I Want You, I Need You, I Love You
Encyclopedia
"I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" is a popular song written by Maurice Mysels and Ira Kosloff. It is known best for being Elvis Presley
's second RCA single album release. It was released during May, 1956 becoming Presley's second #1 single album scoring on the country music charts, and maximizing at #3 on the Billboard Top 100 popular music singles chart, an earlier version of the Billboard Hot 100. Before the creation of the Billboard Hot 100 chart during 1958, there were a number of charts including Jukebox plays, Store charts, and Airplay charts. The song scored #1 on the Billboard Top Sellers in Stores chart, and is therefore sometimes wrongly assumed to be a #1 scoring single album in its own right.
, had sold one million copies. RCA producer Steve Sholes wanted a strong single to be the next release, aware that there was not much good material available. Due to Presley's busy touring schedule, Sholes needed to get him into the studio as soon as possible. Presley and his band chartered a small propeller airplane to Nashville
for one day of recording between shows.
En route from Amarillo, the airplane developed engine trouble and fell through the sky several times. Upon arrival in Nashville on the morning of April 14, all four were disconcerted. Presley arrived at RCA Studios without ideas for the recording session and therefore had no choice but to use Sholes' suggestions, one of which was "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You".
Being used to later working hours, coupled with his traumatic experience during his overnight flight, the recording session was bad. Take after take was ruined for one reason or another and the band was not relaxed. Presley, usually a very quick study with a song, couldn't get the lyrics right. After 17 takes during three hours, Sholes decided Presley and the band weren't able to record properly and sent them home.
After the session, Sholes listened to the takes again. He wasn't happy with the results of what he considered to be an unprofessional and wasted session. It had cost $1,000 to fly Presley and his band in by a private flight, and Sholes let Presley's manager, Colonel Tom Parker
, know that he was unsatisfied with the work and required material urgently for a second album. He knew that with Presley's busy touring schedule it could be months before RCA Victor got him back into a studio.
Performing what was a very rare and generally unsuccessful procedure for the 1950s, Sholes took parts of two takes he liked (takes 14 and 17) and cut and spliced them together to create a take worthy of release. His cuts were so seamless, nobody at RCA Victor could tell it wasn't from a single take.
and was released on May 4, 1956. Pre-orders of over 300,000 were the biggest ever in the history of the company. At the time of its release, Presley had three songs scoring in the Top 20: "Heartbreak Hotel
/I Was the One," "My Baby Left Me", and "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You". On June 5, 1956 Presley performed the song on The Milton Berle
Show, as well as an early version of "Hound Dog
" that resulted in a negative reaction from the media.
Despite this negative publicity, the single was generally well received, maximizing at #3 on the Billboard Top 100 popular music singles chart, and scoring #1 on the country music chart. The song earned Presley his second Gold record, with sales in excess of 1.3 million.
Presley's previous single "Heartbreak Hotel" scored the charts for eight weeks and his next two singles, the mega-selling double-sided success "Don't Be Cruel
"/"Hound Dog
" and "Love Me Tender
", would score the charts for a combined 16 weeks.
". The song remains popular, as it is used for the themes of many organizations. The song particularly uses the lyrics: “I want you, I need you/But there ain't no way I'm ever gonna love you”.
performs an instrumental version of the song on his 1989 solo album, No Habla
.
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
's second RCA single album release. It was released during May, 1956 becoming Presley's second #1 single album scoring on the country music charts, and maximizing at #3 on the Billboard Top 100 popular music singles chart, an earlier version of the Billboard Hot 100. Before the creation of the Billboard Hot 100 chart during 1958, there were a number of charts including Jukebox plays, Store charts, and Airplay charts. The song scored #1 on the Billboard Top Sellers in Stores chart, and is therefore sometimes wrongly assumed to be a #1 scoring single album in its own right.
Recording
During April 1956, Variety Magazine reported that Presley's first RCA Victor single album, Heartbreak HotelHeartbreak Hotel
"Heartbreak Hotel" is a song recorded by American rock and roll musician Elvis Presley. It was released as a single on January 27, 1956, Presley's first on his new record label RCA Victor. His first number-one pop record, "Heartbreak Hotel" topped Billboards Top 100 chart, became his first...
, had sold one million copies. RCA producer Steve Sholes wanted a strong single to be the next release, aware that there was not much good material available. Due to Presley's busy touring schedule, Sholes needed to get him into the studio as soon as possible. Presley and his band chartered a small propeller airplane to Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
for one day of recording between shows.
En route from Amarillo, the airplane developed engine trouble and fell through the sky several times. Upon arrival in Nashville on the morning of April 14, all four were disconcerted. Presley arrived at RCA Studios without ideas for the recording session and therefore had no choice but to use Sholes' suggestions, one of which was "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You".
