I Need a Lover explained

I Need a Lover
Cover:Johnny Cougar I Need a Lover Single.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Johnny Cougar
Album:A Biography and John Cougar
B-Side:Welcome to Chinatown
Released:1978
Recorded:1977
Studio:AIR (London, UK)
Genre:Hard rock
Length:5:38, 3:30 (single)
Label:Riva
Producer:John Punter
Next Title:Factory
Next Year:1978

"I Need a Lover" is the debut single by John Mellencamp, first released in 1978 under the stage name "Johnny Cougar".

Background

The song appeared on his 1978 album A Biography, which was not released in the United States. After becoming a top 10 hit in Australia, the song was later included on his 1979 follow-up album John Cougar to introduce it to U.S. audiences, and was released there as a single, becoming his first U.S. top 40 hit when it reached No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1979.

AllMusic reviewer Stephen Thomas Erlewine described "I Need a Lover" as Mellencamp's "first good song". Cash Box said that "Cougar's gutsy, forthright vocals and lyrics are nicely backed by passionate guitar and a footstomping, hell-raising beat."[1] Record World said that "Cougar's midwestern roots grow into urban urgency on this explosive rocker."[2]

On his inspiration for writing "I Need a Lover", Mellencamp said: "The song's about a friend of mine who goes to Concordia College. When that song was written, he was pretty sad. He was . . . livin' in his bedroom. I told him, 'You got to get the hell out of the house!' He'd say, 'Man, if I only had a girl, she'd make me forget my problems.' I just said, 'Well . . . '"

Mellencamp has also stated that "I Need a Lover" was inspired by the Rolling Stones' 1972 song "Happy".

Pat Benatar version

I Need a Lover
Cover:Pat Benatar I Need a Lover Single.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Pat Benatar
Album:In the Heat of the Night
B-Side:No You Don't
Released:August 1979[3]
Recorded:1979
Genre:Arena rock[4]
Length:3:30
Label:Chrysalis
Producer:
Prev Title:We Live for Love
Prev Year:1980
Next Title:Rated X
Next Year:1980

The song was covered and released as the debut single in 1979 by American rock singer Pat Benatar for her debut studio album, In the Heat of the Night (1979). The song became an album-oriented rock radio hit for the singer and has been part of the live set list on tour. Chrysalis Records released a live music video for the song, released in 1981.

In popular culture

Notes and References

  1. News: CashBox Singles Reviews. September 8, 1979. 18. Cash Box. 2022-01-01.
  2. Record World. September 15, 1979. 2023-02-11. Hits of the Week. 1.
  3. Book: Pat . Benatar . Pat Benatar . Between a Rock and a Heart Place . 2010 . William Morrow . 978-0-06-195377-4 . 61 . 1st.
  4. Book: Deggabs, Eric . Gary . Graff . Daniel . Durchholz . 1998 . MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide . Pat Benatar . . Detroit . 94–95.
  5. Web site: Josh . Modell . Hamilton Leithauser covers John Cougar (and he's playing A.V. Fest) . . . 12 August 2014 . 12 August 2014.