I Need You by America

I Need You

1972

America

When 'America's second single...and second Top 10 hit...starts playing, I can just about bet that every Seventies Kid can join right in on that first 'We Used To Laugh....' , then sing...or at least lip-sync... right along without missing a lyric. And every one of us guys also...fondly now, with misty-eyed nostalgia...remembers 'I Need You' as being one of those songs that you will hear within an hour or so of breaking up with your girlfriend (Trust me on this!).

'I Need You ' was supposed to be the first single released from America's self-titled first album, but after the album's lethargic initial sales inspired A Horse With No Name to be released, replacing it in that role (And inspiring the re-release of the album with 'Horse...' included), ' I Need You' became 'The Other Single' from the album. It debuted at #67 on the Hot 100 on May 20^th 1972 (Just as 'A Horse With No Name's chart run was winding down) and peaked at #9, just inside the Top 10, six weeks later on July 1^st. (Feel old, gang. That was just shy of 42 years ago as I type this.). It hung on to #9 for two weeks before dropping off of the Hot 100 on July 22^nd.

'I Need You' was a bona-fide hit, but like the Middle Sibling that it pretty much was, it got overshadowed by both 'A Horse With No Name', and 'Ventura Highway', which was America's third single, third Top Ten Hit in a row, and the first single off of their second album, 'Homecoming'. Don't get me wrong here...'I Need You' was still a huge success for 'America'. It got loads of air play, lots of singles were purchased and played until the grooves wore through, and it was well loved back then and its still remembered fondly today. But as the years passed the two songs that immediately preceded and succeeded it became such mega-classics that their 'Middle Sibling' sort of faded into the shadows.

Middle Sibling that it may have been, 'I Need You' gave a very definite nod to the Progressive Rock sound that America aspired to. (I've actually heard it compared to 'Yes' early work.). Gerry Beckley penned it as a piano ballad, and it's pretty, flowing melodies and strong piano gave it a completely different style from 'A Horse With No Name's  more Folk Rock sound. America's first two singles also showed just how much range the band had style-wise...a range that would serve them well over the coming years (And still does decades later, as the band never broke up or took a break from performing. Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell still tour annually, and perform regularly!)

Hey...We obviously liked it...while it didn't grab the Mega-Success that 'A Horse With No Name' enjoyed, it was still 'America's' second Top Ten hit out of two released singles. That ain't too shabby none 'tall!

I Need You still shows up on Oldies Stations and Adult Contemporary (What we used to call 'Easy Listening') stations occasionally, but nowhere near often enough.. It'd be nice if we heard it more than we do...like a gentle breeze after a spring shower, it's smooth, mellow, and soothing.

Now, when we hear 'We Used To Laugh...We Used To Cry', backed by that classic and awesome piano. all of us think back to a time when getting to spend a couple of minutes with your girl or boyfriend between classes was one of the most important issues of the day. And it just might remind you of the time, during that quick Before The Late Bell interlude, she handed you your ring back, slammed her locker, and walked away...and, at the end of the school day, this was the song that was playing as you started your car.

So Enjoy! 'I Need You' by America!

And as a bonus, a very informal live performance of i Need You. I've found several

Vids from this same venue and session...these are true jems!