Copyright Albert Hammond Music, Begonia Melodies Music. All rights reserved. Reprinted with Albert Hammond's personal permission. For personal use only.

US #1, UK #1 for Leo Sayer in 1977

The same melody was used for Si me amaras (When I need you is the original).

Albert Hammond (writer, recording artist): I was on tour at the time, and I'd just finished my tour, and I stopped in New York to meet up with the CBS people. And Paul McCartney was actually at Madison [Square Garden] that night, and they had an extra ticket and invited me to go, and I watched probably one of the greatest shows I've ever seen apart from maybe The Beatles at the Hammersmith Auditorium when I saw them in '63, you know. I was so thrilled 'cause every song... I mean, all these Lennon/McCartney songs... I went back to the hotel, and I called my ex-wife, my first wife up, and I say to her "I'm giving up the business, I'm giving up what I'm doing! I've just seen the greatest, and I could never even get close to that, so I'm just gonna give up". And she says "you're crazy! You're good, you're you..." I say "yeah, but, you know, touring... and I miss you and the kids" And she says "you're crazy!", and she hangs up the phone. And I sat down in this little hotel room, I sat down with the guitar and started to play some of the stuff I'd heard from McCartney, you know, "Yesterday" and whatever. And suddenly, I started to think of the fact that I'd just talked to my wife and how much I needed her, and she wasn't here with me. And that's when When I need you came up. I had the whole melody and part of the lyric and the title When I need you, and then an arranger who's gonna arrange the album said "you should get together with Carole". I told her the story, and that's when all these words came out, which is fantastic. But she wanted to change the title, I wish I could remember what title she wanted to use, and I said "no, it's got to be called When I need you! If it isn't called When I need you, I don't wanna write it." (1992 interview on BBC Radio programs. Thank you to Peter)

Leo Sayer (recording artist): In 1976, I went over to Los Angeles to work with producer Richard Perry. We didn't immediately hit it off, Richard wanting me to concentrate on singing other people's songs, and up to that time I'd only recorded my own. I had to find material I could sing as if I'd written, songs I really believed in. When I need you had been turned by many major artists and producers when I found it, but I knew I could make it into a hit. I was in Los Angeles on my own, really missing my ex-wife Janice, who was back in London, so I had no problem identifying with Carole Bayer-Sager's lyrics. The music was written by Albert Hammond. It was my biggest international single and is now considered a standard, having been covered by almost every top artist, from Rod Stewart to Julio Iglesias, Luther Vandross to Celine Dion. (Leo Sayer's official website, Copyright 1999 by Silverbird)

Julio Iglesias (recording artist): A major love song written by Albert Hammond and Carole Bayer-Sager. Leo Sayer had a huge hit with it produced by Richard Perry. I just couldn't resist doing my own version. (Julio Iglesias' official website)