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{{Short description|1962 song by Terry Stafford}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox song
{{Infobox song
| name = Suspicion
| name = Suspicion
| cover =
| cover = Suspicion_-_Terry_Stafford.jpeg
| alt =
| alt =
| type = single
| type = single
| artist = [[Terry Stafford]]
| artist = [[Terry Stafford]]
Line 8: Line 10:
| B-side = "Judy"
| B-side = "Judy"
| released = February 1964
| released = February 1964
| format = [[Single (music)|7" single]]
| recorded = May 2, 1962 ("Suspicion"); late 1963 ("Judy")
| recorded = May 2, 1962 ("Suspicion"); late 1963 ("Judy")
| studio =
| studio =
| venue =
| venue =
| genre = [[Pop music|Pop]], [[rock and roll]]
| genre = [[Pop music|Pop]], [[rock and roll]]
| length = 2:27
| length = 2:27
Line 24: Line 25:
{{Infobox song
{{Infobox song
| name = Suspicion
| name = Suspicion
| cover =
| cover = SuspicionElvis45.jpg
| alt =
| alt =
| type = single
| type = single
| artist = [[Elvis Presley]]
| artist = [[Elvis Presley]]
| album = [[Pot Luck (Elvis Presley album)|Pot Luck]]
| album = [[Pot Luck (Elvis Presley album)|Pot Luck]]
| A-side = {{flagicon|US}} "[[Kiss Me Quick (song)|Kiss Me Quick]]"<br>{{flagicon|Europe}} Suspicion
| A-side = {{flagicon|US}} "[[Kiss Me Quick (Elvis Presley song)|Kiss Me Quick]]"<br />{{flagicon|Europe}} Suspicion
| B-side = {{flagicon|US}} Suspicion {{flagicon|Europe}} "[[It Hurts Me]]"
| B-side = {{flagicon|US}} Suspicion {{flagicon|Europe}} "[[It Hurts Me]]"
| released = {{flagicon|US}} April 16, 1964<br>{{flagicon|Europe}} May 1964
| released = {{flagicon|US}} April 16, 1964<br />{{flagicon|Europe}} May 1964
| format = [[Single (music)|7" single]]
| recorded = March 19, 1962
| recorded = March 19, 1962
| studio =
| studio =
| venue =
| venue =
| genre = [[Pop music|Pop]]
| genre = [[Pop music|Pop]]
| length = 2:35
| length = 2:35
Line 41: Line 41:
:::<small>{{flagicon|Europe}} 47-9533 </small>
:::<small>{{flagicon|Europe}} 47-9533 </small>
| writer = [[Doc Pomus]], [[Mort Shuman]]
| writer = [[Doc Pomus]], [[Mort Shuman]]
| producer =
| producer =
| prev_title = {{flagicon|US}} "[[Kissin' Cousins (song)|Kissin' Cousins]]"<br>{{flagicon|Europe}} "[[Viva Las Vegas (song)|Viva Las Vegas]]"
| prev_title = {{flagicon|US}} "[[Kissin' Cousins (song)|Kissin' Cousins]]"<br />{{flagicon|Europe}} "[[Viva Las Vegas (song)|Viva Las Vegas]]"
| prev_year = 1964
| prev_year = 1964
| next_title = {{flagicon|US}} "[[What'd I Say]]"<br>{{flagicon|Europe}} "Kissin' Cousins"
| next_title = {{flagicon|US}} "[[What'd I Say]]"<br />{{flagicon|Europe}} "Kissin' Cousins"
| next_year = 1964
| next_year = 1964
}}
}}
{{Infobox song
{{Infobox song
| name = Suspicion
| name = Suspicion
| cover =
| cover =
| alt =
| alt =
| type = single
| type = single
| artist = [[Elvis Presley]]
| artist = [[Elvis Presley]]
| album = [[Pot Luck (Elvis Presley album)|Pot Luck]]
| album = [[Pot Luck (Elvis Presley album)|Pot Luck]]
| A-side = "[[Kiss Me Quick (song)|Kiss Me Quick]]"/ "Suspicion"
| A-side = "[[Kiss Me Quick (Elvis Presley song)|Kiss Me Quick]]"/ "Suspicion"
| B-side = "[[Sentimental Me]]"/<br>"I Want You With Me"
| B-side = "[[Sentimental Me]]"/<br />"I Want You With Me"
| released = May 1964
| released = May 1964
| format = {{flagicon|Australia}} [[extended play|EP]] <small>'''''Elvis Sings Kiss Me Quick'''''</small>
| recorded = March 19, 1962
| recorded = March 19, 1962
| studio =
| studio =
| venue =
| venue =
| genre = [[Pop music|Pop]]
| genre = [[Pop music|Pop]]
| length = 2:35
| length = 2:35
| label = [[RCA Victor]] <small>20277</small>
| label = [[RCA Victor]] <small>20277</small>
| writer = [[Doc Pomus]], [[Mort Shuman]]
| writer = [[Doc Pomus]], [[Mort Shuman]]
| producer =
| producer =
| prev_title = {{flagicon|Australia}} "[[C'mon Everybody]]" EP
| prev_title = {{flagicon|Australia}} "[[C'mon Everybody]]" EP
| prev_year = 1964
| prev_year = 1964
Line 73: Line 72:
{{Infobox song
{{Infobox song
| name = Suspicion
| name = Suspicion
| cover =
| cover =
| alt =
| alt =
| type = single
| type = single
| artist = [[Elvis Presley]]
| artist = [[Elvis Presley]]
Line 80: Line 79:
| B-side = "It's a Long Lonely Highway"
| B-side = "It's a Long Lonely Highway"
| released = November 26, 1976
| released = November 26, 1976
| format = [[Single (music)|7" single]]
| recorded = March 9, 1962
| recorded = March 9, 1962
| studio =
| studio =
| venue =
| venue =
| genre = [[Pop music|Pop]]
| genre = [[Pop music|Pop]]
| length = 2:35 Spanish
| length = 2:35 Spanish
| label = [[RCA Victor]] <small>2768</small>
| label = [[RCA Victor]] <small>2768</small>
| writer = [[Doc Pomus]], [[Mort Shuman]]
| writer = [[Doc Pomus]], [[Mort Shuman]]
| producer =
| producer =
| prev_title = {{flagicon|UK}} "[[The Girl of My Best Friend]]"
| prev_title = {{flagicon|UK}} "[[The Girl of My Best Friend]]"
| prev_year = 1976
| prev_year = 1976
Line 94: Line 92:
| next_year = 1977
| next_year = 1977
}}
}}
⚫
"'''Suspicion'''" is a 1962 song originally recorded by [[Elvis Presley]] written by [[Doc Pomus]] and [[Mort Shuman]] which became a major hit in 1964 in a recording by Elvis Presley sound-alike [[Terry Stafford]].
⚫
==Elvis Presley version==
⚫
One of 25 songs written by Pomus/Shuman for Elvis Presley, "Suspicion" was recorded by Presley on March 19, 1962 in Studio B of [[RCA Victor|RCA]]'s [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]] studio and issued on Presley's album ''[[Pot Luck (Elvis Presley album)|Pot Luck]]'' released on June 15, 1962. In April 1964, when the Terry Stafford version of "Suspicion" (recorded in May 1962 as a demo) was in the Top Ten of the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], the Presley original was given a US single release with "[[Kiss Me Quick (song)|Kiss Me Quick]]" as the [[A-side and B-side|flip]], and it was "Kiss Me Quick" which was the favored side, reaching #34 nationally. "Suspicion" peaked at #103.


