(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me by Lou Johnson

Album: The Look of Love: The Burt Bacharach Collection (1964)

Charted: 49

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Songfacts®:

This was written by the songwriting team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David.

Lou Johnson was a R&B singer from Brooklyn who made #74 with another Bacharach/David composition, "Reach Out For Me," in 1963. His version of "(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me" was just a modest hit, but beloved by Soul music aficionados who consider it the definitive version. Johnson had some success with the songs "Kentucky Bluebird (Send A Message To Martha)" and "A Time To Love - A Time To Cry (Petite Fleur)," but he never made the Top 40.

The song is a gut-wrencher about a guy who has lost his love but can't let her go because everywhere he goes he sees reminders of her. Johnson wrings out the agony in his version, but later covers downplayed the heartbreak.
Johnson's original version of this song was released during the time when American Pop music was being taken over by the British Invasion. Ironically, over in Britain, American music was becoming more popular. In an effort to promote this song in Britain, Bacharach escorted Johnson there and introduced him on the BBC TV show Top Of The Pops, where Johnson performed it.

The song was a bigger hit in Britain, but not for Johnson! At the same time, a young British singer named Sandie Shaw had recorded and released a version of it and her version topped the British charts. Johnson's version failed to make an impact in Britain, and Shaw's version reached only US #52 in 1965.
Various artists have covered this song. A version by Bacharach/David muse Dionne Warwick reached US #65 in 1968, and an R.B. Greaves cover recorded with the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section reached US #27 in 1970.

The biggest American hit was by the British duo Naked Eyes, which reached #8 US in 1983 (Burt Bacharach has described this version as "very nice").

Other artists who have covered the song include Lou Christie, Jose Feliciano, Wayne Fontana, The Hippos, Jay & the Americans, Brenda Lee, Martha & the Vandellas, Barbara Mason, and Johnny Mathis. A few versions of this song have the word "(There's)" dropped from the title. >>
Suggestion credit:
Jerro - New Alexandria, PA, for all above

Comments: 11

Jennifur Sun from RamonaUnderstand the lyrics only too well.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 31st 1970, R.B. Greaves performed "Always Something There to Remind Me" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
At the time the song was at #73 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; the week before it entered the chart at #97, and five weeks after it entered the Top 100 it peaked at #27 {for 2 weeks} and spent 8 weeks on the chart...
It reached #50 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart...
On the same 'Bandstand' show he also performed his debut charted record, "Take a Letter, Maria"; it had peaked at #2 {for 1 week} on November 16th, 1969...
R.I.P. Ronald Bertram Aloysius 'R. B.' Greaves III {1943 - 2012}.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn October 31st 1964, Lou Johnson performed "(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
Two months earlier on August 16th, 1964 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #82; and on September 27th, 1964 it peaked at #49 {for 1 week}, and the week it peaked at #49 was also its 7th and last week on the Top 100...
He had two other Top 100 records; "Reach Out for Me"* {peaked at #74 in 1963} and "A Time to Love - A Time to Cry" {reached #59 1965}...
* One year later in 1964 Dionne Warwick covered "Reach Out for Me" and took it to #1 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart {#20 on Top 100}.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn June 9th 1965, Sandie Shaw performed "(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me" on the ABC-TV program 'Shindig!'...
Seven months earlier on November 22nd, 1964 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #89; as stated above it peaked at #52 and spent 7 weeks on the Top 100...
And October 31st, 1964 it reached #1 (for 2 weeks) on the United Kingdom's New Musical Express chart...
She had two other records make the Top 100; "Girl Don't Come" (peaked at #42 in 1965) and "Long Live Love" (reached #97 in 1965)...
Ms. Shaw, born Sandra Ann Goodrich, will celebrate her 68th birthday come next February 26th, 2015.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn May 28th 1983, Naked Eyes performed "Always Something There to Remind Me" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
Two months earlier on March 6th, 1983 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #85; and on June 5th it peaked at #8 (for 2 weeks) and spent 20 weeks on the Top 100...
The duo had two more records make the Top 100 in 1983; "Promises, Promises" (peaked at #11) and "When the Lights Go Out" (reached #37).
Rick from Mason City, IaNaked Eyes reinvented the song! Love IT!!!! My other favorite song by NE is "When the lights go out"
Jennifer Harris from Grand Blanc, MiI loved the Naked Eyes version and video.
John from Nashville, TnPoor Lou Johnson was considered a male Dionne Warwick. He did the original versions of this song, "Reach Out For Me", and "Message To Martha (Michael)". All these songs later became huge hits for Dionne.
Fred from Laurel, MdI had never connected this song with anyone but Dionne Warwick; I'm glad to know who did the original. Also, at least where I was listening at the time (Pittsburgh), I'm certain her recording of it went much higher than #65. Or am I confusing it with "I Say a Little Prayer for You"? She recorded a lot of Bacharach/David songs, and did them splendidly. These two (Prayer & Remind) are musically pretty similar. I've never heard the Naked Eyes version.
Guy from Woodinville, WaBeing from the states, I've never heard the Lou Johnson or Sandie Shaw versions. I grew up with the Dionne Warwick version, which is actually one of her weaker Burt Bacharach/Hal David songs. Then Naked Eyes did the definitive version in '83. They OWN that song!
Nathan from From The Country Of, Canadalove the naked eyes version

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