I Knew I'd Want You
| "I Knew I'd Want You" | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Single by The Byrds | |
| from the album Mr. Tambourine Man | |
| A-side | "Mr. Tambourine Man" |
| Released | April 12, 1965 |
| Format | 7-inch single |
| Recorded | January 20, 1965 |
| Studio | Columbia, Hollywood, California |
| Genre | Folk rock |
| Length | 2:14 |
| Label | Columbia |
| Songwriter(s) | Gene Clark |
| Producer(s) | Terry Melcher |
"I Knew I'd Want You" is a song written by Gene Clark that was first released by the folk rock band The Byrds as the B-side to their 1965 debut single, "Mr. Tambourine Man", and later included on their first album Mr. Tambourine Man.
"I Knew I'd Want You" is one of the earliest original songs written by one of the Byrds, dating back to 1964 when the band was known as the Jet Set. It is a folk rock song taken at mid-tempo. Clark sings the lead vocal. Author Christopher Hjort describes it as "a minor-tinged 6/8 shuffle." Author James Perone finds the sound similar to that of The Beatles' "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away," particularly through its use of a triple meter and acoustic instruments, noting that the Byrds song was released first and probably even recorded first. Perone also feels that certain features, such as its minor key and the general melodic shape, anticipated the Moody Blues' "Nights in White Satin." Music critic Johnny Rogan notes a nod to The Beatles in the use of the phrase "oh yeah" at the end of the refrain. Rogan described the lyrics as being "romantic" and incorporating "hip parlance" such as the line "You'd have me on your trip..."
"I Knew I'd Want You" was recorded on January 20, 1965, at the same sessions at which they recorded "Mr. Tambourine Man." As with "Mr Tambourine Man," Roger McGuinn is the only member of the Byrds credited with playing an instrument on the song, playing his 12-string guitar. The other musicians credited are members of the Wrecking Crew, including Larry Knechtel on bass guitar, Leon Russell on electric piano, Hal Blaine on drums and Jerry Cole on guitar. However, author James Perone believes that the bass guitar and rhythm guitar on "I Knew I'd Want You" sound like Byrd members Chris Hillman and David Crosby, respectively. Hillman has stated in interview that neither he nor Crosby played on the song, noting that the contrast between the slicker, more polished sound of the session musicians on "I Knew I'd Want You" and "Mr. Tambourine Man" is quite noticeable compared to the rawer sound of the Byrds' own playing on the rest of the Mr. Tambourine Man album. According to Byrds' manager Jim Dickson, the executives at Columbia Records felt it was too risky to release a poetic song like "Mr. Tambourine Man" as the A-side of the Byrds' first single and wanted "I Knew I'd Want You" to be the A-side instead, but at the insistence of producer Terry Melcher, "Mr. Tambourine Man" was ultimately released as the A-side. The single, with "Mr. Tambourine Man" as the A-side, reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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