"I'm the Lonely One" is a song by Cliff Richard and the Shadows, released as a single in January 1964. It peaked at number 8 on the UK Singles Chart.[4]
| "I'm the Lonely One" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Cliff Richard and the Shadows | ||||
| B-side | "Watch What You Do with My Baby" | |||
| Released | 31 January 1964[1] | |||
| Recorded | 23 November 1963[2] | |||
| Studio | EMI Studios, London | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:16 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Gordon Mills | |||
| Producer(s) | Norrie Paramor | |||
| Cliff Richard and the Shadows singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background and release edit
"I'm the Lonely One" was written by then-Viscounts member Gordon Mills. The B-side, "Watch Watch You Do with My Baby" was written by Elvis Presley songwriters Bill Giant, Bernie Baum and Florence Kaye. Both songs were included on the EP Cliff's Palladium Successes.[5]
Reviewing for Disc, Don Nicholl described "I'm the Lonely One" as "a snappy change of pace that will probably do [Richard] a lot of good in the parade. The song skips along infectiously on a good light beat and the hand clapping in the accompaniment will pull you in quickly".[6]
The song did receive some criticism however, with one letter to the music press asking why the group had to "sink so low and go all R&B on their latest record? On this disc, they lose all claim to originality". However, Richard said that "actually, it wasn't originally planned as a single. I usually include a couple of rockers on my albums, and this song was cut with that in view, but the beat craze changed our plans."[2]
In April 1964, Richard released a German-language version of "I'm the Lonely One", titled "Zuviel allein (The Lonely One)", with German lyrics by Kurt Hertha and backing vocals by the Botho-Lucas-Quartett. It was released as a double A-side with a German-language version of "Don't Talk to Him", titled "Sag' "no" zu ihm".[7]
Track listing edit
7": Columbia / DB 7203
- "I'm the Lonely One" – 2:16
- "Watch What You Do with My Baby" – 2:04
7": Columbia / C 22 707 (Germany)
- "Zuviel allein" – 2:16
- "Sag' "no" zu ihm" – 2:53
Personnel edit
- Cliff Richard – vocals
- Hank Marvin – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Bruce Welch – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
- John Rostill – bass guitar
- Brian Bennett – drums
- Norrie Paramor – piano
Charts edit
| Chart (1964) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[8] | 16 |
| Canada (CHUM)[9] | 18 |
| Denmark (Danmarks Radio)[10] | 5 |
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[11] | 9 |
| Germany (Official German Charts)[12] | 2 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[13] | 9 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[14] | 3 |
| Norway (VG-lista)[15] | 4 |
| South Africa[16] | 1 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[17] | 13 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[4] | 8 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[18] | 92 |
References edit
- ^ "Cliff's next disc out in a fortnight" (PDF). New Musical Express. 17 January 1964. p. 6. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- ^ a b "Cliff Richard Song Database - Song Details". www.cliffrichardsongs.com. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ Stanley, Bob (13 September 2013). Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop. Faber & Faber. p. 82. ISBN 978-0-571-28198-5.
- ^ a b "Cliff Richard: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- ^ Cliff Richard And The Shadows - I'm The Lonely One, retrieved 3 August 2021
- ^ "Cliff changes pace for latest disc" (PDF). Disc. 31 January 1964. p. 8. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ "Cliff Richard Song Database - Song Details". www.cliffrichardsongs.com. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book 1940–1969. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-44439-5.
- ^ "CHUM Hit Parade Week of May 4, 1964". 4 May 1964. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ "danskehitlister.dk". 9 April 2016. Archived from the original on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ Lassila, Juha (1990). Mitä Suomi soittaa?: Hittilistat 1954–87 (in Finnish). Jyväskylän yliopisto. ISBN 95-168-0321-0.
- ^ "Cliff Richard and the Shadows – I'm the Lonely One" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I'm the Lonely One". Irish Singles Chart.
- ^ "Cliff Richard and the Shadows – I'm the Lonely One" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "Cliff Richard and the Shadows – I'm the Lonely One". VG-lista.
- ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 4 July 1964. p. 26. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ Johansson, Carl-Owe (1980). Rock Around the Clock - Saturday Night Fever 1955-1978. Vara, Sweden: Dominique muzic-club.
- ^ "Cliff Richard Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
