Somebody Needs You

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Song by Frank Wilson

"Somebody Needs You" is a song written by Motown songwriter Frank Wilson. It was originally released as a non-album track by R&B duo Ike & Tina Turner on Loma Records in May 1965. In 1966, soul singer Darrell Banks reached the Billboard charts with his rendition.[1]

Release and critical reception

"Somebody Needs You" was released on Loma Records in May 1965. Characterized by a "driving rock" melody, Cash Box described the single as a "Detroit styled throbber."[2]

The single "Somebody (Somewhere) Needs You" was released in the UK in December 1966.[3]

A live version was included on the album The Ike & Tina Turner Show Vol. 2 (Loma Records, 1967). The song later appeared on the compilation Finger Poppin`…The Warner Brothers Years (Edsel Records, 1988). It became very popular on the UK Northern Soul scene in the mid 1970’s (up to the present day) and original vinyl copies on the Loma label are sought after by Northern Soul record collectors.

Darrell Banks version

Darrell Banks released a version titled "Somebody (Somewhere) Needs You" on Revilot Records in September 1966. His record reached No. 55 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 34 on the R&B chart. Reviewing the single, Billboard (October 1, 1966) wrote: "Moving is the word for the new Darrell Banks disk and there`s no holding it back. Should be his second smash!"[4]

The song appeared on his debut album Darrell Banks Is Here!, released by Atco Records in 1967.

Chart performance

Darrell Bank