You Might Need Somebody

"You Might Need Somebody" is a song written by Tom Snow and Nan O'Byrne, and first recorded in 1980 by American singer and guitarist Turley Richards. The following year, American jazz and R&B singer Randy Crawford released her version which charted well in the United Kingdom and was a modest hit in Flanders (Belgium) and New Zealand. In 1997, English singer Shola Ama's version charted well throughout Europe and New Zealand.

"You Might Need Somebody"
Dutch release
Single by Randy Crawford
from the album Secret Combination
B-side"You Bring the Sun Out"
Released1981
GenreR&B
Length4:17
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)Nan O'Byrne, Tom Snow
Producer(s)Tommy LiPuma
Randy Crawford singles chronology
"When I Lose My Way"
(1981)		 "You Might Need Somebody"
(1981)		 "Rainy Night In Georgia"
(1981)

Early versions

In 1980, a version by American singer and guitarist Turley Richards peaked number 54 in the Billboard Hot 100.[1] In the same year, Anna Oxa released an Italian version "Metropolitana" with Italian lyrics written by Marco Luberti for her studio album "Controllo totale".

In 1981, Randy Crawford covered the song for her album Secret Combination. It was the second single released from the album. Her version reached number eleven on the UK Singles Chart, making it her fourth highest-charting single on that chart.[2] The version also peaked number 39 in the Flanders region of Belgian Ultratop 50 Singles chart in 1981 and in the New Zealand music chart one year later.[3][4]

In 1991, Joe Walsh released his rock version of "You Might Need Somebody" on his ninth studio album Ordinary Average Guy.

Charts
Chart (1981–1982) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5] 39
Ireland (IRMA)[6] 15
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[7] 39
UK Singles (OCC)[8] 11

Shola Ama version
"You Might Need Somebody"
Single by Shola Ama
from the album Much Love
Released7 April 1997 (1997-04-07)[9]
Genre
Length
  • 4:51 (album version)
  • 3:51 (radio mix)
LabelWEA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)D'Influence
Shola Ama singles chronology
"You're the One I Love"
(1996)		 "You Might Need Somebody"
(1997)		 "You're the One I Love (re-issue)"
(1997)
Music video
"You Might Need Somebody" on YouTube

In 1997, English singer Shola Ama recorded a version of the song featured on her debut album, Much Love (1997). Her version reached number four on the UK Singles Chart and became a top-10 hit also in France, Ireland, Israel, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. It was additionally a top-20 hit in Iceland, Scotland, and Switzerland. On the Eurochart Hot 100, it peaked at number 25 in October 1997. The accompanying music video was put at heavy rotation on MTV.[10]

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard described the song as a "curious little number" and a "jazzy, Brand New Heavies-ish type of track that reeks of a classic soul production akin to a Ray Parker Jr. orchestration". He added that "while that sounds confusing, once programmers and listeners key into the lyrics, which are well written and well executed, Shola Ama's influences are of no consequence".[11] Swedish newspaper Göteborgs-Tidningen declared it as a "truly delightful, generous electric piano-garnished Randy Crawford-cover".[12] A reviewer from Music & Media said that "there's little doubt that that Shola Ama has a fantastic voice", noting that "radio has already warmed to this familiar cover, which is reproduced almost note for note from the Randy Crawford original".[13]

British magazine Music Week rated it four out of five, adding that the singer "breathes new life" into the 16-year-old hit, "with a classy, understated performance."[14] Editor Alan Jones said it is "still sounding superb", stating that "the backing is looser and less urgent, as the song ploughs an R&B furrow."[15] Ralph Tee from he magazine's RM Dance Update rated it three out of five, noting that it is "given a crisp clean street soul production by D-Influence". He concluded that "its definitely their mix that cuts it the best, despite it sounding so close to the original. It just sounds great."[16] Dave Fawbert from ShortList deemed the song as "absolutely massive".[17] A reviewer from Sunday Mirror stated that Ama's "got such an amazing voice. She's the best British female R&B singer," and added, "I really liked 'You Might Need Somebody'".[18]

