"Lies" is a song written by Beau Charles and Buddy Randell. It was performed by The Knickerbockers and 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 because of its similarities to their style and harmonies.[4]
| "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 | ||||
| ||||
Background
editBeau Charles has said of writing and recording the song, "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 for 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.[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
- Beau Charles - guitar, backing vocals
- John Charles - bass, backing vocals
- Jimmy Walker - drums
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
editReferences
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.