⚫
"'''Suspicion'''" is a 1962 song originally recorded by [[Elvis Presley]] written by [[Doc Pomus]] and [[Mort Shuman]]. It became a major hit in 1964 in a recording by Elvis Presley sound-alike [[Terry Stafford]].
The song was published by Elvis Presley Music, Inc.<ref>[http://www.45cat.com/record/nc822088us Suspicion. 45cat. The label of the 45 gives the publisher as "Elvis Presley Music, Inc." on the left side,]</ref>


⚫
==Elvis Presley version==
In Australia "Kiss Me Quick" and "Suspicion" appeared on the chart as a [[A-side and B-side#Double A-side|double A-side hit]] with a #56 peak: the actual format for this Australian release was a four track [[extended play|EP]] entitled ''Elvis Sings Kiss Me Quick'' which featured "Kiss Me Quick" and "Suspicion" as A-side tracks with a B-side composed of "[[Sentimental Me]]" and "I Want You With Me".
⚫
One of 25 songs written by Pomus and Shuman for Elvis Presley, "Suspicion" was recorded by Presley on March 19, 1962, in [[RCA Studio B|Studio B]] of [[RCA Victor|RCA]]'s [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]] studio and issued on Presley's album ''[[Pot Luck (Elvis Presley album)|Pot Luck]]'' released on June 15, 1962. In April 1964, when the Terry Stafford version of "Suspicion" (recorded in May 1962 as a demo) was in the Top Ten of the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], the Presley original was given a US single release with "[[Kiss Me Quick (Elvis Presley song)|Kiss Me Quick]]" as the [[A-side and B-side|flip]], and it was "Kiss Me Quick" which was the favored side, reaching {{Numero|34}} nationally. "Suspicion" peaked at {{Numero|103}}. The song was published by Elvis Presley Music, Inc.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/nc822088us|title=45cat - Terry Stafford - Suspicion / Judy - Crusader - USA - C-101|website=45cat.com|access-date=May 29, 2023}}</ref>

⚫
"Suspicion" was also issued as a single in several European territories to vie with the Terry Stafford version with the Presley version charting in the Netherlands and the Dutch chart for Belgium with respective peaks of #9 and #6 and also in Norway where its chart peak was #9 and in Denmark where it peaked at #3:<ref>http://danskehitlister.dk/?song_id=587</ref> in its European single release "Suspicion" featured "[[It Hurts Me]]" as B-side.


⚫
In [[Australia]], "Kiss Me Quick" and "Suspicion" appeared on the chart as a [[A-side and B-side#Double A-side|double A-side hit]] with a {{Numero|56}} peak: the actual format for this Australian release was a four-track [[extended play|EP]] entitled ''Elvis Sings Kiss Me Quick'' which featured "Kiss Me Quick" and "Suspicion" as A-side tracks with a B-side composed of "[[Sentimental Me]]" and "I Want You With Me". "Suspicion" was also issued as a single in several European territories to vie with the Terry Stafford version with the Presley version charting in the Netherlands and the Dutch chart for Belgium with respective peaks of #9 and #6 and also in Norway where its chart peak was #9 and in Denmark where it peaked at #3:<ref>{{cite web | url=http://danskehitlister.dk/?song_id=587 | website=Danskehitlister.dk |title=Velkommen }}</ref> in its European single release "Suspicion" featured "[[It Hurts Me]]" as B-side. "Suspicion" would belatedly afford Presley a Top Ten hit in the UK where its December 1976 single release rose to a peak of {{Numero|9}} on the chart dated February 5, 1977.
"Suspicion" would belatedly afford Presley a Top Ten hit in the UK where its December 1976 single release would rise to a peak of #9 on the chart dated February 5, 1977.