Live performances

Ama performed "You Might Need Somebody" in three successive Top of the Pops performances. She told in an interview, "After the first couple of shows, people wouldn't believe that I had sung live; they all thought I'd been miming. So on the third one, I missed a bit out to prove it was for real."[19]

Track listings
CD single (CD1), UK and Europe (1997)[20]
No.TitleLength
1."You Might Need Somebody" (DI Classic Radio Mix)3:51
2."You Might Need Somebody" (DI Classic Radio Mix with rap)3:52
3."You Might Need Somebody" (C&J Lovers Mix)4:02
4."You Might Need Somebody" (Mousse T's Mellow Dub Mix)5:48
5."You Might Need Somebody" (Ill-In-Ton's Club Mix)6:20
CD single (CD2), UK and Europe (1997)[21]
No.TitleLength
1."You Might Need Somebody" (Paul Waller Dirty Bass Mix with rap)5:41
2."You Might Need Somebody" (Mousse T's Soul Train with rap)4:04
3."You Might Need Somebody" (Brockpocket Mix)4:32
4."You Might Need Somebody" (Basement Jaxx Night Dub)5:56

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
France (SNEP)[45] Gold 250,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[46] Gold 5,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[47] Silver 200,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "The Hot 100 – Week of February 23, 1980". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  2. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 125. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. "Randy Crawford – 'You Might Need Somebody'". Ultratop. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  4. "Randy Crawford – 'You Might Need Somebody' (song)". Ultratop. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  5. "Randy Crawford – You Might Need Somebody" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  6. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – You Might Need Somebody". Irish Singles Chart.
  7. "Randy Crawford – You Might Need Somebody". Top 40 Singles.
  8. "Randy Crawford: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  9. "Shola Ama: You Might Need Somebody" (PDF). Music Week. 5 April 1997. p. 1. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  10. "Artist Profile: Shola Ama" (PDF). Music Week. 5 July 1997. p. 20. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  11. Flick, Larry (18 October 1997). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 80. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  12. Göteborgs-Tidningen. 19 September 1997.
  13. "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 12 April 1997. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  14. "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 22 March 1997. p. 8. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  15. Jones, Alan (15 February 1997). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 23. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  16. Tee, Ralph (1 February 1997). "Hot Vinyl" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 11. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  17. Fawbert, Dave (17 November 2017). "Old Music Friday: reviewing all the tunes released 20 years ago today". ShortList. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  18. Sunday Mirror. 21 December 1997. p. 7. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  19. Lyle, Peter (16 August 1997). "Shola Ama — Now The UK Has An R&B Diva Of Its Own" (PDF). Music Week. p. 16. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  20. You Might Need Somebody (UK & European CD1 liner notes). Shola Ama. WEA Records. 1997. WEA097CD1, 0630 18641 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. You Might Need Somebody (UK & European CD2 liner notes). Shola Ama. WEA Records. 1997. WEA097CD2, 0630 18642 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. "Shola Ama – You Might Need Somebody" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  23. "Shola Ama – You Might Need Somebody" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  24. "Shola Ama – You Might Need Somebody" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  25. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 40. 4 October 1997. p. 13.
  26. "Shola Ama – You Might Need Somebody" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  27. "Shola Ama – You Might Need Somebody" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  28. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (17.07.1997 – 23.07.1997)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 18 July 1997. p. 22. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  29. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – You Might Need Somebody". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  30. "UK World Hits: Israel" (PDF). Music Week. 14 June 1997. p. 26. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  31. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 31, 1997" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  32. "Shola Ama – You Might Need Somebody" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  33. "Shola Ama – You Might Need Somebody". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  34. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  35. "Shola Ama – You Might Need Somebody". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  36. "Shola Ama – You Might Need Somebody". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  37. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  38. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  39. "1997 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1997" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 52. 27 December 1997. p. 7. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  40. "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 1997" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  41. "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1997" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  42. "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1997". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  43. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1997" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  44. "Top 100 Singles 1997". Music Week. 17 January 1998. p. 27.
  45. "French single certifications – Shola Ama – You Might Need Somebody" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  46. "New Zealand single certifications – Shola Ama – You Might Need Somebody". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  47. "British single certifications – Shola Ama – You Might Need Somebody". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
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