Album: Where Were You When I Needed You (1966)

Charted: 28

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• Don't bother crying, don't bother calling
  It's all over now, no use in stalling
  The love once I felt
  I don't feel anymore for you
  This time I'll even open the door for you
  You walked out when I was down
  Well, now I'm well off
  And look, look who's coming 'round
  
  Where were you when I needed ya
  Where were you when I wanted ya
  Where were you when I needed ya
  Where?
  
  You're looking good
  It's hard to fight it
  There's no use explaining
  I've already decided
  That living with you
  Is worse than without you
  I won't spend a lifetime a-worriying about you
  Things get rough and you disappeared
  Now I'm back on my feet
  And look, look who is standing there
  
  Where were you when I needed ya
  Where were you when I wanted ya
  Where were you when I needed ya
  Where?
  
  You were so young and you were so wild
  I knew you were nobody's innocent child
  The first day I saw you
  You really got to me
  I thought I could change you
  What good did it to me?
  Things got rough and you couldn't wait
  Now you're tripping back
  But babe, babe it's too late
  
  Where were you when I needed ya
  Where were you when I wanted ya
  Where were you when I needed ya
  Where? Writer/s: P.F. Sloan, Steve Barri
  Publisher: O/B/O DistroKid, Universal Music Publishing Group
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 8

• Greyrock from VirginiaSo essentially there are three version of Where were you when I needed you? I like Rob Grill's vocals the best. Was the second version with Bill Fulton ever released? I don't care for Sloan's version but would like to here Fulton's version.
• Neal Umphred from WashingtonIn late 1965 or early '66, Sloan and Barri were brought in to help Herman's Hermits with the music on their first feature film HOLD ON. They gave the group four new songs to record, including "Where Were You When I Needed You?" The soundtrack album was released in the US in March 1966, three months before the Grass Roots version was released!
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZqu1RMhVzc
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn August 1st 1965, a song titled "Where Were You When I Needed You?" by Jerry Vale entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart for a one week stay at position #99..Exactly one year later on August 1st, 1966 the Grassroots' "Where Were You When I Needed You?" {a completely different song} was at #30 on the Top 100...{See the next post below}.
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn July 22nd 1966, the Grass Roots performed their debut charted record, "Where Were You When I Needed You?", on the ABC-TV program 'Where The Action Is'...
  One month earlier on June 12th, 1966 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #89; and on July 24th, 1966 it peaked at #28 (for 1 week) and spent 9 weeks on the Top 100...
  Between 1966 and 1975 the group had twenty-one Top 100 records; with three making the Top 10, "Let's Live For Today" (at #8 in 1967), "Midnight Confessions" (at #5 in 1968), and "Sooner or Later" (at #9 in 1971)...
  Bassist and lead singer Rob Grill passed away on July 11th, 2011 at the age of 67...
  May he R.I.P.
• Jackson from Angeles City, PhilippinesSloan and Barri first hired a San Francisco band called "The Bedouins" to be the "face of their project. They were the first "real" Grass Roots. Willie Fulton sang on the release of "Where Were You hen I Needed You". Other band members were Denny Ellis, David Stensen, and Joel Larson. They ended up leaving because they wanted to do their own material, while Sloan and Barri wanted artistic control. Only Drummer Larson re-appeared, in the '70s.
• Jack from Cohasset, MaIf you listen to this song and "Eve of Destruction" by Barry Mcguire, you'll hear a strong similarity. Both songs were written by PF Sloan.
• Andy from Arlington, VaThe Bangles covered this song and included it on their Greatest Hits.
• Brandon from Seattle, WaThe Turtles originally turned this song down. But, interestingly compare this song to the Turtles' "Let Me Be." The lyrics are similar, as well as the music.

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