Suspicion (Terry Stafford song)

Last updated

"Suspicion"
Suspicion - Terry Stafford.jpeg
Single by Terry Stafford
from the album Suspicion!
B-side "Judy"
ReleasedFebruary 1964
RecordedMay 2, 1962 ("Suspicion"); late 1963 ("Judy")
Genre Pop, rock and roll
Length2:27
Label Crusader C 101
Songwriter(s) Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman
Producer(s) John Fisher
Terry Stafford singles chronology
"You Left Me Here To Cry (Come On Home)"
(1963)		"Suspicion"
(1964)		"I'll Touch a Star"
(1964)
"Suspicion"
SuspicionElvis45.jpg
Single by Elvis Presley
from the album Pot Luck
A-side Flag of the United States.svg "Kiss Me Quick"
Flag of Europe.svg Suspicion
B-side Flag of the United States.svg Suspicion Flag of Europe.svg "It Hurts Me"
Released Flag of the United States.svg April 16, 1964
Flag of Europe.svg May 1964
RecordedMarch 19, 1962
Genre Pop
Length2:35
Label RCA Victor Flag of the United States.svg 447-0639
Flag of Europe.svg 47-9533
Songwriter(s) Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman
Elvis Presley singles chronology
" Flag of the United States.svg "Kissin' Cousins"
Flag of Europe.svg "Viva Las Vegas""
(1964)		"Suspicion"
(1964)		" Flag of the United States.svg "What'd I Say"
Flag of Europe.svg "Kissin' Cousins""
(1964)
"Suspicion"
Single by Elvis Presley
from the album Pot Luck
A-side "Kiss Me Quick"/ "Suspicion"
B-side "Sentimental Me"/
"I Want You With Me"
ReleasedMay 1964
RecordedMarch 19, 1962
Genre Pop
Length2:35
Label RCA Victor 20277
Songwriter(s) Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman
Elvis Presley singles chronology
" Flag of Australia (converted).svg "C'mon Everybody" EP"
(1964)		"Suspicion"
(1964)		" Flag of Australia (converted).svg "Such a Night""
(1964)
"Suspicion"
Single by Elvis Presley
from the album Elvis in Demand Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
B-side "It's a Long Lonely Highway"
ReleasedNovember 26, 1976
RecordedMarch 9, 1962
Genre Pop
Length2:35 Spanish
Label RCA Victor 2768
Songwriter(s) Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman
Elvis Presley singles chronology
" Flag of the United Kingdom.svg "The Girl of My Best Friend""
(1976)		"Suspicion"
(1976)		" Flag of the United Kingdom.svg "Moody Blue""
(1977)

"Suspicion" is a 1962 song originally recorded by Elvis Presley written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. It became a major hit in 1964 in a recording by Elvis Presley sound-alike Terry Stafford.

Contents

Elvis Presley version

One of 25 songs written by Pomus and Shuman for Elvis Presley, "Suspicion" was recorded by Presley on March 19, 1962, in Studio B of RCA's Nashville studio and issued on Presley's album Pot Luck released on June 15, 1962. In April 1964, when the Terry Stafford version of "Suspicion" (recorded in May 1962 as a demo) was in the Top Ten of the Billboard Hot 100, the Presley original was given a US single release with "Kiss Me Quick" as the flip, and it was "Kiss Me Quick" which was the favored side, reaching No. 34 nationally. "Suspicion" peaked at No. 103. The song was published by Elvis Presley Music, Inc. [1]

In Australia, "Kiss Me Quick" and "Suspicion" appeared on the chart as a double A-side hit with a No. 56 peak: the actual format for this Australian release was a four-track EP entitled Elvis Sings Kiss Me Quick which featured "Kiss Me Quick" and "Suspicion" as A-side tracks with a B-side composed of "Sentimental Me" and "I Want You With Me". "Suspicion" was also issued as a single in several European territories to vie with the Terry Stafford version with the Presley version charting in the Netherlands and the Dutch chart for Belgium with respective peaks of #9 and #6 and also in Norway where its chart peak was #9 and in Denmark where it peaked at #3: [2] in its European single release "Suspicion" featured "It Hurts Me" as B-side. "Suspicion" would belatedly afford Presley a Top Ten hit in the UK where its December 1976 single release rose to a peak of No. 9 on the chart dated February 5, 1977.