==Terry Stafford version==
==Terry Stafford version==
After an unsuccessful 1963 affiliation with [[A&M Records]], Terry Stafford cut a [[demo (music)|demo]] of "Suspicion" at the Los Angeles studio of Bob Summers: Summers, best known as the producer of the 1959 [[Larry Hall]] hit "Sandy", played all the instruments on the demo which Stafford and Stafford's manager pitched to record companies in the Los Angeles area and also to local radio stations including [[KFWB]] where [[radio personality|disc jockey]] Gene Weed was impressed enough with the demo to take it next door to the headquarters of the newly formed Crusader Records. John Fisher, the president of Crusader, spent several hours remastering the demo with the resultant track becoming the second single released on Crusader.<ref>[http://keepkey.yochanan.net/terry.htm Terry Stafford "Suspicion" homepage]</ref> The arrangement included rhythmic backing accompaniment with an [[Ondioline]], an idiosyncratic French-built electronic keyboard.<ref>[http://wfmu.org/playlists/shows/69302 [[Irwin Chusid]]: [[WFMU]] Playlist from November 2, 2016], featuring Wally ([[Gotye]]) De Backer discussing the Ondioline part on "Suspicion"</ref>
After an unsuccessful affiliation with [[A&M Records]], Terry Stafford cut a [[demo (music)|demo]] of "Suspicion" at the Los Angeles studio of Bob Summers. Summers, best known as the producer of the 1959 [[Larry Hall (singer)|Larry Hall]] hit "Sandy", played all the instruments on the demo which Stafford and Stafford's manager pitched to record companies in the Los Angeles area and also to local radio stations including [[KFWB]] where [[radio personality|disc jockey]] Gene Weed was impressed enough with the demo to take it next door to the headquarters of the newly formed Crusader Records. John Fisher, the president of Crusader, spent several hours remastering the demo with the resultant track becoming the second single released on Crusader.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://keepkey.yochanan.net/terry.htm|title=Terry Stafford Suspicion Home Page|website=Keepkey.yochanan.net|access-date=May 29, 2023}}</ref> The arrangement included rhythmic backing accompaniment with an [[Ondioline]], an idiosyncratic French-built electronic keyboard.<ref>[[Irwin Chusid]]: [[WFMU]] [http://wfmu.org/playlists/shows/69302 Playlist from November 2, 2016], featuring Wally ([[Gotye]]) De Backer discussing the Ondioline part on "Suspicion"</ref>


After breaking out in [[San Bernardino, California|San Bernardino]] in January 1964 "Suspicion" had its top-tier market breakout in Los Angeles in February 1964 peaking in March 1964 at respectively number 2 and number 4 on the [[hit parade]]s of [[KRLA]] and KFWB<ref>[http://www.las-solanas.com/arsa/charts_item.php?hsid=10230 ARSA Airheads Radio Survey Archive]</ref> and then quickly spread east, hitting number 1 on [[WLS (AM)|WLS]] (Chicago) for most of April.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oldiesloon.com/il/wls041064.htm|title=WLS Silver Dollar Survey|date=1964-04-10|accessdate=2019-04-20}}</ref> Nationally "Suspicion" rose from number 7 to number 6 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] dated 4 April 1964, when the chart's top five hits were all by [[the Beatles]]. "Suspicion" broke the Beatles' monopoly on the top five spots on the chart by rising to #3, its peak position, the next week.<ref>[http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7318700/the-fab-five-on-this-date-in-1964-the-beatles-ranked-nos-1-5-on "The Fab Five: On This Date in 1964, The Beatles Ranked Nos. 1-5 on the Hot 100," Billboard.com]</ref> Stafford's "Suspicion" reached #31 in the [[UK Singles Chart]], and also #3 in Canada. <ref>[http://hitsofalldecades.com/chart_hits/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2006&Itemid=52 Canada's (Ted Kennedy) Weekly Single Charts from 1964]</ref>
After breaking out in [[San Bernardino, California|San Bernardino]] in January 1964 "Suspicion" had its top-tier market breakout in Los Angeles in February 1964 peaking in March 1964 at respectively number 2 and number 4 on the [[hit parade]]s of [[KRLA]] and KFWB<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.las-solanas.com/arsa/charts_item.php?hsid=10230|title=ARSA Airheads Radio Survey Archive|website=Las-solanas.com|access-date=May 29, 2023}}</ref> and then quickly spread east, hitting number 1 on [[WLS (AM)|WLS]] (Chicago) for most of April.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oldiesloon.com/il/wls041064.htm|title=WLS Silver Dollar Survey|date=1964-04-10|access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref> Nationally "Suspicion" rose from number 7 to number 6 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] dated 4 April 1964, when the chart's top five hits were all by [[the Beatles]]. "Suspicion" broke the Beatles' monopoly on the top five spots on the chart by rising to #3, its peak position, the next week.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/the-fab-five-on-this-date-in-1964-the-beatles-ranked-nos-1-5-on/|title=The Fab Five: On This Date in 1964, The Beatles Ranked Nos. 1-5 on the Hot 100|first=Gary|last=Trust|website=Billboard.com|date=April 4, 2016|access-date=May 29, 2023}}</ref> Stafford's "Suspicion" reached #31 in the [[UK Singles Chart]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/11096/terry-stafford/|title=TERRY STAFFORD &#124; full Official Chart History |website=Officialcharts.com|access-date=May 29, 2023}}</ref> and also #3 in Canada.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://hitsofalldecades.com/chart_hits/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2006&Itemid=52 |title=Archived copy |access-date=June 2, 2017 |archive-date=January 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119120054/http://hitsofalldecades.com/chart_hits/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2006&Itemid=52 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


