Need Your Love (song)
Encyclopedia
Need Your Love is a song written by Rick Nielsen
and Tom Petersson
that was originally performed by American rock band Cheap Trick
. The song appeared on Cheap Trick's 1979 album Dream Police
. A live version was included on the 1978 album Cheap Trick at Budokan, which initially appeared only in Japan but eventually was in the United States in early 1979. Because Cheap Trick was immensely popular in Japan, the band's Japanese label demanded that At Budokan include three new songs. The three songs were "Ain't That a Shame
", "Goodnight Now", and "Need Your Love."
The song on uses a traditional hard rock formula, and does not use synthesized strings as were used on other songs on Dream Police. The musical backing to the song on Dream Police is basically a mid-tempo jam consisting of Nielsen's fancy guitar playing and Petersson's driving bass. Singer Robin Zander
sings in a falsetto
voice and incorporates a tremolo
warble at the end of each line. Nielsen has commented that "I think it is a desperate type of tune that Robin does a great job of singing." This arrangement is put through several changes, incorporating a heavy guitar break, which stretches the length of the song more than seven and a half minutes. Ira Robbins of Trouser Press
notes that the song "starts out slow and restrained, but builds to an intense boogie-based climax." Music critic Dave Marsh
of Rolling Stone Magazine described the song as "a better version of the Who meets Free than Bad Company has ever managed — but that's about all it is." Mojo
noted that "Need Your Love" and "Gonna Raise Hell", another song from Dream Police, "proved the Trick could do heavy, freaky rock jams as well as any of their peers."
The live version of the song on Cheap Trick at Budokan is similar to the version on Dream Police. It begins with Zander proclaiming "I need your love" to the screaming female fans. This is followed by Bun E. Carlos
' pounding drumming that leads into Nielsen's and Petersson's guitar and bass work. The song builds to a steady climax and then transforms itself into a supercharged boogie
. Carlos has stated that the band originally learned the song for their 1978 album Heaven Tonight
but it was only when producer Tom Werman
heard them play the band live that he realized how good the song was and regretted excluding it from the earlier album.
Subsequent to its initial releases, the song was released on Cheap Trick compilation albums Hits of Cheap Trick, The Music of Cheap Trick and Setlist: The Very Best of Cheap Trick Live.
"Need Your Love" has been covered by several other artists, including Tony Rebel
and Shadow Reef.
Rick Nielsen
-External links:* * *...
and Tom Petersson
Tom Petersson
Tom Petersson is an American musician, best known as the bassist and sometime guitarist for the rock band Cheap Trick.-Career:...
that was originally performed by American rock band Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 1973. The band consists of members Robin Zander , Rick Nielsen , Tom Petersson , and Bun E...
. The song appeared on Cheap Trick's 1979 album Dream Police
Dream Police
Dream Police is a 1979 studio album by Cheap Trick. It was their fourth studio release, and third in a row produced by Tom Werman. It is the band's most commercially successful studio album, going to No...
. A live version was included on the 1978 album Cheap Trick at Budokan, which initially appeared only in Japan but eventually was in the United States in early 1979. Because Cheap Trick was immensely popular in Japan, the band's Japanese label demanded that At Budokan include three new songs. The three songs were "Ain't That a Shame
Ain't That a Shame
"Ain't That a Shame" is a song recorded by Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew, in New Orleans, Louisiana, for Imperial Records and released in 1955. It was previously recorded in 1901 by Silas Leachman. The recording was a hit for Domino, eventually selling a million copies. It reached #1 on the...
", "Goodnight Now", and "Need Your Love."
