"Miss You Nights" is a song written by

Dave Townsend Dave Townsend is a British songwriter, lyricist, and singer, and was born in Somerset, in South West England. Aside from a solo career, he was also a vocalist for The Alan Parsons Project, singing lead vocals on "Don't Let it Show" on the album, ...

and made famous worldwide by

Cliff Richard Sir Cliff Richard (born Harry Rodger Webb; 14 October 1940) is an Indian-born British musican, singer, producer, entrepreneur and philanthropist who holds both British and Barbadian citizenship. He has total sales of over 21.5 million s ...

. The song has been recorded by numerous other artists, most notably

Westlife Westlife is an Irish pop vocal group formed in Dublin, Ireland in 1998. The group currently consists of members Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Kian Egan, and Nicky Byrne. Brian McFadden was a member, until he left in 2004. The group temporarily di ...

, who released it as the second track on a

double A-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record company ...

single in 2003. The Westlife single reached number 3 in the UK singles chart.

Background

Townsend wrote the song in 1974 while his girlfriend was away on holiday. He recorded it on an album for

Island Records Island Records is a multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded in 1959 by Chris Blackwell, Graeme Goodall, and Leslie Kong in Jamaica, and was eventually sold to PolyGram in 1989. Island and A&M Records, anoth ...

, but the label shelved the album and decided to recoup part of the cost of the unreleased album through cover deals. Some demo tapes were handed to

Bruce Welch Bruce Welch (born 2 November 1941 as Bruce Cripps) is an English guitarist, songwriter, producer, singer and businessman best known as a founding member of the Shadows. Biography Welch's parents (Stan Cripps and Grace Welch) moved him to 15 B ...

The Shadows The Shadows (originally known as the Drifters) were an English instrumental rock group, who dominated the British popular music charts in the late 1950s and early 1960s, in the pre- Beatles era. They served as the backing band for Cliff Richard ...

who also worked as producer for Cliff Richard and was looking for songs to revitalize his career. Welch immediately recognized it as a hit - "

Andrew Powell Andrew Powell (born 18 April 1949) is an English musical composer, arranger and performer, born of Welsh parents. He himself moved to Wales in 2003. Early life Powell was born Surrey, England. He began piano lessons at the age of four and late ...

's string arrangement helped to make it a great love song through its imagery and potent feelings of longing and loneliness". Welch and Cliff recorded it in September 1975. Of the song and its writer Cliff said: "I think it's one of the nicest songs I’ve ever made... when I heard his version it was terrific. He ownsendwas pleased to have that happen. I mean it could have been anybody and it would have been a hit."

Original release

Cliff Richard released ''Miss You Nights'' on 14 November 1975 as the lead single from his studio album ''

I'm Nearly Famous ''I'm Nearly Famous'' is the eighteenth studio album by Cliff Richard, released in May 1976. The album is considered one of his finest works and is held as the album which brought about Cliff Richard's revival as a major chart act. The lead ...

''. It entered the British Top 20 and in March 1976, reached #15 in the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

. Chart performance Album appearances ''Miss You Nights'' was first included on Richard's 1976 studio album ''

''. As one of Richard's most enduring songs, it has been included on many of his compilation albums. The most notable of these compilation albums and albums with alternative versions are: *1977: '' 40 Golden Greats'' *1979: '' Thank You Very Much'' (1978 live version) *1981: ''

Love Songs A love song is a song about romantic love, falling in love, heartbreak after a breakup, and the feelings that these experiences bring. A comprehensive list of even the best known performers and composers of love songs would be a large order. ...

'' *1983: '' Dressed for the Occasion'' (1982 live version with the

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) is a British symphony orchestra based in London, that performs and produces primarily classic works. The RPO was established by Thomas Beecham in 1946. In its early days, the orchestra secured profitable ...

