Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Miss You Nights

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B-side
  
"Love Enough"

Format
  
7" single

Writer(s)
  
Dave Townsend

Released
  
14 November 1975

Label
  
EMI

Recorded
  
9 September 1975 at Abbey Road Studios, London

"Miss You Nights" is a song written by Dave Townsend and made famous worldwide by Cliff Richard. The song has been recorded by numerous other artists, most notably Westlife, who released it as the second track on a double A-side single in 2003. The Westlife single reached number 3 in the UK singles chart.

Contents

Background

Townsend wrote the song in 1974 while his girlfriend was away on holiday. He recorded it on an album for Island Records, but the label shelved the album and decided to recoup part of the cost of the unreleased album through cover deals. Some demo tapes were handed to Bruce Welch of The Shadows who also worked as producer for Cliff Richard and was looking for songs to revitalize his career. Welch immediately recognized it as a hit - "Andrew Powell's string arrangement helped to make it a great love song through its imagery and potent feelings of longing and loneliness". Welch and Cliff recorded it in September 1975. Of the song and its writer Cliff said: "I think it's one of the nicest songs I’ve ever made... when I heard his version it was terrific. He [Townsend] was pleased to have that happen. I mean it could have been anybody and it would have been a hit."

Original release

Cliff Richard released Miss You Nights on 14 November 1975 as the lead single from his studio album I'm Nearly Famous. It entered the British Top 20 and in early 1976, reached #15 in the UK Singles Chart. Despite not reaching a high chart position, it has become an enduring favourite of Richard's fans. For example, in 2006 UK BBC Radio 2 listeners voted it their favourite Cliff Richard song of all time.

Chart performance

Album appearances

Miss You Nights was first included on Richard's 1976 studio album I'm Nearly Famous. As one of Richard's most enduring songs, it has been included on many of his compilation albums. The most notable of these compilation albums and albums with alternative versions are:

  • 1977: 40 Golden Greats
  • 1979: Thank You Very Much (1978 live version)
  • 1981: Love Songs
  • 1983: Dressed for the Occasion (1982 live version)
  • 1990: From a Distance: The Event box-set edition. An a cappella version with Coro Croz Corona (choir) was included on a single-sided 7" vinyl record.
  • 1994: The Hit List
  • 2004: Miss You Nights – The Ballad Collection (Singapore and Malaysia release)
  • 2005: From a Distance: The Event (1989 live version, but only included on the 2005 re-release containing the full original live concert track-listing)
  • 2007: Love... The Album
  • 2008: The 50th Anniversary Album

    • Cliff Richard 1994 re-release

    In 1994, Cliff Richard re-released the song on a double A-side single with "All I Have to Do Is Dream", which was listed first. "All I Have to Do Is Dream", originally by The Everly Brothers was recorded as a live duet with Phil Everly, while "Miss You Nights" is a remix of the 1976 original. The double A-side single reached #14 in the UK singles chart.

    Track list:

    CD1:

    1. "All I Have to Do Is Dream"
    2. "Miss You Nights"
    3. "When Will I Be Loved"
    4. "Tribute to the Legends - Medley"

    CD2:

    1. "All I Have to Do Is Dream"
    2. "Miss You Nights"
    3. "True Love Ways"
    4. "Party Megamix"

    Chart performance

    Other versions

    Cliff Richard also recorded two more versions of the song as duets:

  • 2004: With Elaine Paige, included on her album Centre Stage: The Very Best of Elaine Paige
  • 2005: With G4 on their album G4 & Friends, later also included on Cliff Richard's 2006 album Two's Company - The Duets

    • Other covers include:

  • 1976: Diane Solomon on her album Mixed Feelings
  • 1977: Marie Osmond on her album This Is the Way That I Feel
  • 1978: Dobie Gray on his album Midnight Diamond
  • 1979: Art Garfunkel on his album Fate for Breakfast
  • 1979: The Nolans on their album Nolan Sisters
  • 1980: Demis Roussos on his album Man of the World
  • 1980: Roger Whittaker on his album You Are My Miracle
  • 1981: Brotherhood of Man on their album 20 Disco Greats / 20 Love Songs
  • 1982: Carl Wayne with Choral Union
  • 1983: Acker Bilk
  • 1990: Johnny Logan & The Jordanaires on Logan's album Love Songs
  • 2001: Smokie on their album Uncovered Too
  • 2005: Rick Springfield

    • Westlife version

    The most commercially successful cover version is that of Westlife that was released in 2003 as a double A side in the United Kingdom as Tonight/Miss You Nights. The double A single reached #3 on the UK Singles Chart and topped the Irish charts.

    In some other countries, Westlife released the songs separately.

    Chart performance

    References

    Miss You Nights Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA