I Need You (The Kinks song)

"I Need You"
"I Need You"
	UK B-side label
Single by the Kinks
A-side	"Set Me Free"
Released	21 May 1965
Recorded	13–14 April 1965
Studio	Pye, London
Length	2:29
Label	Pye (UK); Reprise (US);
Songwriter(s)	Ray Davies
Producer(s)	Shel Talmy
The Kinks singles chronology

Last updated April 22, 2025

"I Need You" is a song by the English rock band the Kinks released on 21 May 1965 as the B-Side to "Set Me Free". The song, along with "You Really Got Me" and "All Day and All of the Night", has been cited as one of the influences which shifted the focus from rock 'n' roll to hard-hitting rock music. Never a part of the Kinks live act, it has since been revived live by both Davies brothers solo in the 21st century.^[2]

Reception

Pitchfork described the song "I Need You" as "punky" and "still thrilling".^[4] Rolling Stone put it in the "early ravers" in The Kinks catalogue.^[5]

The Guardian characterized it as "libidinous".^[6]

Personnel

According to Doug Hinman:^[7]

The Kinks

Ray Davies –lead vocal, rhythm guitar
Dave Davies –backing vocal, lead guitar^[a]
Pete Quaife –bass
Mick Avory –drums

Additional musicians

Rasa Davies –backing vocal
Jimmy Page – guitar feedback (intro)^[3]

Notes

↑ Hinman writes Dave also "possibly [played] doubled rhythm [guitar]" on the track.^[7]

References

1 2 Hinman 2004, pp. 53, 56.
↑ Harrington, Joe S. Sonic Cool: The Life & Death of Rock 'n' Roll (2002), p. 165
1 2 Dan Forte (August 2023). "Check This Action: Dave Davies' Kinky Journey". Vintage Guitar . Archived from the original on 23 May 2024. I recently spoke to Doug Hinman, author of the definitive The Kinks: All Day and All of the Night ... He acknowledged that Page played 12-string and rhythm on some songs, and provided the feedback at the beginning of 'I Need You' (to which [Dave] Davies supplied the solo), but said, 'Jimmy Page did not play lead on any Kinks hits.'
↑ Joe Tangari (January 19, 2012). "Kinks in Mono – The Kinks". Pitchfork .
↑ Rob Sheffield. "How the Kinks Made Rock History With 'Waterloo Sunset'". Rolling Stone .
↑ "Dave Davies review – Barbed thread of Kinks legacy is pulled taut". The Guardian .
1 2 Hinman 2004, p. 56.

Sources

Hinman, Doug (2004). The Kinks: All Day and All of the Night: Day-by-Day Concerts, Recordings and Broadcasts, 1961–1996. San Francisco, California: Backbeat Books. ISBN 978-0-87930-765-3.

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[8] Hinman writes Dave also "possibly [played] doubled rhythm [guitar]" on the track.^[7]

[FOOTNOTEHinman200453,_56-1] 1 2 Hinman 2004, pp. 53, 56.

[Harrington-2] Harrington, Joe S. Sonic Cool: The Life & Death of Rock 'n' Roll (2002), p. 165

[VG-3] 1 2 Dan Forte (August 2023). "Check This Action: Dave Davies' Kinky Journey". Vintage Guitar . Archived from the original on 23 May 2024. I recently spoke to Doug Hinman, author of the definitive The Kinks: All Day and All of the Night ... He acknowledged that Page played 12-string and rhythm on some songs, and provided the feedback at the beginning of 'I Need You' (to which [Dave] Davies supplied the solo), but said, 'Jimmy Page did not play lead on any Kinks hits.'

[4] Joe Tangari (January 19, 2012). "Kinks in Mono – The Kinks". Pitchfork .

[5] Rob Sheffield. "How the Kinks Made Rock History With 'Waterloo Sunset'". Rolling Stone .

[6] "Dave Davies review – Barbed thread of Kinks legacy is pulled taut". The Guardian .

[FOOTNOTEHinman200456-7] 1 2 Hinman 2004, p. 56.

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v t e The Kinks singles discography
1960s singles (UK & US)	1964 "Long Tall Sally" "You Still Want Me" "You Really Got Me" "All Day and All of the Night" 1965 "Tired of Waiting for You" "Ev'rybody's Gonna Be Happy" "Set Me Free" "See My Friends" "Who'll Be the Next in Line" "A Well Respected Man" "Till the End of the Day" 1966 "Dedicated Follower of Fashion" "Sunny Afternoon" "Dead End Street" 1967 "Mister Pleasant" "Waterloo Sunset" "Death of a Clown" (Dave Davies solo) "Autumn Almanac" "Susannah's Still Alive" (Dave Davies solo) 1968 "Wonderboy" "Days" "Lincoln County" (Dave Davies solo) 1969 "Starstruck" "Hold My Hand" (Dave Davies solo) "Plastic Man" "Drivin'" "The Village Green Preservation Society" "Shangri-La" "Victoria"
1970s singles (UK & US)	1970 "Lola" "Apeman" 1971 "God's Children" "20th Century Man" 1972 "Supersonic Rocket Ship" "Celluloid Heroes" 1973 "One of the Survivors" "Sitting in the Midday Sun" "Sweet Lady Genevieve" "Where Have All the Good Times Gone" 1974 "Money Talks" "Mirror of Love" "Mirror of Love" (band version) "Holiday Romance" "Preservation" 1975 "Everybody's a Star (Starmaker)" "Ducks on the Wall" "You Can't Stop the Music" 1976 "I'm in Disgrace" "No More Looking Back" 1977 "Sleepwalker" "Juke Box Music" "Father Christmas" 1978 "A Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy" "Live Life" "Black Messiah" 1979 "(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman" "A Gallon of Gas" "Catch Me Now I'm Falling" "Moving Pictures" "Pressure"
1980s singles (UK & US)	1980 "Lola" (live) "You Really Got Me" (live) 1981 "Better Things" "Destroyer" "Predictable" 1982 "Come Dancing" 1983 "Don't Forget to Dance" 1984 "Good Day" "Do It Again" 1985 "Living on a Thin Line" (radio promo only) "Summer's Gone" 1986 "Rock 'n' Roll Cities" "How Are You" 1987 "Lost and Found" 1988 "The Road" 1989 "Down All the Days (Till 1992)"
1990s singles (UK & US)	1990 "How Do I Get Close" 1993 "Only a Dream" "Scattered"
Other singles (non-UK/US)	1966 "Dandy" (Europe) 1969 "Picture Book" (Australia) "Australia" (Australia) 1983 "State of Confusion" (Germany) 1991 "Did Ya" (Europe)
Other songs	"So Mystifying" "Bald Headed Woman" "Stop Your Sobbing" "Dancing in the Street" "I Need You" "I Go to Sleep" "I'm Not Like Everybody Else" "Big Black Smoke" "Party Line" "Rosy Won't You Please Come Home" "Love Me Till the Sun Shines" "David Watts" "Two Sisters" "Polly" "She's Got Everything" "Do You Remember Walter?" "Johnny Thunder" "Last of the Steam-Powered Trains" "Big Sky" "Sitting by the Riverside" "Animal Farm" "Village Green" "Phenomenal Cat" "All of My Friends Were There" "Wicked Annabella" "Monica" "People Take Pictures of Each Other" "Berkeley Mews" "Mr. Churchill Says" "Strangers" "This Time Tomorrow" "Rats" "Got to Be Free" "Have a Cuppa Tea" "Oklahoma U.S.A." "Muswell Hillbilly" "Sitting in My Hotel" "The Hard Way" "Life Goes On" "Misfits" "Attitude" "Low Budget" "Give the People What They Want" "Heart of Gold"