I Need You Now (1954 song)

"I Need You Now" is a popular song written by Jimmie Crane and Al Jacobs.[1]

"I Need You Now"
Single by Eddie Fisher
Written1953
ReleasedAugust 1954
Recorded1954
Length2:26
LabelRCA Victor
Songwriter(s)Al Jacobs and Jimmie Crane
Eddie Fisher singles chronology
"Heaven Was Never Like This"
(1954)		 "I Need You Now"
(1954)		 "Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)"
(1954)

The recorded version by Eddie Fisher reached number 1 on Billboard charts in 1954[2]

Background

The song was written for Joni James who recorded the song in April 1953 for M-G-M Records, and the song was released on her best-selling album, Let There Be Love. Eddie Fisher subsequently recorded a version of it accompanied by Hugo Winterhalter and his Orchestra at Webster Hall, New York City, on May 4, 1954. The song was released by RCA Victor Records backed with "Heaven Was Never Like This" (catalog number 20-5830) in August 1954.[3][4] and by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10755. Fisher's recording reached number 1 on Billboard as well as Cash Box charts in November 1954.[5][6] It was ranked number 13 on Billboard's 1954's Top Popular Records according to records sales, and number 12 according to disk jockey plays.[7]

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. Seven years later, Joni James recorded a new version of "I Need You Now", at Abbey Road Studios in London. It was released as a single in 1960.[8] Jacobs and Crane later gave James another song "My Believing Heart," which became the follow-up to her million selling "You Are My Love."

Charts
Chart (1954) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[9] 13
US Best Sellers in Stores (Billboard)[5] 1
US Cash Box[6] 1

Other versions

References
  1. Tyler, Don (2007). Hit Songs, 1900-1955: American Popular Music of the Pre-Rock Era. McFarland. p. 330. ISBN 9780786429462.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (1973). Top Pop Records 1940-1955. Record Research.
  3. "Review Spotlight on ..." Billboard. August 7, 1954. p. 36.
  4. "RCA Victor 20-5500 - 20-6000 78rpm numerical listing discography". 78discography.com. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  5. "The Billboard Popularity Chart > Best Sellers in Stores". Billboard. November 20, 1954. p. 32.
  6. "The Cash Box Best-Selling Singles: Week ending November 27, 1954". Tropicalglen.com.
  7. "1954's Top Popular Records". Billboard. December 25, 1954. p. 17.
  8. "Reviews of This Week's Singles". Billboard. February 29, 1960. p. 57.
  9. "Eddie Fisher: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  10. "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. 1960. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  11. "A Bing Crosby Discography". Bingmagazine.co.uk. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  12. "Bing Crosby : The Bing Crosby CBS Radio Recordings 1954-56". AllMusic. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  13. "Ronnie Dove > Chart History > Billboard Hot 100". Billboard.
  14. "45cat.com". 45cat.com. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  15. "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
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