Don't Turn Your Back On Me

Album: Don't Turn Your Back On Me (1964)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Jackie DeShannon wrote this song, in which she warns her mate not to break up with her. She'll even settle for artifice: "If your love's not true, baby, fake it, oh fake it."
  • This was the first song DeShannon recorded in England, where she was trying to make her mark as a solo artist after writing hits for The Searchers ("When You Walk In The Room") and Brenda Lee ("Dum Dum"). It was released as a single in the UK, but flopped; DeShannon never did chart there, but did break through in America with "What the World Needs Now Is Love."
  • Jimmy Page, who was a session musician at the time, played acoustic guitar on this track. The first time they met was at this session, and they hit it off. They began a romance, and in 1965, Page went with DeShannon to America, where they wrote several songs together, including "In My Time Of Sorrow," recorded by Marianne Faithfull.
  • A cover version was the second single by Mike Sheridan's band when it was known as Mike Sheridan's Lot. Like the first single "Take My Hand," it was released on the Columbia label and produced by Norman Smith.

    Unfortunately, it flopped. According to John Van der Kiste in The Roy Wood Story, this was December 1965 after Roy had left the band. The song was not released until the following year backed by "Stop, Look, Listen." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce PavittSong Writing

The man who ran Nirvana's first label gets beyond the sensationalism (drugs, Courtney) to discuss their musical and cultural triumphs in the years before Nevermind.

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

Five Rockers Who Rolled With The Devil

Five Rockers Who Rolled With The DevilSong Writing

Just how much did these monsters of rock dabble in the occult?

Michelle Branch

Michelle BranchSongwriter Interviews

Michelle Branch talks about "Everywhere," "The Game Of Love," and her run-in with a Christian broadcasting network.

Gary LeVox

Gary LeVoxSongwriter Interviews

On "Life Is A Highway," his burgeoning solo career, and the Rascal Flatts song he most connects with.

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"They're Playing My Song

The Nails lead singer Marc Campbell talks about those 44 women he sings about over a stock Casio keyboard track. He's married to one of them now - you might be surprised which.