Home | Songs By Year | Songs from 1963
Needles and Pins (song)
Buy Needles and Pins (song) now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the song. And once you've experienced the song, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
"'Needles and Pins'" is a rock song credited to American writers Jack Nitzsche and Sonny Bono. Jackie DeShannon recorded it in 1963 and other versions followed, including by Cher, The Searchers, Smokie, the Ramones, Del Shannon, Gene Clark, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with Stevie Nicks, and Crack The Sky, and Willie DeVille.
Jackie DeShannon version (1963)
In his autobiography, Bono states that he sang along with Nitzsche's guitar-playing, thus creating both the tune and the lyrics, being guided by the chord progressions. However, Jackie DeShannon claims that the song was written at the piano, and that she was a full participant in the song's creation, along with Nitzsche and Bono, although she did not get formal credit.
DeShannon was the first to record the song; in the US it peaked at number 84 on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 singles chart in May 1963.'Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990', Record Research, Inc., Menomonee Falls WI, 1991 Though it was only a minor US hit, DeShannon's recording of the song topped the charts in Canada, hitting number one on the CHUM Chart in 1963.
The Searchers version (1964)
The Searchers heard British performer Cliff Bennett perform "Needles and Pins" at a club in Hamburg, Germany, and instantly wanted it to be their next single. The Pye Records single was released in January 1964. It was number one in the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa and peaked at number 13 on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 singles chart in the United States. Soon after, in April 1964, "Needles and Pins" appeared on The Searchers' next album, 'It's the Searchers'.
Audible during The Searchers' recording of "Needles and Pins" is a faulty bass drum pedal, which squeaks throughout the song. It is particularly noticeable during the opening of the number.
Part of The Searchers' version can be heard as the intro of the song "Use the Man" from Megadeth's 'Cryptic Writings' album, although it does not appear on the remastered version.
A German version sung by The Searchers is called "Tausend Nadelstiche".
Smokie version (1977)
In 1977, at the height of their popularity, English rock band Smokie recorded the song as a rock ballad for the album 'Bright Lights & Back Alleys', and got a European and an Australian hit with "Needles and Pins". The song reached number one in Austria. Later, ex-Smokie vocalist Chris Norman included his solo cover of the song on his studio album 'Full Circle' (2000).
Ramones version (1978)
The Ramones included "Needles and Pins" on their 1978 album 'Road to Ruin'. Their version was also included on the band's first greatest hits collection, 'Ramones Mania'.
In turn, pop-punk band The Commercials recorded the song for the tribute album 'Ramones Maniacs'.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers version (1985; live)
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers released their first live album in 1985 called 'Pack Up the Plantation: Live!' where singer-songwriter and Fleetwood Mac vocalist Stevie Nicks performed on "Needles and Pins" with Tom Petty at the Forum in Los Angeles, California.
'Cash Box' said that "a great song is given a great treatment."
Willie DeVille version (1999)
Willie DeVille recorded "Needles and Pins" for his 1999 album 'Horse Of A Different Colour'.
References
Category:1963 singles
Category:1964 singles
Category:Jackie DeShannon songs
Category:Jangle pop songs
Category:Ramones songs
Category:Tom Petty songs
Category:The Searchers (band) songs
Category:UK Singles Chart number-one singles
Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles
Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles
Category:Number-one singles in South Africa
Category:Songs written by Sonny Bono
Category:Liberty Records singles
Category:Pye Records singles
Category:MCA Records singles
Category:Cher songs
Category:1963 songs
Category:Songs written by Jack Nitzsche
Category:Song recordings produced by Ed Stasium
Category:Song recordings produced by Mike Chapman
Category:Song recordings produced by Tony Hatch
Category:Song recordings produced by Tommy Ramone
Category:Stevie Nicks songs
Category:Song recordings produced by Dick Glasser
Category:Song recordings with Wall of Sound arrangements
Buy Needles and Pins (song) now from Amazon
<-- Return to songs from 1963