You Needed Me

This article is about the Anne Murray song. For the Rihanna song, see Needed Me.

"You Needed Me" is a song written by Randy Goodrum, who describes it as being about "unconditional undeserved love".^[3] It was a number-one single in the United States in 1978 for Canadian singer Anne Murray, for which she won a Grammy Award. In 1999, Irish pop band Boyzone recorded a hit cover of the song that reached number one on the UK Singles Chart.

"You Needed Me"
Single by Anne Murray
from the album Let's Keep It That Way
B-side	"I Still Wish the Very Best for You"
Released	May 1978
Recorded	January 1978
Genre	Soft rock[1][2]
Length	3:41
Label	Capitol 4574
Songwriter(s)	Randy Goodrum
Producer(s)	Jim Ed Norman
Anne Murray singles chronology
"Walk Right Back" (1978) "You Needed Me" (1978) "Hey, Daddy" (1978)

Original Anne Murray version

"You Needed Me" was first recorded by singer Anne Murray in 1978. The song peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and revitalized her career after several years of declining popularity as it became her first Top 40 US single since her 1974 remake of The Beatles' "You Won't See Me". The song, included on her 1978 album Let's Keep It That Way, was also a top-five country single and won Song of the Year at the Academy of Country Music awards, and is her most successful single in the United Kingdom, where it made the top 30. Murray is quoted in The Billboard Book of Number One Hits by Fred Bronson as saying she was not surprised by the song's success, as she knew from the start the song would be a hit because she broke down in tears the first time she tried to sing it.

Although the song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (and is her only song to top that chart), it never topped the two Billboard charts where Murray has had the most success—Country and Adult Contemporary. However, it spent a then-record 36 weeks on the Adult Contemporary chart, a record for chart longevity that stood until 1990. The song spent 10 weeks at number one in Malaysia.

The song earned Murray the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 21st Grammy Awards,^[4] the first to be awarded to a Canadian artist. The single was certified Platinum in Canada and Gold in the US.

Anne Murray re-recorded the song with Shania Twain for Murray's 2007 album Duets: Friends & Legends.

The song was featured in an ongoing storyline on the CBS soap Guiding Light in 1980–81, as a theme song for the characters Kelly Nelson and Morgan Richards. In 2013, the song was performed by Seth MacFarlane in character as Stewie Griffin on the Family Guy episode "Chris Cross", in which Anne Murray herself guest-starred.

Chart performance

Weekly charts Chart (1978) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] 2 Canadian RPM Country Tracks 1 Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks 1 Canadian RPM Top Singles 1 Ireland (IRMA)[6] 7 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[7] 22 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[8] 6 South Africa (Springbok)[9] 5 UK Singles (OCC)[10] 22 US Billboard Hot 100[11] 1 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[12] 3 US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[13] 4

Year-end charts Chart (1978) Rank Australia (Kent Music Report)[14] 40 Canada[15] 3 New Zealand[16] 34 US Billboard Hot 100[17] 63 Chart (1979) Rank Australia (Kent Music Report)[18] 87

Boyzone version

"You Needed Me"
Single by Boyzone
from the album By Request
B-side	"Words Can't Describe"
Released	May 10, 1999 (1999-05-10)
Studio	London, England
Length	3:27
Label	Polydor
Songwriter(s)	Randy Goodrum
Producer(s)	Steve Mac
Boyzone singles chronology
"When the Going Gets Tough" (1999) "You Needed Me" (1999) "Every Day I Love You" (1999)
Music video
"You Needed Me" on YouTube

"You Needed Me" was covered by Irish boy band Boyzone in 1999. It was released as the second single from their album By Request. It became their sixth and final single to reach number one on the UK Singles Chart,^[19] outselling Spice Girl Geri Halliwell's debut single, "Look at Me", by 748 copies.^[20] The song received a silver disc for shipping 200,000 copies in the UK.^[21]

Track listings

Irish maxi-CD single^[22]

1. "You Needed Me"
2. "When the Going Gets Tough"
3. "You Needed Me" (Jewels & Stone Remix)
4. "Megamix (Love to Infinity)"

UK CD1^[23]

1. "You Needed Me"
2. "Words Can't Describe"
3. "Megamix (Love to Infinity)"

UK CD2^[24]

1. "You Needed Me"
2. "You Needed Me" (Jewels & Stone Remix)
3. "Too Late Tonight"
4. "You Needed Me" (video)

UK cassette single^[25]

1. "You Needed Me"
2. "Words Can't Describe"

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the By Request album booklet.^[26]

Studio

• Engineered and programmed at Rokstone Studios (London, England)

Personnel

Randy Goodrum – writing Wayne Hector – additional backing vocals, backing vocal arrangement Ali Tennant – additional backing vocals Yvonne John Lewis – additional backing vocals John Matthews – additional backing vocals

Paul Gendler – guitars Steve Mac – production, backing vocal arrangement Chris Laws – engineering, programming Matt Howe – mix engineering Richard Niles – string arrangement

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1999) Peak position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[27] 38 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[28] 22 Czech Republic (IFPI)[29] 36 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[30] 6 Europe (European Hit Radio)[31] 17 Germany (GfK)[32] 36 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[33] 20 Ireland (IRMA)[34] 2 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[35] 13 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[36] 16 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[37] 1 Norway (VG-lista)[38] 15 Scotland (OCC)[39] 1 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[40] 21 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[41] 29 UK Singles (OCC)[19] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1999) Position Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[42] 123 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[43] 27 UK Singles (OCC)[44] 49