Terry Stafford version

After an unsuccessful affiliation with A&M Records, Terry Stafford cut a demo of "Suspicion" at the Los Angeles studio of Bob Summers. Summers, best known as the producer of the 1959 Larry Hall hit "Sandy", played all the instruments on the demo which Stafford and Stafford's manager pitched to record companies in the Los Angeles area and also to local radio stations including KFWB where disc jockey Gene Weed was impressed enough with the demo to take it next door to the headquarters of the newly formed Crusader Records. John Fisher, the president of Crusader, spent several hours remastering the demo with the resultant track becoming the second single released on Crusader. [3] The arrangement included rhythmic backing accompaniment with an Ondioline, an idiosyncratic French-built electronic keyboard. [4]

After breaking out in San Bernardino in January 1964 "Suspicion" had its top-tier market breakout in Los Angeles in February 1964 peaking in March 1964 at respectively number 2 and number 4 on the hit parades of KRLA and KFWB [5] and then quickly spread east, hitting number 1 on WLS (Chicago) for most of April. [6] Nationally "Suspicion" rose from number 7 to number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 dated 4 April 1964, when the chart's top five hits were all by the Beatles. "Suspicion" broke the Beatles' monopoly on the top five spots on the chart by rising to #3, its peak position, the next week. [7] Stafford's "Suspicion" reached #31 in the UK Singles Chart, [8] and also #3 in Canada. [9]

Cover versions

"Suspicion" first became a C&W chart hit in 1971 via a remake by Bobby G. Rice which reached #33 C&W, with the track being included on Rice's debut album Hit After Hit.

In 1988 "Suspicion" charted for Ronnie McDowell whose version, taken from McDowell's I'm Still Missing You album, reached #27 C&W. [10]

In 1964, Hong Kong singer Rebecca Pan covered '"Suspicion" on her LP album I Love You, released by Diamond Records.

In 2005, Bahamian singer-composer Diana Hamilton covered '"Suspicion" on her LP album A Bahamian in Paris, in collaboration with Eric Henri-Gréard, songwriter Florian Lacour, and produced by Patrick Rouchon.

A maniacal version of the song was recorded by Vivian Stanshall, and produced by Keith Moon.

"Suspicion" has also been covered by Jimmy London, Millicent Martin, Larry Marshall and Delroy Wilson.

Phil Spector composition claim

In a 2002 interview with journalist Mick Brown, record producer Phil Spector claimed he wrote and/or produced "Suspicion", but did not receive credit: "I made 'Suspicion' for Terry Stafford -- I didn't get any credit or any money. I didn't care. I just loved making records." [11]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doc Pomus</span> American musician (1925–1991)

Jerome Solon Felder, known professionally as Doc Pomus, was an American blues singer and songwriter. He is best known as the co-writer of many rock and roll hits. Pomus was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a non-performer in 1992, the Songwriters Hall of Fame (1992), and the Blues Hall of Fame (2012).

"Blue Moon" is a popular song written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart in 1934 that has become a standard ballad. Early recordings included those by Connee Boswell and by Al Bowlly in 1935. The song was a hit twice in 1949, with successful recordings in the U.S. by Billy Eckstine and Mel Tormé.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A World Without Love</span> 1964 single by Peter and Gordon

"A World Without Love" is a song recorded by the British duo Peter and Gordon and released as their first single in February 1964. It was included on the duo's debut album in the UK, and in the US on an album of the same name. The song was written by Paul McCartney and attributed to Lennon–McCartney. The B-side was "If I Were You", written by Peter and Gordon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You're My World</span> 1964 single by Cilla Black

"You're My World" is a cover of Italian ballad originally recorded in 1963 as "Il mio mondo" by Umberto Bindi, who co-wrote the original version with Gino Paoli. Subsequently, an English version was commissioned, and the lyrics were written by Carl Sigman as "You're My World". The song reached No. 1 in Australia (twice), Belgium, Mexico, Netherlands, South Africa and United Kingdom in recordings by Cilla Black, Daryl Braithwaite, Guys 'n' Dolls and Helen Reddy. Black's and Reddy's versions reached the US Top 40 in 1964 and 1977, respectively. The song also reached No. 1 in France and Spain in the respective translations "Ce monde" and "Mi Mundo", both sung by Richard Anthony.

<i>Pot Luck</i> (Elvis Presley album) 1962 studio album by Elvis Presley

Pot Luck with Elvis is the seventh studio album by American singer and musician Elvis Presley, released on RCA Victor in mono and stereo, LPM/LSP 2523, in May 18, 1962. Recording sessions took place on March 22, 1961, at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, and on June 25 and October 15, 1961, and March 18 and March 19, 1962, at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee. It peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Top LP's chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terry Stafford</span> American singer-songwriter

Terry LaVerne Stafford was an American singer and songwriter, best known for his 1964 US Top 10 hit "Suspicion", and the 1973 country music hit "Amarillo by Morning". Stafford was also known for his Elvis Presley sound-alike voice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Viva Las Vegas (song)</span> 1964 single by Elvis Presley

"Viva Las Vegas" is a 1964 song recorded by Elvis Presley written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman for his film of the same name, which along with the song was set for general release the year after. Although Elvis Presley never performed the song live, it has since become popular and often performed by others. The RIAA certified the single disc "Viva Las Vegas/What'd I Say" gold on March 27, 1992, having sold 500,000 copies in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Sister (Elvis Presley song)</span> 1961 single by Elvis Presley

"Little Sister" is a rock and roll song written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. It was originally released as a single in 1961 by American singer Elvis Presley, who enjoyed a No. 5 hit with it on the Billboard Hot 100. The single also reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart. Lead guitar was played by Hank Garland and the rhythm guitar was played by Scotty Moore with backing vocals by the Jordanaires featuring the distinctive bass voice of Ray Walker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">She's Not You</span> 1962 single by Elvis Presley