Being used to later working hours, coupled with his traumatic experience during his overnight flight, the recording session was bad. Take after take was ruined for one reason or another and the band was not relaxed. Presley, usually a very quick study with a song, couldn't get the lyrics right. After 17 takes during three hours, Sholes decided Presley and the band weren't able to record properly and sent them home.
After the session, Sholes listened to the takes again. He wasn't happy with the results of what he considered to be an unprofessional and wasted session. It had cost $1,000 to fly Presley and his band in by a private flight, and Sholes let Presley's manager, Colonel Tom Parker
Colonel Tom Parker
"Colonel" Thomas Andrew "Tom" Parker born Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk, was a Dutch-born entertainment impresario known best as the manager of Elvis Presley...
, know that he was unsatisfied with the work and required material urgently for a second album. He knew that with Presley's busy touring schedule it could be months before RCA Victor got him back into a studio.
Performing what was a very rare and generally unsuccessful procedure for the 1950s, Sholes took parts of two takes he liked (takes 14 and 17) and cut and spliced them together to create a take worthy of release. His cuts were so seamless, nobody at RCA Victor could tell it wasn't from a single take.
Reception
"I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" was backed with My Baby Left MeMy Baby Left Me
My Baby Left Me is a rhythm and blues song written by blues singer Arthur Crudup in the late 1940s.It gained further exposure in covers by Elvis Presley, who placed his version on the b-side to his 1956 single "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You"; by Creedence Clearwater Revival, who recorded it as...
and was released on May 4, 1956. Pre-orders of over 300,000 were the biggest ever in the history of the company. At the time of its release, Presley had three songs scoring in the Top 20: "Heartbreak Hotel
Heartbreak Hotel
"Heartbreak Hotel" is a song recorded by American rock and roll musician Elvis Presley. It was released as a single on January 27, 1956, Presley's first on his new record label RCA Victor. His first number-one pop record, "Heartbreak Hotel" topped Billboards Top 100 chart, became his first...
/I Was the One," "My Baby Left Me", and "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You". On June 5, 1956 Presley performed the song on The Milton Berle
Milton Berle
Milton Berlinger , better known as Milton Berle, was an American comedian and actor. As the manic host of NBC's Texaco Star Theater , in 1948 he was the first major star of U.S. television and as such became known as Uncle Miltie and Mr...
Show, as well as an early version of "Hound Dog
Hound Dog (song)
"Hound Dog" is a twelve-bar blues written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and originally recorded by Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton in 1952. Other early versions illustrate the differences among blues, country, and rock and roll in the mid-1950s. The 1956 remake by Elvis Presley is the best-known...
" that resulted in a negative reaction from the media.
Despite this negative publicity, the single was generally well received, maximizing at #3 on the Billboard Top 100 popular music singles chart, and scoring #1 on the country music chart. The song earned Presley his second Gold record, with sales in excess of 1.3 million.
Presley's previous single "Heartbreak Hotel" scored the charts for eight weeks and his next two singles, the mega-selling double-sided success "Don't Be Cruel
Don't Be Cruel
-Legacy:"Don't Be Cruel" went on to become Presley's biggest selling single recorded in 1956, with sales over six million by 1961. It became a regular feature of his live sets until his death in 1977, and was often coupled with "Jailhouse Rock" or "Teddy Bear" during performances from 1969.Many...
"/"Hound Dog
Hound Dog (song)
"Hound Dog" is a twelve-bar blues written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and originally recorded by Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton in 1952. Other early versions illustrate the differences among blues, country, and rock and roll in the mid-1950s. The 1956 remake by Elvis Presley is the best-known...
" and "Love Me Tender
Love Me Tender (song)
"Love Me Tender" is a song recorded by Elvis Presley and published by Elvis Presley Music, adapted from the tune of "Aura Lee" , a sentimental Civil War ballad.- History :...
", would score the charts for a combined 16 weeks.
Influence
This song was the inspiration for the Meat Loaf song "Two Out of Three Ain't BadTwo out of Three Ain't Bad
"Two Out of Three Ain't Bad" is a love song by the American musician Meat Loaf in his solo career, preceded by "You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth" and followed by "Paradise by the Dashboard Light". It is a track off his 1977 album Bat out of Hell, written by Jim Steinman. It reached #11 on...
". The song remains popular, as it is used for the themes of many organizations. The song particularly uses the lyrics: “I want you, I need you/But there ain't no way I'm ever gonna love you”.
Robby Krieger's Version
Jazz Fusion/Rock guitarist Robby KriegerRobby Krieger
Robert Alan "Robby" Krieger is an American rock guitarist and songwriter. He was the guitarist in The Doors, and wrote some of the band's best known songs, including "Light My Fire," "Love Me Two Times," "Touch Me," and "Love Her Madly."...
performs an instrumental version of the song on his 1989 solo album, No Habla
No Habla
No Habla is the fourth solo album by The Doors member Robby Krieger, released in 1989.- Track listing :#"Wild Child" 4:43#"Eagles Song" 2:33#"It's Gonna Work Out Fine" 4:01...
.