"You Might Need Somebody" is a song written by Tom Snow and Nan O'Byrne, first recorded in 1979 by American singer and guitarist Turley Richards. In 1981, American jazz and R&B singer and songwriter Randy Crawford released her version which reached No. 11 in the United Kingdom and was a modest hit in Belgium and New Zealand. In 1997, English singer Shola Ama's version reached the top 10 in the UK and in several other countries, including Ireland, France, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.

Early versions

The first version of the song was released in 1979 by American singer and guitarist Turley Richards from his album Therfu. The single peaked at No. 54 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in early 1980.[2] In the same year, Anna Oxa released an Italian version titled "Metropolitana" with Italian lyrics written by Marco Luberti for her studio album Controllo totale.

Randy Crawford version

You Might Need Somebody
single
CoverYou Might Need Somebody 1981.jpg
ArtistRandy Crawford
AlbumSecret Combination
B-sideYou Bring the Sun Out
Released1981
GenreR&B
Length4:17
LabelWarner Bros.
Writer
ProducerTommy LiPuma
Prev year1981
Next year1981

In 1981, American singer-songwriter Randy Crawford covered the song for her fifth album, Secret Combination (1981). It was the second single released from the album by Warner Bros. Records Her version reached No. 11 on the UK Singles Chart, making it her fourth-highest-charting single on that chart.[3] It also peaked at No. 39 on the Belgian (Flanders) Ultratop 50 singles chart in October 1981[4] and on the New Zealand singles chart in January 1982.[5]

The guitar solo is by Steve Lukather.[6]

Charts

Chart (1981–1982)Peak
position

Shola Ama version

You Might Need Somebody
single
CoverYou_Might_Need_Somebody_1997.jpg
ArtistShola Ama
AlbumMuch Love
ReleasedApril 7, 1997[1]
Genre
Length
  • 4:51 (album version)
  • 3:51 (radio mix)
LabelWEA
Writer
ProducerD'Influence
Prev year1996
Next versionre-issue
Next year1997

In 1997, English singer Shola Ama recorded a version of the song featured on her debut album, Much Love (1997). Her version was produced by D'Influence and released in April 1997 by WEA Records. The song reached No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart and became a top-10 hit in France, Ireland, Israel, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. On the Eurochart Hot 100, it peaked at No. 25 in October 1997. The accompanying music video, directed by Jake Nava, was put at heavy rotation on MTV.[7]

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".[8] Swedish Göteborgs-Tidningen named it a "truly delightful, generous electric piano-garnished Randy Crawford-cover".[9] A reviewer from Music & Media said that "there's little doubt that that Shola Ama has a fantastic voice", adding that "radio has already warmed to this familiar cover, which is reproduced almost note for note from the Randy Crawford original".[10]

British magazine Music Week gave it four out of five, noting that the singer "breathes new life" into the 16-year-old hit, "with a classy, understated performance."[11] Music Week 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."[12] Ralph Tee from the Record Mirror gave it three out of five, stating 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."[13] Dave Fawbert from ShortList deemed the song as "absolutely massive".[14] A reviewer from the 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'".[15]

Live performances

Ama performed "You Might Need Somebody" in three successive Top of the Pops performances. She said in a 1997 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."[16]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1997)Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[17]25
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[18]20
Israel (Israeli Singles Chart)[19]7

Year-end charts

Chart (1997)Position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[20]60
France (SNEP)[21]48
Germany (Media Control)[22]83
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[23]38
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[24]34
UK Singles (OCC)[25]36

References

  1. ^ "Shola Ama: You Might Need Somebody". Music Week. April 5, 1997. p. 1. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  2. ^ "The Hot 100 – Week of February 23, 1980". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  3. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums. 19th ed. London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 125. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. ^ "Randy Crawford – 'You Might Need Somebody'". Ultratop. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  5. ^ "Randy Crawford – 'You Might Need Somebody' (song)". Ultratop. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  6. ^ "News & Articles - Neville Marten - Reflections". www.stevelukather.com. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  7. ^ "Artist Profile: Shola Ama". Music Week. July 5, 1997. p. 20. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  8. ^ Flick, Larry (October 18, 1997). "Single Reviews". Billboard. p. 80. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  9. ^ Göteborgs-Tidningen. September 19, 1997.
  10. ^ "Reviews: Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 15. April 12, 1997. p. 11. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  11. ^ "Reviews: Singles". Music Week. March 22, 1997. p. 8. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  12. ^ Jones, Alan (February 15, 1997). "Talking Music". Music Week. p. 23. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  13. ^ Tee, Ralph (February 1, 1997). "Hot Vinyl". Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 11. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  14. ^ Fawbert, Dave (November 17, 2017). "Old Music Friday: reviewing all the tunes released 20 years ago today". ShortList. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  15. ^ Sunday Mirror. December 21, 1997. p. 7.
  16. ^ Lyle, Peter (August 16, 1997). "Shola Ama — Now The UK Has An R&B Diva Of Its Own". Music Week. p. 16. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  17. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 40. October 4, 1997. p. 13.
  18. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (17.07.1997 – 23.07.1997)" (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir. July 18, 1997. p. 22. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
  19. ^ "UK World Hits: Israel". Music Week. June 14, 1997. p. 26. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  20. ^ "1997 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1997". Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 52. December 27, 1997. p. 7. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  21. ^ "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 1997" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  22. ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1997" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  23. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1997". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  24. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1997" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  25. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1997". Music Week. January 17, 1998. p. 27.