Lies (The Knickerbockers song)
| "Lies" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by The Knickerbockers | ||||
| from the album Lies | ||||
| B-side | "The Coming Generation" | |||
| Released | November 1965 | |||
| Recorded | Sunset Sound, West Hollywood | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:40 | |||
| Label | Challenge | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Beau Charles, Buddy Randell | |||
| Producer(s) | Jerry Fuller | |||
| The Knickerbockers singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Lies" is a song written by Beau Charles and Buddy Randell, performed by The Knickerbockers; the single was produced by Jerry Fuller. It reached #20 on the U.S. pop chart and #11 in Canada in 1966.[1][2] It was featured on their 1966 album Lies[3] and is famous for often being mistaken for a Beatles track due to its similarities to their style and harmonies.[4]
Background[edit]
Here is what original Knickerbockers member Beau Charles said about the song's behind-the-scenes story:
"We desperately tried to write something that sounded like the British Invasion'. We wrote 'Lies' in less than one half hour. We demo-ed it in New York." After a Jerry Fuller inspired re-arrangement, the track was recorded at Sunset Sound in West Hollywood with Bruce Botnick as the Engineer. Things were not quite right, so the multi-track master was taken to Leon Russell's house in Hollywood Hills. Jerry Fuller knew Leon and "Leon had this great little studio - just a four track". The band recorded the vocals there and overdubbed a new guitar part that was recorded from a beat up old Fender guitar amp that gave the guitar sound a meaty, edgy feel".[5]
With the three-way vocal harmonies, sung by John Charles, Beau Charles, and Buddy Randall, Lies stood out due to its Beatles-esque sound. The Knickerbockers would become regulars on Dick Clark's Where The Action Is. Their debut album was released a few months later, in early 1966, and was named after the hit, and featured the song on there too.[6] Lies entered the Billboard Hot 100 in the final week of December 1965[7] went to number 20 on the charts in late January 1966,[8] and was, in total, on the Hot 100 for thirteen weeks, before leaving the charts in February 1966, last placed at number 34.[9]
Personnel[edit]
- Buddy Randall - lead vocals (died 1998)
- Beau Charles - guitar, harmonizing vocals
- John Charles - bass, harmonizing vocals
- Jimmy Walker - drums (died 2020)
Other versions[edit]
- The Ventures on their 1965 album Where the Action Is.[10]
- Nancy Sinatra on her 1966 album Boots.[11]
- The T-Bones on their 1966 album No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In).[12]
- Gary Lewis & the Playboys on their 1967 album Gary Lewis & the Playboys.[13]
- Lulu on her 1966 album From Lulu...with Love.[14]
- Styx on their 1974 album Man of Miracles.[15] Record World said that it's "one midwestern hit that still sounds like a national smash."[16]
- Tarney/Spencer Band on their 1979 album Run for Your Life.[17]
- Linda Ronstadt on her 1982 album Get Closer.[18]
- The Delmonas on their 1985 album Dangerous Charms.[19]
- The Undead on their 1986 album Never Say Die![20]
- The Landlords on their 1987 EP Our Favorite Songs![21]
- The Basement Wall on their 1993 compilation album There Goes the Neighborhood! Volume 2 Featuring The Basement Wall.[22]
- The Fireballs on their 2006 compilation album Firebeat! The Great Lost Vocal Album.[23]
- The Brymers on their 2007 compilation album Sacrifice.[24]
- The Black Belles as the B-side to their 2010 single "What Can I Do?"[25]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "The Knickerbockers, "Lies" Chart Position". Retrieved March 17, 2019.
- ^ "RPM Play Sheet - January 24, 1966" (PDF).
- ^ "The Knickerbockers, Lies". Discogs. 1966. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
- ^ Dennis, Jon (10 November 2011). "Old music: The Knickerbockers – One Track Mind". The Guardian.
- ^ [1] Retrieved June 4th,2019
- ^ "Lies (song by The Knickerbockers) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". www.musicvf.com. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
- ^ tolsen (2013-01-02). "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
- ^ tolsen (2013-01-02). "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
- ^ tolsen (2013-01-02). "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
- ^ "The Ventures, Where the Action Is". Discogs. 1965. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
- ^ "Nancy Sinatra, Boots". Discogs. 1966. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
- ^ "The T-Bones, No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In)". Discogs. 1966. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
- ^ "Gary Lewis & the Playboys, Gary Lewis & the Playboys". Discogs. 1967. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
- ^ "Lulu, From Lulu...with Love". Discogs. 1967. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
- ^ "Styx, Man of Miracles". Discogs. November 1974. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
- ^ "Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. August 17, 1974. p. 12. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
- ^ "Tarney/Spencer Band, Run for Your Life". Discogs. 1979. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
- ^ "Linda Ronstadt, Get Closer". Discogs. 1982. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
- ^ "The Delmonas, Dangerous Charms". Discogs. 1985. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
- ^ "The Undead, Never Say Die!". Discogs. 1986. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
- ^ "The Landlords, Our Favorite Songs!". Discogs. 1987. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
- ^ "The Basement Wall, There Goes the Neighborhood! Volume 2 Featuring The Basement Wall". Discogs. 1993. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
- ^ "The Fireballs, Firebeat! The Great Lost Vocal Album". Discogs. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
- ^ "The Brymers, Sacrifice". Discogs. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
- ^ "The Black Belles, "What Can I Do?" Single Release". Discogs. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
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