posts: 849
- Joined: 10 years 7 months
- Mood:
- Has thanked: 4979 times
- Been thanked: 428 times
- Age: 60
Re: "I Need Somebody To Lean On"
I discovered this song on the "I Got Lucky" budget album, which is where I also first heard "Home Is Where The Heart is" that you featured on an earlier thread. I never tire of "I Need Somebody To Lean On", a good song and a great performance.
Ignore the negativity, Juan, I enjoy your song postings.
Ignore the negativity, Juan, I enjoy your song postings.
-
Topic author
Re: "I Need Somebody To Lean On"
Me too, I Got Lucky was the first album I bought with my saved-up pocket money. I like this collection of movie songs to this day (including Yoga Is As Yoga Does).Tony C wrote:I discovered this song on the "I Got Lucky" budget album, which is where I also first heard "Home Is Where The Heart is" that you featured on an earlier thread. I never tire of "I Need Somebody To Lean On", a good song and a great performance.
Ignore the negativity, Juan, I enjoy your song postings.
I Need Somebody To Lean On is a great track, a laid-back performance speaking to lonely hearts everywhere.
-
Topic author
Re: "I Need Somebody To Lean On"
Another great song. Juan Luis, you have great taste in Elvis songs.
-
- Posts: 13159
- Joined: 12 years 7 months
- Has thanked: 2230 times
- Been thanked: 8418 times
Re: "I Need Somebody To Lean On"
Lovely song very pleasant on the ears. I also really like take 8 of the song. I wonder if ftd is in possesion of anymore of the takes of this song
if you'll try a little kindness and you'll overlook the blindness
Of the narrow minded people on the narrow minded streets
Of the narrow minded people on the narrow minded streets
-
- Posts: 6384
- Joined: 17 years 9 months
- Location: antarctica
- Has thanked: 516 times
- Been thanked: 4182 times
- Age: 100
Re: "I Need Somebody To Lean On"
Recently a demo-version was released on 5 CD Silver screen treasures 1962/1965.
colonel snow
colonel snow
-
- Posts: 16825
- Joined: 21 years 9 months
- Location: In the audience 1969 - 1977........
- Has thanked: 3600 times
- Been thanked: 4078 times
- Age: 60
Re: "I Need Somebody To Lean On"
Absolutely. .always a pleasure for me...keep on Juan Luis...TOPCheiro wrote:Another great song. Juan Luis, you have great taste in Elvis songs.
Thanks to Ernst Joergensen, Roger Semon and Erik Rasmussen for the great work. Keep the spirit alive !
-
- Posts: 991
- Joined: 9 years 11 months
- Location: Romania
- Has thanked: 138 times
- Been thanked: 534 times
- Age: 43
Re: "I Need Somebody To Lean On"
It's an incredibile subtle song and beautiful.Elvis voice is haunting
-
- Posts: 7712
- Joined: 21 years 9 months
- Location: South Carolina
- Has thanked: 82 times
- Been thanked: 532 times
Re: "I Need Somebody To Lean On"
One of Elvis' finest 60's ballads. It's a performance that deserves to be better known.
-
Topic author
Re: "I Need Somebody To Lean On"
This just missed out on my top 10 movies songs of the 60's It would sit at #11. I think Viva Las Vegas was the last good to great movie soundtrack. I dont care about Roustabout hitting #1. It wasnt a great soundtrack, far from it. Probably hit #1 because of the popularity held over from Viva Las Vegas and the fact that the movie itself was not another typical travelogue. But man did they get bad after that in those crucial mid-60's years.
-
- Posts: 110035
- Joined: 21 years 10 months
- Location: United States of America
- Has thanked: 12420 times
- Been thanked: 37924 times
- Age: 90
Re: "I Need Somebody To Lean On"
..
Here you get a glimpse not of the life he led but of the things he felt and the movies he might have made.
There is nothing like it in any of his other films – certainly not in anything since “King Creole.” There is a moment of interiority, however stylized, a moody dreamscape to which Elvis lends himself as if he had somehow found his way into a Gene Kelly musical. But it is only when he actually begins to sing (after a minute-and-a-half of voice-over mood shots), that we sense the quiet, earnest sincerity that belies the stagy showiness of the rest of the film. Just listen to what Elvis brings to this beautiful Doc Pomus-Mort Shuman composition if you want to experience the core of vulnerability that lies at the heart of his music.
http://www.peterguralnick.com/post/40009387172/i-need-somebody-to-lean-on-elvisviva-las
See additional interesting comments here:
i need somebody to lean on
http://www.elvis-collectors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=76784
I Need Someone to Lean on
http://www.elvis-collectors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=74405
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
.
