I'm the Lonely One

"I'm the Lonely One" is a song by Cliff Richard and the Shadows, released as a single in January 1964. It peaked at number 8 on the UK Singles Chart.^[4]

"I'm the Lonely One"
Single by Cliff Richard and the Shadows
B-side	"Watch What You Do with My Baby"
Released	31 January 1964 (1964-01-31)[1]
Recorded	23 November 1963[2]
Studio	EMI Studios, London
Genre	Beat[3] pop rhythm and blues
Length	2:16
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Gordon Mills
Producer(s)	Norrie Paramor
Cliff Richard and the Shadows singles chronology
"Maria No Mas" (1963) "I'm the Lonely One" (1964) "Constantly (L'Edera)" (1964)

Background and release

"I'm the Lonely One" was written by then-Viscounts member Gordon Mills. The B-side, "Watch Watch You Do with My Baby" was written by Elvis Presley songwriters Bill Giant, Bernie Baum and Florence Kaye. Both songs were included on the EP Cliff's Palladium Successes.^[5]

Reviewing for Disc, Don Nicholl described "I'm the Lonely One" as "a snappy change of pace that will probably do [Richard] a lot of good in the parade. The song skips along infectiously on a good light beat and the hand clapping in the accompaniment will pull you in quickly".^[6]

The song did receive some criticism however, with one letter to the music press asking why the group had to "sink so low and go all R&B on their latest record? On this disc, they lose all claim to originality". However, Richard said "actually, it wasn't originally planned as a single. I usually include a couple of rockers on my albums, and this song was cut with that in view, but the beat craze changed our plans."^[2]

In April 1964, Richard released a German-language version of "I'm the Lonely One", titled "Zuviel allein (The Lonely One)", with German lyrics by Kurt Hertha and backing vocals by the Botho-Lucas-Quartett. It was released as a double A-side with a German-language version of "Don't Talk to Him", titled "Sag' "no" zu ihm".^[7]

Track listing

7": Columbia / DB 7203

1. "I'm the Lonely One" – 2:16
2. "Watch What You Do with My Baby" – 2:04

7": Columbia / C 22 707 (Germany)

1. "Zuviel allein" – 2:16
2. "Sag' "no" zu ihm" – 2:53

Personnel

• Cliff Richard – vocals
• Hank Marvin – lead guitar, backing vocals
• Bruce Welch – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
• John Rostill – bass guitar
• Brian Bennett – drums
• Norrie Paramor – piano

Charts

Chart (1964)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[8]	16
Canada (CHUM)[9]	18
Denmark (Danmarks Radio)[10]	5
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[11]	9
Germany (GfK)[12]	2
Ireland (IRMA)[13]	9
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[14]	3
Norway (VG-lista)[15]	4
South Africa[16]	1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[17]	13
UK Singles (OCC)[4]	8
US Billboard Hot 100[18]	92

References

1. "Cliff's next disc out in a fortnight" (PDF). New Musical Express. 17 January 1964. p. 6. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
2. "Cliff Richard Song Database - Song Details". www.cliffrichardsongs.com. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
3. Stanley, Bob (13 September 2013). Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop. Faber & Faber. p. 82. ISBN 978-0-571-28198-5.
4. "Cliff Richard: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
5. Cliff Richard And The Shadows - I'm The Lonely One, retrieved 3 August 2021
6. "Cliff changes pace for latest disc" (PDF). Disc. 31 January 1964. p. 8. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
7. "Cliff Richard Song Database - Song Details". www.cliffrichardsongs.com. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
8. Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book 1940–1969. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-44439-5.
9. "CHUM Hit Parade Week of May 4, 1964". 4 May 1964. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
10. "danskehitlister.dk". 9 April 2016. Archived from the original on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
11. Lassila, Juha (1990). Mitä Suomi soittaa?: Hittilistat 1954–87 (in Finnish). Jyväskylän yliopisto. ISBN 95-168-0321-0.
12. "Cliff Richard and the Shadows – I'm the Lonely One" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
13. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I'm the Lonely One". Irish Singles Chart.
14. "Cliff Richard and the Shadows – I'm the Lonely One" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
15. "Cliff Richard and the Shadows – I'm the Lonely One". VG-lista.
16. "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 4 July 1964. p. 26. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
17. Johansson, Carl-Owe (1980). Rock Around the Clock - Saturday Night Fever 1955-1978. Vara, Sweden: Dominique muzic-club.
18. "Cliff Richard Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.