I Need You Now (1954 song)

"I Need You Now" is a popular song written by Al Jacobs and Jimmie Crane.

The recorded version by Eddie Fisher, issued by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-5830, reached #1 on the Billboard [1] and Cash Box charts in 1954.

The song was also performed by Russell Arms on several 1954 episodes of the popular TV series Your Hit Parade. A kinescope of one of these performances survives and can be viewed online.

The song had been written for Joni James and recorded by her in April 1953 for M-G-M Records. The song had also been offered to Eddie Fisher and he subsequently recorded a version of it for RCA Victor Records. Because M-G-M had already had three major songs scheduled in sequence for release ("My Love, My Love" and "I'll Never Stand in Your Way" and "I Need You Now," all done at the same recording session!) when the Fisher version was released, it was not possible for M-G-M to market the James original at that point. Joni James was able to place her version eventually on the best-selling album "Let There Be Love" and then seven years later she recorded a new version of "I Need You Now" at Abbey Road Studios in London. This information from Wayne Brasler, president of the Joni James International Fan Club. Jacobs and Crane later gave James another song "My Believing Heart," which became the followup to her million selling "You Are My Love."

Recorded versions

• Floyd Cramer - included in his album Last Date (1960).[2]
• Bing Crosby recorded the song in 1954[3] for use on his radio show and it was subsequently included in the box set The Bing Crosby CBS Radio Recordings (1954-56) issued by Mosaic Records (catalog MD7-245) in 2009.[4]
• Vic Dana
• Ronnie Dove reached #93 on the Hot 100 in 1969 with his version. It was his last entry on that chart.
• Eddie Fisher with Hugo Winterhalter's orchestra and chorus recorded it at Webster Hall, New York City, on May 4, 1954. The song was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-5830 (in USA)[5] and by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10755.
• Jerry Lee Lewis
• Wanda Jackson (1962)
• Harry James
• Joni James - included in her album Let There Be Love (1953)
• Betty Johnson
• Hank Locklin (1962)[6]
• Les Paul and Mary Ford - included in their EP release for Capitol Records Les Paul and Mary Ford (1954).[7]

References

1. Whitburn, Joel (1973). Top Pop Records 1940-1955. Record Research.
2. "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
3. "A Bing Crosby Discography". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
4. "allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
5. RCA Victor in the 20-5500 to 20-9999 series
6. "45cat.com". 45cat.com. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
7. "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved December 5, 2017.