Dr. John Carpenter, M.D.
Stop, look and listen, baby <<--->> that's my philosophy!
Dr. John Carpenter, M.D.
Stop, look and listen, baby <<--->> that's my philosophy!
-
Topic author
Re: "I Need Somebody To Lean On"
Was this the last song Pomus/Shuman wrote for Elvis before the stellar Double Trouble? Man what a drop-off. Still one of the best songwriting teams in the annuls of pop music. Wish there were more of their songs than Tepper/Bennett
-
- Posts: 9281
- Joined: 21 years 9 months
- Location: España.
- Has thanked: 2403 times
- Been thanked: 4568 times
Re: "I Need Somebody To Lean On"
Hi there!!
.
Great lovely ballad song, Elvis voice is outstanding like he had in all those early 60´s songs!
.
I prefer the movie song, specially almost at the end when he sings it "a capella", just Elvis voice, fantastic!
. Bye for now
.



Great lovely ballad song, Elvis voice is outstanding like he had in all those early 60´s songs!

I prefer the movie song, specially almost at the end when he sings it "a capella", just Elvis voice, fantastic!


Maestro. Mike Windgren. Torero!!!!!!!!.
Always Trying To Make Peace <<--->> On FECC
Not The Best, Just The Coolest Guy Around!..
Viva el vino, viva el dinero, viva, viva el amor!!.

Always Trying To Make Peace <<--->> On FECC
Not The Best, Just The Coolest Guy Around!..
Viva el vino, viva el dinero, viva, viva el amor!!.

-
- Posts: 110035
- Joined: 21 years 10 months
- Location: United States of America
- Has thanked: 12420 times
- Been thanked: 37924 times
- Age: 90
Re: "I Need Somebody To Lean On"
After this one, Elvis cut these related tunes:r&b wrote:Was this the last song Pomus/Shuman wrote for Elvis before the stellar Double Trouble? Man what a drop-off. Still one of the best songwriting teams in the annuls of pop music. Wish there were more of their songs than Tepper/Bennett
"Girl Happy" (Doc Pomus and Norman Meade)
"What Every Woman Lives For"
"Never Say Yes"
"Double Trouble"
"You'll Think Of Me" (Mort Shuman)
The team moved to the U.K. circa 1964, and mostly stopped working together not long after. But it's odd that Presley publishing apparently avoided them after so many wonderful recordings. Heck, even their backlog of material would have been better than most of the crap that went down after 1965.
.
Dr. John Carpenter, M.D.
Stop, look and listen, baby <<--->> that's my philosophy!
Dr. John Carpenter, M.D.
Stop, look and listen, baby <<--->> that's my philosophy!
-
Topic author
Re: "I Need Somebody To Lean On"
Thanks, knew about Mort, but forgot about those other movie songs. Not at their best after 1964 were they.drjohncarpenter wrote:After this one, Elvis cut these related tunes:r&b wrote:Was this the last song Pomus/Shuman wrote for Elvis before the stellar Double Trouble? Man what a drop-off. Still one of the best songwriting teams in the annuls of pop music. Wish there were more of their songs than Tepper/Bennett
"Girl Happy" (Doc Pomus and Norman Meade)
"What Every Woman Lives For"
"Never Say Yes"
"Double Trouble"
"You'll Think Of Me" (Mort Shuman)
The team moved to the U.K. circa 1964, and mostly stopped working together not long after. But it's odd that Presley publishing apparently avoided them after so many wonderful recordings. Heck, even their backlog of material would have been better than most of the crap that went down after 1965.
Re: "I Need Somebody To Lean On"
I was going to post that this was one of Elvis' better acting scenes, even though it's a musical interlude because of the facts you mention. He shows the emotion very well in an understated way. Very well done by our man.Greystoke wrote:I Need Somebody to Lean On is a lovely, poignant, torch song that Elvis sung beautifully. I think it's one of his best recordings and vocal performances of the decade. He really got inside the song and managed to communicate the lyrics in ways that show just how much he had grown, developed and matured as a balladeer since the 1950s. Not just in a romantic sense. But his phrasing, shading of a lyric and increasing ability to articulate beautiful words with meaning.
