(There's) Always Something There To Remind Me

Album

Single

Label

Big Hill Records

Genre

Soul

Composer(s)

Burt Bacharach;Hal David

Entered Chart

Aug 22, 1964

Peak Date

Oct 3, 1964

Released

1964

Recorded

Unknown

Catalog #

Big Hill 552

B-Side

"Wouldn't That Be Something"

This was written by the songwriting team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Lou Johnson was a R&B singer from Brooklyn who made #74 with another Bacharach/David composition, "Reach Out For Me," in 1963. His version of "(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me" was just a modest hit, but beloved by Soul music aficionados who consider it the definitive version. Johnson had some success with the songs "Kentucky Bluebird (Send A Message To Martha)" and "A Time To Love - A Time To Cry (Petite Fleur)," but he never made the Top 40. The song is a gut-wrencher about a guy who has lost his love but can't let her go because everywhere he goes he sees reminders of her. Johnson wrings out the agony in his version, but later covers downplayed the heartbreak. Johnson's original version of this song was released during the time when American Pop music was being taken over by the British Invasion. Ironically, over in Britain, American music was becoming more popular. In an effort to promote this song in Britain, Bacharach escorted Johnson there and introduced him on the BBC TV show Top Of The Pops, where Johnson performed it. The song was a bigger hit in Britain, but not for Johnson! At the same time, a young British singer named Sandie Shaw had recorded and released a version of it and her version topped the British charts. Johnson's version failed to make an impact in Britain, and Shaw's version reached only US #52 in 1965. Various artists have covered this song. A version by Bacharach/David muse Dionne Warwick reached US #65 in 1968, and an R.B. Greaves cover recorded with the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section reached US #27 in 1970. The biggest American hit was by the British duo Naked Eyes, which reached #8 US in 1983 (Burt Bacharach has described this version as "very nice"). Other artists who have covered the song include Lou Christie, Jose Feliciano, Wayne Fontana, The Hippos, Jay & the Americans, Brenda Lee, Martha & the Vandellas, Barbara Mason, and Johnny Mathis. A few versions of this song have the word "(There's)" dropped from the title. >>

I walk along the city streets you used to walk along with me
And every step I take recalls how much in love we used to be

Oh, how can I forget you?
When there is always something there to remind me
Always something there to remind me
I was born to love you, and I will never be free
You'll always be a part of me, whoa oh whoa

When shadows fall, I passed a small cafe where we would dance at night
And I can't help recalling how it felt to kiss and hold you tight

Oh, how can I forget you?
When there is always something there to remind me
Always something there to remind me
I was born to love you, and I will never be free
You'll always be a part of me, whoa oh whoa

Whoa oh, whoa oh

If you should find you miss the sweet and tender love we used to share
Just come back to the places where we used to go, and I'll be there

Oh, how can I forget you?
When there is always something there to remind me
Always something there to remind me
I was born to love you, and I will never be free
You'll always be a part of me, whoa oh whoa

(Shalala dupdup shalala)
Never love another, baby (Shalala dupdup shalala)
I never will forget you, baby (Shalala dupdup shalala)
Ohh, you'll always be a part of me (Shalala dupdup shalala)
(Shalala dupdup shalala) Whoa
(Shalala dupdup shalala)
I'll never love another, baby
Never love another, baby