Released September 8, 1990 Producer(s) Rick Neigher | Label EMI | |
Format CD single, cassette single, 7" single Genre Pop rock, soft rock, power ballad Writer(s) Freddy Curci/Steve DeMarchi | ||
"More Than Words Can Say" (also known as "(I Need You Now) More Than Words Can Say" for promotional purposes) is a song by Canadian rock band Alias. It was released in September 1990 as the second single from their debut eponymous album. It became a No. 2 hit in the United States, and reached No. 1 in Canada.
Contents
BMI presented the lead vocalist / songwriter Freddy Curci with the "Million-airs award" for "More Than Words Can Say". According to BMI's web site, only 1,500 songs have achieved Million-air status (one million air plays) among the 4.5 million songs by 300,000 BMI represented artists. One million performances is the equivalent of approximately 50,000 broadcast hours, or more than 5.7 years of continuous airplay.
Composition and inspiration
"More Than Words Can Say" was written, arranged, and co-produced by former Sheriff vocalist Freddy Curci and guitarist Steve DeMarchi. DeMarchi's younger brother Denny played the keyboard and sang the backing vocals. Curci recorded the vocals in Denny DeMarchi's bedroom at DeMarchi's family home.
At the time, their dissolved band had hit number one with "When I'm With You", and the other band members had refused to reunite. Sensing the need to follow up the hit, Curci and DeMarchi joined ex-Heart members guitarist Roger Fisher, bassist Steve Fossen, and drummer Mike Derosier to form Alias. This tune, bearing striking similarities to "When I'm With You" (including a sustained last note), was the result.
Chart performance
"More Than Words Can Say" was released as the first single of Alias' self-titled debut album. It entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 84 and reached the Top Ten four weeks later. On November 24, 1990, it peaked at No. 2, kept from the top spot by Mariah Carey's "Love Takes Time". It also peaked at No. 2 on the adult contemporary chart and at No. 13 on the Mainstream rock chart.