And here was Elvis with a good song that he elevates by expressing emotional damage elegantly and eloquently. Bringing real humanity to the words and creating a mood that's almost cathartic because of the way he sings. Those little hesitations and pauses, for example. Which add just enough silence between phrases to evoke the notion that he's overcome with emotion. It's marvellous singing. Technically perfect. Emotionally rich and intimately involving.
The song is nicely arranged, too. And thrives in the simplicity of tender piano playing with little flourishes of guitar to add colour. Whilst the scene from the film also works because it's staged in a minimalist, straightforward way. Emphasising Lucky`s mood with a sense of isolation in the staging and cinematography. The latter, courtesy of Joseph F. Biroc, who bathes Elvis in darkness whilst keeping soft lightning around the rest of the set and the young lovers envied by his character. Whilst a roulette wheel flashes like a beacon of chance. Suggesting that Lucky`s luck will change if he takes a chance.
The camera movement and George Sidney`s decision to shoot this scene in one, uninterrupted take, allowed Elvis to the opportunity give one of his more understated performances. Which he does in a way that's wholly in synch with how economical but effective this entire sequence is. With Sidney keeping Lucky near the edge of the frame to show how marginalised he feels before making his plea to be heard. And look how expressive Elvis`s face is and how he's able to keep his hands where they should be. Without fidgeting or looking uncertain. He was well directed here and attentive in his own performance. And this shows in the film as whole.
-
- Posts: 110035
- Joined: 21 years 10 months
- Location: United States of America
- Has thanked: 12420 times
- Been thanked: 37924 times
- Age: 90
Re: "I Need Somebody To Lean On"
Actually, I feel those three songs they gave Presley were either leftovers or done with little regard, as they knew the projects they were being submitted for were garbage. Plus, the team was in essence kaput after Pomus had some kind of injury during the period.r&b wrote:Thanks, knew about Mort, but forgot about those other movie songs. Not at their best after 1964 were they.drjohncarpenter wrote:After this one, Elvis cut these related tunes:
"Girl Happy" (Doc Pomus and Norman Meade)
"What Every Woman Lives For"
"Never Say Yes"
"Double Trouble"
"You'll Think Of Me" (Mort Shuman)
The team moved to the U.K. circa 1964, and mostly stopped working together not long after. But it's odd that Presley publishing apparently avoided them after so many wonderful recordings. Heck, even their backlog of material would have been better than most of the crap that went down after 1965.
.
Dr. John Carpenter, M.D.
Stop, look and listen, baby <<--->> that's my philosophy!
Dr. John Carpenter, M.D.
Stop, look and listen, baby <<--->> that's my philosophy!
-
Topic author
Re: "I Need Somebody To Lean On"
You have said this before about an injury during the period leading to the break-up of the team, and yet I have never come across any talk of one.drjohncarpenter wrote:Actually, I feel those three songs they gave Presley were either leftovers or done with little regard, as they knew the projects they were being submitted for were garbage. Plus, the team was in essence kaput after Pomus had some kind of injury during the period.r&b wrote:Thanks, knew about Mort, but forgot about those other movie songs. Not at their best after 1964 were they.drjohncarpenter wrote:After this one, Elvis cut these related tunes:
"Girl Happy" (Doc Pomus and Norman Meade)
"What Every Woman Lives For"
"Never Say Yes"
"Double Trouble"
"You'll Think Of Me" (Mort Shuman)
The team moved to the U.K. circa 1964, and mostly stopped working together not long after. But it's odd that Presley publishing apparently avoided them after so many wonderful recordings. Heck, even their backlog of material would have been better than most of the crap that went down after 1965.
-
- Posts: 110035
- Joined: 21 years 10 months
- Location: United States of America
- Has thanked: 12420 times
- Been thanked: 37924 times
- Age: 90
Re: "I Need Somebody To Lean On"
That's because I am far better than you at gathering information.poormadpeter2 wrote:You have said this before about an injury during the period leading to the break-up of the team, and yet I have never come across any talk of one.drjohncarpenter wrote:Actually, I feel those three songs they gave Presley were either leftovers or done with little regard, as they knew the projects they were being submitted for were garbage. Plus, the team was in essence kaput after Pomus had some kind of injury during the period.
