Wilson Pickett - If You Need Me

First performance: 00/10/1965


Coverinfo

Bruce covered the song 2 times: 
 
 
1987-08-27 Tradewinds, Sea Bright, NJ
Bruce joins Cats On A Smooth Surface on stage. Michael S. positively confirmed that "If You Need Me" was actually played.
 
1965-10-00 Reception Hall, Monmouth County, NJ 
One show, with The Castiles the sole act on the bill. The 27 song titles of this show plus two titles that are illegible have been culled from a surviving inventory/setlist document that was originally in the possession of a member of The Castiles. This list is believed to have emanated from a wedding reception the band performed in the autumn of 1965. With the exception of "Sidewalk" (co-written by Bruce) all of the songs are covers of other artist’s material, with the most recently released song at the time being Sonny & Cher’s "I Got You Babe" (July 1965). The setlist includes numerous 1964-1965 'British Invasion" hits by the Stones, Yardbirds, Kinks, Zombies and Beatles - a clear indication of the kind of music the band was playing at teen gigs. The high proportion of 1950s ballad material in this particular show (sung by George Theiss, not Bruce) is likely the result of it being a wedding, with manager Tex Vinyard making sure his boys also catered to the older relatives in attendance. These include the G-Clefs’ "I Understand", Acker Bilk’s "Stranger On The Shore", Don & Juan’s "What’s Your Name" and Anton Karas’ "The Third Man Theme". There is no circulating audio of any of this performance . Frank Marziotti has recalled the bride's choice of song was the jazz standard "Moonglow".
 
 
 

Songinfo

"If You Need Me" is a 1963 song co-written and originally recorded by Wilson Pickett. It was made into a bigger hit by Solomon Burke, who sent the song to #2 on the R&B charts that year. The song was written by Wilson Pickett with two former members of the Satintones, Robert Bateman (who had also co-written "Please Mr. Postman") and Sonny Sanders. According to Burke, Pickett gave the song to him on a tour bus: "Wilson sang the song for me in a bus on a tour. I loved it so much that I got Wilson to do it. Atlantic refused to sign him at that time, so we got Wilson to release the song on the Lloyd-Logan label. We were the best of friends. As a matter of fact, I promoted his record and he promoted mine." 
 
 
 

Bruce on the artist

Lyrics

If you need me, I wantcha to call me
Said if you need me, all ya gotta do is call me
Don't wait too long if things go wrong
I'll be home, who a-oh-oh, home
If you want me, send for me
I said if you want me, want, all ya gotta do is send for me
Don't wait too long, just a pick up your phone
And I'll (hurry home where I belong)
People always said, darlin', that I didn't mean you no good.
And you would need me someday.
Way deep down in my heart
I know I've done the best I could.
That's why I know that one of these days, it won't be long,
You'll come walkin' through that same door (I'll hurry home).
And I can imagine in my mind that these are the words that
You'll be sayin'.
I still love you, always thinkin' of you
And I still love, love, always thinkin' of you
Don't wait too long, just a pick up your phone
And I'll hurry home (I'll hurry home)
Right there, where I belong