B-side "All The Love" Format 7", 12", CD single Length 4:06 | Released 1991 Genre Pop rock Label Siren, Virgin | |
"Whenever You Need Me" is a song by British band T'Pau, released as the lead single from their 1991 third studio album The Promise. The song was written by vocalist Carol Decker and rhythm guitarist Ron Rogers. It was produced by Andy Richards.
Contents
Background
Released as the leading single from the band's The Promise album, the song gave the band their eighth Top 40 single, where it peaked at #16 in the UK, and lasted in Top 100 for a total of six weeks. However, it also became the band's last UK Top 40 hit to date.
In 2003, a live version of the song appeared on the T'Pau album Greatest Hits Live! and its various re-issues.
In addition to the 12" vinyl extended version of the song, another over six minute remix, "Whenever You Need Me (Requiem Remix)", was issued on the CD version of the following 1991 single "Soul Destruction".
Release
The single was issued on 7" and 12" vinyl, as well as CD, via Siren Records, and was marketed/distributed by Virgin Records. It was released in the UK and Europe only, including Germany and Italy. Additionally, a one-track promo was released in America via the Charisma label.
The 7" vinyl release featured the b-side "All the Love", which was a non-album track exclusive to the single. The song was written and produced by all six members of T'Pau. It has remained exclusive to the single to date and has not appeared elsewhere.
On the 12" vinyl release was issued in the UK and German, where the featured track was an extended version of "Whenever You Need Me", whilst the two other tracks were "Whenever You Need Me (Single Version)" and "All the Love".
Additionally in the UK only, a limited edition box-set was also released which contained the 12" vinyl single, as well as a 'Life Size' colour poster of Decker. The single and poster was housed in a deep orange box embossed with silver text and a belly band.
The UK only CD single release featured the single version of "Whenever You Need Me" along with three of the band's previous hits; "Heart and Soul", "China in Your Hand" and "I Will Be with You". All of these tracks were from the band's 1987 debut album Bridge of Spies. They were written by Decker and Rogers, whilst being produced by Roy Thomas Baker.
All releases featured artwork of Decker close-up posing. It was similar to the photograph of Decker used on cover of The Promise album, which was also taken during the same shoot. The photography was handled by Tony McGee.
Following the song's original release on The Promise album and as a single, it has also appeared on the 1993 compilation Heart and Soul – The Very Best of T'Pau and the 1997 compilation The Greatest Hits. Additionally, it appeared on the German compilation Essential T'Pau and the Virgin German release Hits. The song would also be the B-side to the band's 1991 Japanese single "Only a Heartbeat". It appeared on the following various artists compilations; the 1997 Greatest Ballads, the 1997 Renaissance Records, Inc. Spring Sampler 1997, and the 2007 release 80s Heroes, which featured twelve tracks each from T'Pau and English pop duo Go West.
The song appeared on the UK four track album promo "Whenever You Need Me - Sampler" release, along with the three other singles from the album "Soul Destruction", "Walk on Air" and "Only a Heartbeat". It also appeared on the Japanese promotional only Virgin 10-track CD compilation This is... Nothin' But T'Pau, which was housed in a unique Carol Decker picture sleeve with extensive photo and info booklet.
Promotion
A music video was created to promote the single. Since being uploaded unofficially onto YouTube in May 2007, the song has gained 57,000 views.
On 23 May 1991, the band made their last appearance on the UK music show Top of the Pops, where they mimed the song. In addition, T'Pau appeared on the UK Saturday morning children show Gimme 5 and mimed the song, along with "Soul Destruction".
The band also mimed the song on a German TV show.
Track listing
- "Whenever You Need Me" - 4:06
- "All the Love" - 4:00
- "Whenever You Need Me (Extended)" - 6:15
- "Whenever You Need Me (Single Version)" - 4:06
- "All the Love" - 4:00
- "Whenever You Need Me (Extended)" - 6:15
- "Whenever You Need Me (Single Version)" - 4:06
- "All the Love" - 4:00
- "Whenever You Need Me" - 4:06
- "Heart and Soul" - 3:40
- "China in Your Hand" - 4:05
- "I Will Be with You" - 4:06
Critical reception
Bradley Torreano of Allmusic highlighted the song as a The Greatest Hits compilation album standout by labeling it an AMG Pick Track.