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[45]	Gold	5,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[21]	Silver	200,000^
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	May 10, 1999	CD cassette	Polydor	[46]
Japan	May 19, 1999	CD		[47]

Other versions

• The New Seekers, a late 1978 single.^[48]
• Burl Ives – included in the album The Magic Balladeer (1993).^[49]
• Daniel O'Donnell – in his album Songs of Inspiration (1996).^[50]
• Howard Keel – for his 1985 album Reminiscing – The Howard Keel Collection. This peaked at #20 in the UK album chart during a 12-week stay.^[51]
• Lynn Anderson recorded her version of "You Needed Me" for the 1983 album Up Close.^[52] The song was subsequently included in various country and love song compilation albums that include her.
• Lynne Perrie recorded a version for the 1987 Coronation Street album.
• Patti Page – for her album Best Country Songs (2008).^[53]
• Perry Como – Perry Como Live on Tour (1981)
• Val Doonican – in the album It's Good to See You (1988).^[54]
• Vic Damone – included in his album Now (1981).^[55]
• Cilla Black – included on her Especially for You album (1980)
• Sissel Kyrkjebø recorded a Norwegian version called "Jeg Trenger Deg" (I Need You) for her 1986 debut album Sissel.
• Bill Pearce recorded on trombone.
• Kenny Rogers, Dottie West – included in the album Classics (1978)
• Alka Yagnik, Kumar Sanu suno zaraa, suno zaraa, hawaaon mein yeh kaisee hai sadaa – in the film Bada Din (1998); music by Jatin-Lalit

References

1. "VH1's 40 Most Softsational Soft-Rock Songs". Stereogum. May 31, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
2. Smith, Troy L. (December 14, 2021). "Every No. 1 song of the 1970s ranked from worst to best". Cleveland.com. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
3. "You Needed Me by Anne Murray Songfacts". Songfacts.com. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
4. "Past Winners Search | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
6. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – You Needed Me". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
7. "Anne Murray – You Needed Me" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
8. "Anne Murray – You Needed Me". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
9. "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved September 5, 2018.
10. "Anne Murray: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
11. "Anne Murray Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
12. "Anne Murray Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
13. "Anne Murray Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
14. "Kent Music Report No 236 – 1 January 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1978". Kent Music Report. Retrieved January 8, 2022 – via Imgur.com.
15. "Top 100 Hits of 1978/Top 100 Songs of 1978". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
16. "The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Retrieved October 7, 2016.
17. "Top 100 Hits of 1978/Top 100 Songs of 1978". Retrieved October 7, 2016.
18. "Kent Music Report No 288 – 31 December 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1979". Kent Music Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023 – via Imgur.com.
19. "Boyzone: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
20. Copsey, Rob (March 25, 2020). "The closest battles for Number 1 on the Official Singles Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
21. "British single certifications – Boyzone – You Needed Me". British Phonographic Industry.
22. You Needed Me (Irish maxi-CD single liner notes). Boyzone. Polydor Records. 1999. 563 977-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
23. You Needed Me (UK CD1 liner notes). Boyzone. Polydor Records. 1999. 563 933-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
24. You Needed Me (UK CD2 liner notes). Boyzone. Polydor Records. 1999. 563 935-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
25. You Needed Me (UK cassette single sleeve). Boyzone. Polydor Records. 1999. 563 932-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
26. By Request (UK CD album booklet). Boyzone. Polydor Records. 1999. 547 599-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
27. "Boyzone – You Needed Me" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
28. "Boyzone – You Needed Me" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
29. "Hitparada radia 2000" (in Czech). IFPI. Archived from the original on August 29, 1999. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
30. Billboard – Google Books. June 5, 1999. Retrieved April 1, 2014 – via Google Books.
31. "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 24. June 12, 1999. p. 14. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
32. "Boyzone – You Needed Me" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
33. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (18.6.'99–24.6.'99)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). June 18, 1999. p. 10. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
34. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – You Needed Me". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
35. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 23, 1999" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
36. "Boyzone – You Needed Me" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
37. "Boyzone – You Needed Me". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
38. "Boyzone – You Needed Me". VG-lista. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
39. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
40. "Boyzone – You Needed Me". Singles Top 100. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
41. "Boyzone – You Needed Me". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
42. "Jaarlijsten 1999" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
43. "End of Year Charts 1999". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
44. "Best Sellers of 1999: Singles Top 100". Music Week. London, England: United Business Media. January 22, 2000. p. 27.
45. "New Zealand single certifications – Boyzone – You Needed Me". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
46. "New Releases – For Week Starting 10 May, 1999" (PDF). Music Week. May 8, 1999. p. 27. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
47. "ゲット・タフ & ユー・ニーディッド・ミー | ボーイゾーン" [Get Tough & You Needed Me | Boyzone] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
48. "The New Seekers – You Needed Me". Discogs. 1978. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
49. "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. 1993. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
50. "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. 1996. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
51. Roberts, David (2005). British Hit Singles & Albums (18th ed.). Guinness World Records. p. 274. ISBN 1-904994-00-8.
52. "Lynn Anderson - Up Close (1983)". Discogs. 1983. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
53. "allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
54. "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. 1986. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
55. "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. 1981. Retrieved January 16, 2018.

External links

• "You Needed Me" on YouTube