==Cover versions==
==Cover versions==
"Suspicion" first became a [[Hot Country Songs|C&W chart]] hit in 1971 via a remake by [[Bobby G. Rice]] which reached #33 C&W, with the track being included on Rice's debut album ''Hit After Hit''. In 1988 "Suspicion" charted for [[Ronnie McDowell]] whose version, taken from McDowell's ''I'm Still Missing You'' album, reached #27 C&W.<ref name="whitburn2013">{{cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|title=Hot Country Songs 1944–2012|publisher=Record Research, Inc|page=217|year=2013|isbn=978-0-89820-203-8}}</ref>
"Suspicion" first became a [[Hot Country Songs|C&W chart]] hit in 1971 via a remake by [[Bobby G. Rice]] which reached #33 C&W, with the track being included on Rice's debut album ''Hit After Hit''.


In 1988 "Suspicion" charted for [[Ronnie McDowell]] whose version, taken from McDowell's ''I'm Still Missing You'' album, reached #27 C&W.<ref name="whitburn2013">{{cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|title=Hot Country Songs 1944–2012|publisher=Record Research, Inc|page=217|year=2013|isbn=978-0-89820-203-8}}</ref>
In 1964, [[Hong Kong]] songstress [[Rebecca Pan]] covered '"Suspicion" on her LP album ''I Love You'', released by Diamond Records.


In 2005, [[Bahamians|Bahamian]] singer composer [[Diana Hamilton]] covered '"Suspicion" on her LP album ''A Bahamian in Paris'', in collaboration with Eric Henri-Gréard, songwriter Florian Lacour, and produced by Patrick Rouchon.
In 1964, [[Hong Kong]] singer [[Rebecca Pan]] covered '"Suspicion" on her LP album ''I Love You'', released by Diamond Records.


In 2005, [[Bahamians|Bahamian]] singer-composer Diana Hamilton covered '"Suspicion" on her LP album ''A Bahamian in Paris'', in collaboration with Eric Henri-Gréard, songwriter Florian Lacour, and produced by Patrick Rouchon.
⚫
A maniacal version of the song was recorded by [[Vivian Stanshall]], produced by [[Keith Moon]].


⚫
A maniacal version of the song was recorded by [[Vivian Stanshall]], and produced by [[Keith Moon]].
⚫
"Suspicion" has also been covered by [[Jimmy London (reggae singer)|Jimmy London]], [[Millicent Martin]], and [[Delroy Wilson]].

⚫
"Suspicion" has also been covered by [[Jimmy London (reggae singer)|Jimmy London]], [[Millicent Martin]], [[Larry Marshall (singer)|Larry Marshall]] and [[Delroy Wilson]].


==Phil Spector composition claim==
==Phil Spector composition claim==
In a 2002 interview with journalist [[Mick Brown (journalist)|Mick Brown]], [[record producer]] [[Phil Spector]] claimed he wrote and/or produced "Suspicion", but did not receive credit: "I made 'Suspicion' for Terry Stafford -- I didn't get any credit or any money. I didn't care. I just loved making records."<ref name="wall">''[[Tearing Down the Wall of Sound]]'' by Mick Brown, pp 375.</ref> However, in the same interview, Spector also made claims of producing records by [[Elvis Presley]] without credit, and acting as a [[translator]] for the [[United Nations]] while a teenager;<ref name="wall" /> none of these unlikely claims have been corroborated by anyone else.
In a 2002 interview with journalist [[Mick Brown (journalist)|Mick Brown]], [[record producer]] [[Phil Spector]] claimed he wrote and/or produced "Suspicion", but did not receive credit: "I made 'Suspicion' for Terry Stafford -- I didn't get any credit or any money. I didn't care. I just loved making records."<ref name="wall">''[[Tearing Down the Wall of Sound]]'' by Mick Brown, p. 375.</ref>
==See also==
* [[List of one-hit wonders in the United States#1960s|List of 1960s one-hit wonders in the United States]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{Ronnie McDowell}}
{{Ronnie McDowell}}
{{Elvis Presley singles}}
{{Elvis Presley singles}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:1964 singles]]
[[Category:1964 singles]]
Line 138: Line 138:
[[Category:Ronnie McDowell songs]]
[[Category:Ronnie McDowell songs]]
[[Category:1962 songs]]
[[Category:1962 songs]]
[[Category:RCA Victor singles]]
[[Category:Bobby G. Rice songs]]
[[Category:Bobby G. Rice songs]]
[[Category:Phil Spector]]
[[Category:Works of uncertain authorship]]

