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I Gotta Know

Rating:
4.2 / 5

Words & Music: Paul Evans Matt Williams

Get up in the mornin' feelin' might weak
A tossin' and a turnin' well, I had ain't no sleep
Oh baby, what road's our love taking?
To romance or heartbreaking'
Won't you say which way you're gonna go
I gotta know, gotta know, gotta know

Nine and nine make fourteen, four and four make nine
The clock is strikin' thirteen I think I lost my mind
You know it's gettin' aggravatin'
How long can I keep waitin'
Tell me if you love me yes or no,
I gotta know, gotta know, gotta know

Oh, how much I need you
Have pity on this heart of mine
Well, if you need and want me too,
I'll be your one and only till the end of time

Saw the fortune teller, had my fortune read
She sent me to the doctor, who sent me straight to bed
He said I'm lonesome and I'm lovesick
I've got my mind on lipstick
Will you kiss away my cares and woe?
I gotta know, gotta know, gotta know

Recordingdate: 1960/04/03, first released on: single (album)

Musicians

Musicians who contributed to the first recording of I Gotta Know:

(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(bass)
(drums)
(drums)
(piano)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(sax)

Availability

Find available albums with I Gotta Know.

old shep wrote on May 02, 2008
This was a good Elvis track, I have heard a few good recordings of this song by other artists, including Bobby Vee but Elvis' is the definitive version
JLpResLey wrote on January 27, 2009
It is a good song. Perhaps nothing special but I have always enjoyed it. Those sessions from 1960 was just amazing.
Pedro Nuno wrote on January 27, 2009
It's a fantastic song, and coupled with others recorded at the same time 1960/1961 (The girl of my best friend, his latest flame, good luck charm, etc.) show us how Elvis was entering the Pop field with top songs. Unfortunately the movies soundtracks were hitting big (something unexplainable for me…) and we all know the path Presley followed.
Steve V wrote on January 27, 2009
This is a great pop song, not so much a rock & roll song. Would have been a perfect A side and I bet a big hit in the early 60's. Elvis was at the top of his game in those 1960 Nashville sessions. His best vocals ever were in this period in my opinion.
dgirl wrote on January 27, 2009
I love this song. Very smooth pop with some great harmonies. I often wondered how these early 60's B sides would have faired as A sides. They were much better then the soundtrack songs chosen for singles later on.
Lex wrote on January 27, 2009
Just love the smoothness of it! So much better than the A-side!
Natha wrote on January 27, 2009
One of those great songs connected with lovely memories! Recorded in the great years this one seems to reach out to the smoother voice Elvis was developing. It shows his craftmanship and why he was on top of it all.
JerryNodak wrote on January 28, 2009
Bouncy, happy song. I've always liked it.
bajo wrote on September 08, 2009
One can one say? A classic! No more no less! Yes, it could have done well as an A side, no doubt! I've always loved this! In fact I love those early 60's singles!
NONE000000 wrote on September 08, 2009
Everybody is on the same page about this one! Great smooth song by the King! Along with "Stuck On You", this really showed a new post-army voice Elvis had developed that could really carry a melody in a smoother, easier way than he had in the 50's. It is really amazing how Elvis managed to basically have a new voice for each decade! His raw exciting 50's vocals, this smooth more polished 60's voice and then his much more adult early 70's vocals. Today singers try to reinvent themselves by changing hairstyles or clothes, but Elvis truly developed as an artist! No gimmicks, but true artistic growth! It's a great and very fun song!
Deano1 wrote on March 05, 2010
Another overlooked gem by many Elvis fans. This song reached #20 when it was released in 1960, but it was overshadowed by it's gigantic A-side "Are You Lonesome Tonight". More of a gliding rock and roll song like "Treat Me Nice" as opposed to hard edge rock and roll, but a delight just the same. 4 1/2 stars.
shoesuedeblues wrote on May 17, 2010
Shame the word didn't get to Elvis that there were a stack of his great 1950s and 60s recordings that fans would have loved him to sing on stage. This is a prime example of one of the forgotten gems,a great song with Elvis' voice at his finest.
derekd wrote on May 17, 2010
Back to 1960, my 1st party as a teenager, my 1st real kiss, Elvis top of the charts with just about every single, great times. The recording of 'I Gotta Know' was just another piece of magic from Elvis. Yes, it was the 'b' side to the monster hit 'Are you lonesome tonight' overwise it would have been top of the charts. 5 stars from me.
sugartummy wrote on March 16, 2013
A great song to play and sing. The backing vocals are also very good on this one.
Gorse wrote on July 26, 2013
A great track, and what I term a sweet rocker, giving that special good feel factor. A big hit in the US but unfortunately the 'B' side to one of the best 'A' sides in the Presley career. So many potential 'A' sides were recorded around this period, and this was yet another one fitting into that category.
Bestoftherest8301 wrote on August 23, 2013
To be fair on RCA, just what are you going to put on the flip side of something like Are You Lonesome Tonight? Maybe this one was too good, but they couldn't leave the flip side blank. And, shoesuedshoes is right, what a cracker to have sung live in the 70's. This is a wonderful song for all the reasons stated here.
GEORGE (GK) wrote on August 24, 2013
Always "Loved" this feel good song. It flows with ease and its perfect ! A Classic !!
ElvisSacramento wrote on August 26, 2013
This is such a tremendous, fun, electrifying and groovy song and Elvis' rendition of it is the definitive version. Elvis' rendition of it should definitely be much better known than it actually is. It's such a shame that RCA didn't find a way to issue Elvis' rendition of it as an A-side.
Stevekimb1 wrote on March 22, 2015
Just a great fun song perfectly in sync with the early 1960's. It still holds up today as a second tier classic in the Elvis canon.
Deke Rivers 6 wrote on June 12, 2015
Early 60s classic tha is neverplayed on te radio.....just my record player
Cruiser621 wrote on October 31, 2015
Flip side of the original 45RPM Single "Are You Lonesome Tonight" issued in 1960 I believe; great song.
Milky White Way wrote on January 18, 2023
Should have been an A side but back in the day the singles were kept separate from LP releases. There would not be enough material left for LP releases, such was his quality. This is better than the A side imo but history proves me wrong. Brilliant smooth soft rocker.
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