The song on uses a traditional hard rock formula, and does not use synthesized strings as were used on other songs on Dream Police. The musical backing to the song on Dream Police is basically a mid-tempo jam consisting of Nielsen's fancy guitar playing and Petersson's driving bass. Singer Robin Zander
Robin Zander
Robin Wayne Zander is the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the rock band Cheap Trick.-Early life:Zander was born in Beloit, Wisconsin, the fourth of five children; he has two older brothers, and older and younger sisters....
sings in a falsetto
Falsetto
Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
voice and incorporates a tremolo
Tremolo
Tremolo, or tremolando, is a musical term that describes various trembling effects, falling roughly into two types. The first is a rapid reiteration...
warble at the end of each line. Nielsen has commented that "I think it is a desperate type of tune that Robin does a great job of singing." This arrangement is put through several changes, incorporating a heavy guitar break, which stretches the length of the song more than seven and a half minutes. Ira Robbins of Trouser Press
Trouser Press
Trouser Press was a rock and roll magazine started in New York in 1974 as a mimeographed fanzine by editor/publisher Ira Robbins, fellow Who fan Dave Schulps and Karen Rose under the name "Trans-Oceanic Trouser Press" ...
notes that the song "starts out slow and restrained, but builds to an intense boogie-based climax." Music critic Dave Marsh
Dave Marsh
Dave Marsh is an American music critic, author, editor and radio talk show host. He was a formative editor of Creem magazine, has written for various publications such as Newsday, The Village Voice, and Rolling Stone, and has published numerous books about music and musicians, mostly focused on...
of Rolling Stone Magazine described the song as "a better version of the Who meets Free than Bad Company has ever managed — but that's about all it is." Mojo
Mojo (magazine)
MOJO is a popular music magazine published initially by Emap, and since January 2008 by Bauer, monthly in the United Kingdom. Following the success of the magazine Q, publishers Emap were looking for a title which would cater for the burgeoning interest in classic rock music...
noted that "Need Your Love" and "Gonna Raise Hell", another song from Dream Police, "proved the Trick could do heavy, freaky rock jams as well as any of their peers."
The live version of the song on Cheap Trick at Budokan is similar to the version on Dream Police. It begins with Zander proclaiming "I need your love" to the screaming female fans. This is followed by Bun E. Carlos
Bun E. Carlos
Bun E. Carlos, born Brad Carlson, June 12, 1951, is the primary drummer for American rock band Cheap Trick. He is the band's chief setlister and archivist, and maintains recordings of all the band's shows, some of which have been released under the name 'Bun E's Bootlegs'.Carlos is left-handed, but...
' pounding drumming that leads into Nielsen's and Petersson's guitar and bass work. The song builds to a steady climax and then transforms itself into a supercharged boogie
Boogie
Boogie is a repetitive, swung note or shuffle rhythm, "groove" or pattern used in blues which was originally played on the piano in boogie-woogie music. The characteristic rhythm and feel of the boogie was then adapted to guitar, double bass, and other instruments. The earliest recorded...
. Carlos has stated that the band originally learned the song for their 1978 album Heaven Tonight
Heaven Tonight
Heaven Tonight is Cheap Trick's third album, released in 1978. The album was remastered and released with bonus tracks on Sony's Epic/Legacy imprint in 1998. The album cover features lead singer Robin Zander and bassist Tom Petersson....
but it was only when producer Tom Werman
Tom Werman
Tom Werman was an A&R man and record producer for Epic Records from 1970 into 1982. He has produced albums by acts including Mother's Finest, Ted Nugent, Cheap Trick, Molly Hatchet, Blue Öyster Cult, Mötley Crüe, Twisted Sister, Stryper, Kix, LA Guns, and Poison. While in A&R at Epic Records, he...
heard them play the band live that he realized how good the song was and regretted excluding it from the earlier album.
Subsequent to its initial releases, the song was released on Cheap Trick compilation albums Hits of Cheap Trick, The Music of Cheap Trick and Setlist: The Very Best of Cheap Trick Live.
"Need Your Love" has been covered by several other artists, including Tony Rebel
Tony Rebel
Tony Rebel is a Jamaican reggae deejay. He was initially a singer, appearing as Papa Tony or Tony Ranking in local talent contests and on sound systems including Sugar Minott's 'Youth Promotion'...
and Shadow Reef.