Latest revision as of 04:56, 4 December 2024

"Suspicion"
Single by Terry Stafford
from the album Suspicion!
B-side"Judy"
ReleasedFebruary 1964
RecordedMay 2, 1962 ("Suspicion"); late 1963 ("Judy")
GenrePop, rock and roll
Length2:27
LabelCrusader C 101
Songwriter(s)Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman
Producer(s)John Fisher
Terry Stafford singles chronology
"You Left Me Here To Cry (Come On Home)"
(1963) 		"Suspicion"
(1964) 		"I'll Touch a Star"
(1964)
"Suspicion"
Single by Elvis Presley
from the album Pot Luck
A-sideUnited States "Kiss Me Quick"
Europe Suspicion
B-sideUnited States Suspicion Europe "It Hurts Me"
ReleasedUnited States April 16, 1964
Europe May 1964
RecordedMarch 19, 1962
GenrePop
Length2:35
LabelRCA Victor United States 447-0639
Europe 47-9533
Songwriter(s)Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman
Elvis Presley singles chronology
"United States "Kissin' Cousins"
Europe "Viva Las Vegas""
(1964) 		"Suspicion"
(1964) 		"United States "What'd I Say"
Europe "Kissin' Cousins""
(1964)
"Suspicion"
Single by Elvis Presley
from the album Pot Luck
A-side"Kiss Me Quick"/ "Suspicion"
B-side"Sentimental Me"/
"I Want You With Me"
ReleasedMay 1964
RecordedMarch 19, 1962
GenrePop
Length2:35
LabelRCA Victor 20277
Songwriter(s)Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman
Elvis Presley singles chronology
"Australia "C'mon Everybody" EP"
(1964) 		"Suspicion"
(1964) 		"Australia"Such a Night""
(1964)
"Suspicion"
Single by Elvis Presley
from the album Elvis in Demand United Kingdom
B-side"It's a Long Lonely Highway"
ReleasedNovember 26, 1976
RecordedMarch 9, 1962
GenrePop
Length2:35 Spanish
LabelRCA Victor 2768
Songwriter(s)Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman
Elvis Presley singles chronology
"United Kingdom "The Girl of My Best Friend""
(1976) 		"Suspicion"
(1976) 		"United Kingdom "Moody Blue""
(1977)

"Suspicion" is a 1962 song originally recorded by Elvis Presley written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. It became a major hit in 1964 in a recording by Elvis Presley sound-alike Terry Stafford.

Elvis Presley version

[edit]

One of 25 songs written by Pomus and Shuman for Elvis Presley, "Suspicion" was recorded by Presley on March 19, 1962, in Studio B of RCA's Nashville studio and issued on Presley's album Pot Luck released on June 15, 1962. In April 1964, when the Terry Stafford version of "Suspicion" (recorded in May 1962 as a demo) was in the Top Ten of the Billboard Hot 100, the Presley original was given a US single release with "Kiss Me Quick" as the flip, and it was "Kiss Me Quick" which was the favored side, reaching No. 34 nationally. "Suspicion" peaked at No. 103. The song was published by Elvis Presley Music, Inc.[1]

In Australia, "Kiss Me Quick" and "Suspicion" appeared on the chart as a double A-side hit with a No. 56 peak: the actual format for this Australian release was a four-track EP entitled Elvis Sings Kiss Me Quick which featured "Kiss Me Quick" and "Suspicion" as A-side tracks with a B-side composed of "Sentimental Me" and "I Want You With Me". "Suspicion" was also issued as a single in several European territories to vie with the Terry Stafford version with the Presley version charting in the Netherlands and the Dutch chart for Belgium with respective peaks of #9 and #6 and also in Norway where its chart peak was #9 and in Denmark where it peaked at #3:[2] in its European single release "Suspicion" featured "It Hurts Me" as B-side. "Suspicion" would belatedly afford Presley a Top Ten hit in the UK where its December 1976 single release rose to a peak of No. 9 on the chart dated February 5, 1977.