Further, I include sources when I am able, often without being prompted:
Ken Emerson, Always Magic in the Air: The Bomp and Brilliance of the Brill Building Era
https://books.google.com/books?id=H7N3tPSny6AC&pg=PT187
Enjoy.
.
Dr. John Carpenter, M.D.
Stop, look and listen, baby <<--->> that's my philosophy!
Dr. John Carpenter, M.D.
Stop, look and listen, baby <<--->> that's my philosophy!
-
Topic author
Re: "I Need Somebody To Lean On"
I see nothing there to tell me you got the information from that book. Just a brief synopsis of the book. No online biographies of Pomus have any mention of an injury from around that time - and you seem rather vague about it ("some kind of injury") during the period, despite your apparent source. Indeed, the songwriter's hall of fame website biography simply says the partnership dissolved.drjohncarpenter wrote:That's because I am far better than you at gathering information.poormadpeter2 wrote:You have said this before about an injury during the period leading to the break-up of the team, and yet I have never come across any talk of one.drjohncarpenter wrote:Actually, I feel those three songs they gave Presley were either leftovers or done with little regard, as they knew the projects they were being submitted for were garbage. Plus, the team was in essence kaput after Pomus had some kind of injury during the period.
Further, I include sources when I am able, often without being prompted:
Ken Emerson, Always Magic in the Air: The Bomp and Brilliance of the Brill Building Era
https://books.google.com/books?id=H7N3tPSny6AC&pg=PT187
Enjoy.
Credible sources always elevate an internet discussion topic.
https://www.elvis-collectors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=95705#p1546521
-
- Posts: 110035
- Joined: 21 years 10 months
- Location: United States of America
- Has thanked: 12420 times
- Been thanked: 37924 times
- Age: 90
Re: "I Need Somebody To Lean On"
The link goes to page 187 of the book, which details Pomus' injury, and the impending songwriter split. Hint: it's the fifth paragraph on the page.poormadpeter2 wrote:I see nothing there ...drjohncarpenter wrote:That's because I am far better than you at gathering information.poormadpeter2 wrote:You have said this before about an injury during the period leading to the break-up of the team, and yet I have never come across any talk of one.drjohncarpenter wrote:Actually, I feel those three songs they gave Presley were either leftovers or done with little regard, as they knew the projects they were being submitted for were garbage. Plus, the team was in essence kaput after Pomus had some kind of injury during the period.
Further, I include sources when I am able, often without being prompted:
Ken Emerson, Always Magic in the Air: The Bomp and Brilliance of the Brill Building Era
https://books.google.com/books?id=H7N3tPSny6AC&pg=PT187
Enjoy.
My goodness, everything about you on this forum is a chore. And never a courteous thank you for any piece of information provided.
Since you aren't seeing the page which is just a mouse-click away, I suggest you hire an IT person to assist you with using your computer.
.
Dr. John Carpenter, M.D.
Stop, look and listen, baby <<--->> that's my philosophy!
Dr. John Carpenter, M.D.
Stop, look and listen, baby <<--->> that's my philosophy!
Re: "I Need Somebody To Lean On"
Doc, he's not being obtuse. If the link is accessed from the UK, it goes to a general summary of the book and no preview. If accessed from the US, it takes you to the page. No idea why they've blocked the preview, but they have.
-
- Posts: 110035
- Joined: 21 years 10 months
- Location: United States of America
- Has thanked: 12420 times
- Been thanked: 37924 times
- Age: 90
Re: "I Need Somebody To Lean On"
Funny, he fails to mention the disparity, instead, he just complains. That's nothing new. Please confirm for him the information is there.TJ wrote:Doc, he's not being obtuse. If the link is accessed from the UK, it goes to a general summary of the book and no preview. If accessed from the US, it takes you to the page. No idea why they've blocked the preview, but they have.
.
Dr. John Carpenter, M.D.
Stop, look and listen, baby <<--->> that's my philosophy!
Dr. John Carpenter, M.D.
Stop, look and listen, baby <<--->> that's my philosophy!