I Only Want To Be With You

Album

Stay Awhile/I Only Want to Be with You

Label

Philips Records

Genre

Blue-eyed soul

Composer(s)

Mike Hawker;Ivor Raymonde

Entered Chart

Jan 25, 1964

Peak Date

Mar 14, 1964

Released

8 November 1963

Recorded

1963 Studio Olympic, London

Catalog #

Philips 40162

B-Side

Once Upon A Time

This was Dusty Springfield's first single as a solo artist - she was previously a member of The Springfields with her brother Tom. That group had five Top 10 hits in the UK and one in the US ("Silver Threads and Golden Needles") before Dusty's departure. "I Only Want to Be With You" launched Dusty's Hall of Fame career, and became the first hit by a British artist since The Beatles started their run. Springfield was 24 when the song was released. This song is about a girl who has finally found the guy of her dreams - or at least she thinks so. It's very much a teenage crush song in the same vein as many of the girl group songs Springfield loved. When she came to America and began her solo career, Dusty took more of a pop/R&B direction inspired by groups like The Shirelles and The Crystals. Springfield performed this on the first ever episode of the British TV show Top Of The Pops on January 1, 1964. The Rolling Stones, The Dave Clark Five and The Hollies also performed on that show. >> A 1989 cover was the last US hit for the British singer Samantha Fox, who rose to stardom after appearing topless in a British newspaper and scoring hits with "Touch Me (I Want Your Body)," "Naughty Girls (Need Love Too)," and "I Wanna have Some Fun." Her version reached #31 US and #16 UK. The Bay City Rollers released a version in December 1976 that reached #12 in the US. The song was also a #4 hit in the UK (#83 US) for The Tourists, who were the group Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart were in before they formed Eurythmics. Nicolette Larson also charted with the song, taking it to #53 in 1982. In 2005, Volbeat gave it a metal makeover. This was written by Mike Hawker and Ivor Raymonde, who also wrote Springfield's song "Stay Awhile." Hawker also wrote "Walking Back to Happiness" for Helen Shapiro. Springfield performed this song on the first season of the British TV series Ready Steady Go! twice in 1963. She handled hosting duties on some early episodes of the show, and even interviewed The Beatles on the program. Vic Flick, who performed on many of the James Bond themes, played guitar on this track. He told us: "Dusty was always good to work with. She knew what she wanted, both from the musicians and from herself. I first met her in 1959 when she was part of a girl trio, the Lana Sisters. I did a couple of arrangements for them to use on the live show we were doing. I had just started with John Barry Seven and everything was happening at once. Good days."

I don't know what it is that makes me love you so
I only know I never want to let you go
'Cause you started something, oh, can't you see?
That ever since we met you've had a hold on me
It happens to be true, I only want to be with you

It doesn't matter where you go or what you do
I want to spend each moment of the day with you
Well, look what has happened with just one kiss
I never knew that I could be in love like this
It's crazy but it's true, I only want to be with you

You stopped and smiled at me
Asked if I'd care to dance
I fell into your open arms
And I didn't stand a chance

Now, listen, honey, I just want to be beside you everywhere
As long as we're together, honey, I don't care
'Cause you started something, oh, can't you see?
That ever since we met you've had a hold on me
No matter what you do, I only want to be with you

Oh, you stopped and you smiled at me
Asked if I'd care to dance
I fell into your open arms
I didn't stand a chance

Now hear me darling, I just want to be beside you everywhere
As long as we're together, honey, I don't care
'Cause you started something, oh, can't you see?
That ever since we met you've had a hold on me
No matter what you do, I only want to be with you

I said, no matter, no matter what you do
I only want to be with you