I'm the Lonely One explained

I'm the Lonely One
Cover:File:Cliff Richard I'm the Lonely One.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Cliff Richard and the Shadows
B-Side:Watch What You Do with My Baby
Released:[1]
Recorded:23 November 1963[2]
Studio:EMI Studios, London
Genre:
Label:Columbia
Producer:Norrie Paramor
Prev Title:Maria No Mas
Prev Year:1963
Next Title:Constantly (L'Edera)
Next Year:1964

"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.

Background and release

"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.

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".[4]

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".[5]

Track listing

7": Columbia / DB 7203

  1. "I'm the Lonely One" – 2:16
  2. "Watch What You Do with My Baby" – 2:04

7": Columbia / C 22 707 (Germany)

  1. "Zuviel allein" – 2:16
  2. "Sag' "no" zu ihm" – 2:53

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1964)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] 16
Canada (CHUM)[7] 18
Denmark (Danmarks Radio)[8] 5
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[9] 9
South Africa[10] 1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[11] 13

Notes and References

  1. 17 January 1964. Cliff's next disc out in a fortnight. New Musical Express. 6. 22 September 2022.
  2. Web site: Cliff Richard Song Database - Song Details. 2021-08-03. www.cliffrichardsongs.com.
  3. Book: Stanley, Bob . Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop . 13 September 2013. Faber & Faber. 978-0-571-28198-5. 82.
  4. 31 January 1964. Cliff changes pace for latest disc. Disc. 8. 3 August 2021.
  5. Web site: Cliff Richard Song Database - Song Details. 2021-08-03. www.cliffrichardsongs.com.
  6. Book: Kent, David. Australian Chart Book 1940–1969. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. . 2005. 0-646-44439-5. Kent Music Report.
  7. Web site: CHUM Hit Parade Week of May 4, 1964. 3 August 2021. 4 May 1964.
  8. Web site: 2016-04-09. danskehitlister.dk. 2021-08-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20160409062258/http://danskehitlister.dk/?song_id=1995. 9 April 2016.
  9. Book: Lassila, Juha . Mitä Suomi soittaa?: Hittilistat 1954–87 . 1990 . Jyväskylän yliopisto . fi . 95-168-0321-0.
  10. Hits of the World. Billboard. 26. 4 July 1964. 3 August 2021.
  11. Book: Johansson, Carl-Owe. Rock Around the Clock - Saturday Night Fever 1955-1978. Vara, Sweden. Dominique muzic-club. 1980.