The Curse of "I Need Your Love So Bad"

Today's entry concerns a song called "I Need Your Love So Bad" first written and recorded in 1956 by Little Willie John. The song has become a hit twice in music history while both musicians recording it suffered horrible fates.

Little Willie is an interesting story. He was extremely successful in the 1950's, if not completely forgotten today. While standing only 5'2", Little Willie had a amazing rhythm and voice with a knack of writing catchy tunes that would later be recorded by The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac and Madonna. John had been an alcoholic years and was pushed to the limits one night after a show in Seattle and stabbed a man to death. He was found guilty of manslaughter in 1964 escaping death row, only to die in prison after four years of a heart attack. He was 29.

"I Need Your Love So Bad" has a classic ring to it that defined R&B sound for the next ten years. Listening closely will reveal nearly getting the lyrics wrong twice as phrases start, but saving himself before the word ends. I can only guess they are mistakes that made it onto the recordings because of the cost to stop and recut the song. After sixty years, they are more endearing than damaging.

Little Willie John's version...




Before Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham, Fleetwood Mac started out as a blues trio with only Mick Fleetwood as the only founding member that would later stay with the band. In a sense, it is a completely different band with the only constant being the drummer. Peter Green formed the early Fleetwood Mac after leaving John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers. He had been the second guitarist for the Bluesbreakers, replacing Eric Clapton. By 1970, many argue Fleetwood Mac had become Europe's biggest band, with "I Need Your Love So Bad" as a major hit for the band.

As had happened with Syd Barrett from Pink Floyd, Peter Green quickly dove into a case of schizophrenia after experimenting with LSD. The band ousted Green after he decided to give the profits of the band to charity. His last concert with Fleetwood Mac was in May 1970, only two years after Little Wille John died in prison.