Just Once In My Life

Album: Just Once In My Life (1965)
Charted: 9
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • With Phil Spector producing, The Righteous Brothers had a huge hit with "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'," which went to #1 in February 1965. That song Spector wrote with Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, who were married. For the next single, Spector enlisted another husband-and-wife songwriting duo: Gerry Goffin and Carole King. They had been working with Spector for years, starting with a 1961 track for Gene Pitney called "Every Breath I Take." The trio came up with "Just Once In My Life," and Spector gave it his grand "wall of sound" production. It didn't do nearly as well as "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'," but the song was still a substantial hit.
  • The song is about a guy who will do anything to get the girl, but his case is flimsy and a little desperate: He's never gotten what he wants in life, so he's going to go all-out for her. What girl can't resist a guy with low ambition ("I don't forsee a rags to riches story for me") who will cling like Saran Wrap ("I couldn't face the day if you weren't here by my side")?
  • Around this time, Goffin and King also wrote the Righteous Brothers song "Hung On You" (#47, 1965) and the Ronettes' "Is This What I Get For Loving You" (#75, 1965) with Spector. According to King, Spector would insist on songwriting credit even though he had little to do with writing the songs, but there was an upside. "Working with Phil Spector made us write the best we possibly could," she said in The Definitive Carole King Story. "He loved writing with you, he'd get his name on the recording. He deserved it, he made good suggestions, but it should have been just as the producer. That should have been enough."
  • The Beach Boys recorded this song for their 1976 covers album 15 Big Ones. Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys was a huge fan of Phil Spector's work.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Art Alexakis of Everclear

Art Alexakis of EverclearSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer of Everclear, Art is also their primary songwriter.

Glen Burtnik

Glen BurtnikSongwriter Interviews

On Glen's résumé: hit songwriter, Facebook dominator, and member of Styx.

Dave Alvin - "4th Of July"

Dave Alvin - "4th Of July"They're Playing My Song

When Dave recorded the first version of the song with his group the Blasters, producer Nick Lowe gave him some life-changing advice.

Jimmy Jam

Jimmy JamSongwriter Interviews

The powerhouse producer behind Janet Jackson's hits talks about his Boyz II Men ballads and regrouping The Time.

Benny Mardones

Benny MardonesSongwriter Interviews

His song "Into The Night" is one of the most-played of all time. For Benny, it took him to hell and back.

Melanie

MelanieSongwriter Interviews

The singer-songwriter Melanie talks about her spiritual awakening at Woodstock, "Brand New Key," and why songwriting is an art, not a craft.