Terry Stafford version

[edit]

After an unsuccessful affiliation with A&M Records, Terry Stafford cut a demo of "Suspicion" at the Los Angeles studio of Bob Summers. Summers, best known as the producer of the 1959 Larry Hall hit "Sandy", played all the instruments on the demo which Stafford and Stafford's manager pitched to record companies in the Los Angeles area and also to local radio stations including KFWB where disc jockey Gene Weed was impressed enough with the demo to take it next door to the headquarters of the newly formed Crusader Records. John Fisher, the president of Crusader, spent several hours remastering the demo with the resultant track becoming the second single released on Crusader.[3] The arrangement included rhythmic backing accompaniment with an Ondioline, an idiosyncratic French-built electronic keyboard.[4]

After breaking out in San Bernardino in January 1964 "Suspicion" had its top-tier market breakout in Los Angeles in February 1964 peaking in March 1964 at respectively number 2 and number 4 on the hit parades of KRLA and KFWB[5] and then quickly spread east, hitting number 1 on WLS (Chicago) for most of April.[6] Nationally "Suspicion" rose from number 7 to number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 dated 4 April 1964, when the chart's top five hits were all by the Beatles. "Suspicion" broke the Beatles' monopoly on the top five spots on the chart by rising to #3, its peak position, the next week.[7] Stafford's "Suspicion" reached #31 in the UK Singles Chart,[8] and also #3 in Canada.[9]

Cover versions

[edit]

"Suspicion" first became a C&W chart hit in 1971 via a remake by Bobby G. Rice which reached #33 C&W, with the track being included on Rice's debut album Hit After Hit.

In 1988 "Suspicion" charted for Ronnie McDowell whose version, taken from McDowell's I'm Still Missing You album, reached #27 C&W.[10]

In 1964, Hong Kong singer Rebecca Pan covered '"Suspicion" on her LP album I Love You, released by Diamond Records.

In 2005, Bahamian singer-composer Diana Hamilton covered '"Suspicion" on her LP album A Bahamian in Paris, in collaboration with Eric Henri-Gréard, songwriter Florian Lacour, and produced by Patrick Rouchon.

A maniacal version of the song was recorded by Vivian Stanshall, and produced by Keith Moon.

"Suspicion" has also been covered by Jimmy London, Millicent Martin, Larry Marshall and Delroy Wilson.

Phil Spector composition claim

[edit]

In a 2002 interview with journalist Mick Brown, record producer Phil Spector claimed he wrote and/or produced "Suspicion", but did not receive credit: "I made 'Suspicion' for Terry Stafford -- I didn't get any credit or any money. I didn't care. I just loved making records."[11]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "45cat - Terry Stafford - Suspicion / Judy - Crusader - USA - C-101". 45cat.com. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  2. ^ "Velkommen". Danskehitlister.dk.
  3. ^ "Terry Stafford Suspicion Home Page". Keepkey.yochanan.net. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  4. ^ Irwin Chusid: WFMU Playlist from November 2, 2016, featuring Wally (Gotye) De Backer discussing the Ondioline part on "Suspicion"
  5. ^ "ARSA Airheads Radio Survey Archive". Las-solanas.com. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  6. ^ "WLS Silver Dollar Survey". April 10, 1964. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  7. ^ Trust, Gary (April 4, 2016). "The Fab Five: On This Date in 1964, The Beatles Ranked Nos. 1-5 on the Hot 100". Billboard.com. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  8. ^ "TERRY STAFFORD | full Official Chart History". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  9. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on January 19, 2018. Retrieved June 2, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Hot Country Songs 1944–2012. Record Research, Inc. p. 217. ISBN 978-0-89820-203-8.
  11. ^ Tearing Down the Wall of Sound by Mick Brown, p. 375.
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