"She's Not You" is a 1962 song recorded by Elvis Presley and released as a single on RCA Victor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame</span> 1961 single by Elvis Presley

"(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame" is a song recorded in a hit version by Elvis Presley and published by Elvis Presley Music in 1961. It was written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman and first recorded by Del Shannon on the album Runaway with Del Shannon, which was released in June 1961.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surrender (Elvis Presley song)</span> 1961 single by Elvis Presley

"Surrender" is a number 1 song recorded by Elvis Presley and published by Elvis Presley Music in 1961. It is an adaptation by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman of the music of a 1902 Neapolitan ballad by Giambattista and Ernesto de Curtis entitled "Torna a Surriento". It hit number one in the US and UK in 1961 and eventually became one of his best-selling singles. Presley held the record for most consecutive number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 before 1966, when The Beatles beat the record, with six consecutive number ones released between 1965 and 1966. That record eventually was broken in 1988 by Whitney Houston, who continues to hold the record today with seven. It would hold the record for most consecutive number ones by a solo artist until Houston broke that record with "So Emotional". This was one of 25 songs which Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman wrote for Presley. It has been recorded by many other artists, including Michael Bublé, The Residents and Il Volo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Mess of Blues</span> 1960 single by Elvis Presley

"A Mess of Blues" is a song originally recorded by Elvis Presley for RCA Records in 1960, and written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. Although released as the B-side to "It's Now or Never", "A Mess of Blues" reached number 32 in the U.S. It reached number 2 in the UK as an A-side.

<i>Kissin Cousins</i> (soundtrack) 1964 soundtrack album by Elvis Presley

Kissin' Cousins is the eighth soundtrack album by American singer and musician Elvis Presley, released by RCA Victor in mono and stereo, LPM/LSP 2894, in April 1964. It is the soundtrack to the 1964 film of the same name starring Presley. Recording sessions took place at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee, on May 26 and 27, and September 29 and 30, 1963. It peaked at number six on the Billboard Top LPs chart. The album was certified Gold on March 27, 1992 by the Recording Industry Association of America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kiss Me Quick (Elvis Presley song)</span> 1961 song by Elvis Presley

"Kiss Me Quick" is a 1961 song recorded by Elvis Presley which was first released on the album Pot Luck with Elvis. It was released as a single in the UK in 1963 and the U.S. in 1964.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elvis Presley singles discography</span>

The singles discography of Elvis Presley began in 1954 with the release of his first commercial single, "That's All Right". Following his regional success with Sun Records, Presley was signed to RCA Victor on November 20, 1955. Presley's first single with RCA, "Heartbreak Hotel", was a worldwide hit, reaching the No. 1 position in four countries and the top 10 in many other countries. Other hit singles from the 1950s include "Don't Be Cruel", "Hound Dog", "Love Me Tender", "Too Much", "All Shook Up", "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear", "Jailhouse Rock", "Don't", "Hard Headed Woman" and "A Big Hunk o' Love". On March 24, 1958, Presley entered the United States Army at Memphis, Tennessee, and was stationed in Germany. He left active duty on March 5, 1960.

John Leslie McFarland was an American popular music composer and arranger.

<i>My Happiness</i> (album) 2014 studio album by Amanda Lear

My Happiness is a studio album by French singer Amanda Lear, released on March 17, 2014 by the independent label Boomlover. The album is a tribute to Elvis Presley.

<i>Tickle Me</i> (EP) 1965 EP (soundtrack) by Elvis Presley

Tickle Me is an extended play by Elvis Presley containing songs from the motion picture of the same name. It was released by RCA Victor in 1965.

"(It's a) Long Lonely Highway" is a song written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman and originally recorded by Elvis Presley. It reached number 44 in francophone Belgium in 1965.

"Night Rider" is a song written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman and originally recorded by Elvis Presley for his album Pot Luck with Elvis.

References

  1. ↑ "45cat - Terry Stafford - Suspicion / Judy - Crusader - USA - C-101". 45cat.com. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Velkommen". Danskehitlister.dk.
  3. ↑ "Terry Stafford Suspicion Home Page". Keepkey.yochanan.net. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  4. ↑ Irwin Chusid: WFMU Playlist from November 2, 2016, featuring Wally (Gotye) De Backer discussing the Ondioline part on "Suspicion"
  5. ↑ "ARSA Airheads Radio Survey Archive". Las-solanas.com. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  6. ↑ "WLS Silver Dollar Survey". April 10, 1964. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  7. ↑ Trust, Gary (April 4, 2016). "The Fab Five: On This Date in 1964, The Beatles Ranked Nos. 1-5 on the Hot 100". Billboard.com. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  8. ↑ "TERRY STAFFORD | full Official Chart History". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on January 19, 2018. Retrieved June 2, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Hot Country Songs 1944–2012. Record Research, Inc. p. 217. ISBN   978-0-89820-203-8.
  11. ↑ Tearing Down the Wall of Sound by Mick Brown, p. 375.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.