) *1990: '' From a Distance: The Event'' box-set edition. An

a cappella ''A cappella'' (, also , ; ) music is a performance by a singer or a singing group without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. The term ''a cappella'' was originally intended to differentiate between Ren ...

version with Coro Croz Corona (choir) was included on a single-sided 7" vinyl record. *1994: '' The Hit List'' *2005: ''From a Distance: The Event'' (1989 live version, but only included on the 2005 re-release containing the full original live concert track-listing) *2008: ''

The 50th Anniversary Album ''The 50th Anniversary Album'' is a compilation album by Cliff Richard. The album was released by EMI on 3 November 2008 to mark his 50th Anniversary as a recording artist. The album features 50 tracks across two CDs. It includes Richard's 50 ...

'' *2015: ''

75 at 75 ''75 at 75'' is a three-CD compilation album by British singer Cliff Richard, released in 2015. The album contains 75 tracks spanning Richard's career of more than 55 years and was released to coincide with his 75th birthday. The album includes ...

'' *2018: '' Rise Up'' (original vocals with new backing by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra)

Cliff Richard 1994 re-release

In 1994, Cliff Richard re-released the song on a

single with "

All I Have to Do Is Dream "All I Have to Do Is Dream" is a song made famous by the Everly Brothers, written by Boudleaux Bryant of the husband-and-wife songwriting team Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, and published in 1958. The song is ranked No. 141 on the ''Rolling Stone' ...

", which was listed first. "All I Have to Do Is Dream", originally by

The Everly Brothers The Everly Brothers were an American rock duo, known for steel-string acoustic guitar playing and close harmony singing. Consisting of Isaac Donald "Don" Everly (February 1, 1937 – August 21, 2021) and Phillip "Phil" Everly (January 19, 1939 ...

was recorded as a live duet with

Phil Everly The Everly Brothers were an American rock music, rock duo, known for steel-string acoustic guitar playing and close harmony singing. Consisting of Isaac Donald "Don" Everly (February 1, 1937 – August 21, 2021) and Phillip "Phil" Everly (Januar ...

, while "Miss You Nights" is a remix of the 1976 original. The double A-side single reached #14 in the UK singles chart. Track list: CD1: #"

" #"Miss You Nights" #" When Will I Be Loved" #"Tribute to the Legends - Medley" CD2: #"All I Have to Do Is Dream" #"Miss You Nights" #"

True Love Ways "True Love Ways" is a song attributed to Norman Petty and Buddy Holly. Buddy Holly's original was recorded with the Dick Jacobs Orchestra in October 1958, four months before the singer's death. It was first released on the posthumous album '' Th ...

" #"Party Megamix" Chart performance

Westlife version

released "

Tonight Tonight may refer to: Television * ''Tonight'' (1957 TV programme), a 1957–1965 British current events television programme hosted by Cliff Michelmore that was broadcast on BBC * ''Tonight'' (1975 TV programme), a 1975–1979 British current ...

" and "Miss You Nights" together in 2003 as a

single in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

(with "Tonight" listed first). However it was "Tonight" rather than "Miss You Nights" that received most of the radio airplay. The single reached number 3 in both the UK and Scotland. In all other countries where the single charted, only "Tonight" is listed as the charting track. In some countries "Miss You Nights" was excluded from the single altogether. The song was composed in the traditional

verse–chorus form Verse–chorus form is a musical form going back to the 1840s, in such songs as "Oh! Susanna", "The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze", and many others. It became passé in the early 1900s, with advent of the AABA (with verse) form in the Tin ...

A major A major (or the key of A) is a major scale based on A, with the pitches A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. Its key signature has three sharps. Its relative minor is F-sharp minor and its parallel minor is A minor. The key of A major is the only k ...

and in this rendition Filan, McFadden and Feehily's vocal ranges from the chords of E₄ to B₅. Chart performance

Other versions

Cliff Richard also recorded two more versions of the song as duets: *2004: With

Elaine Paige Elaine Jill Paige (née Bickerstaff; born 5 March 1948) is an English singer and actress, best known for her work in musical theatre. Raised in Barnet, Hertfordshire, Paige attended the Aida Foster Theatre School, making her first professiona ...

, included on her album ''Centre Stage: The Very Best of Elaine Paige'' *2005: With G4 on their album ''

G4 & Friends ''G4 & Friends'' is the second album released by X Factor runner-up group, G4. It entered at #6 in the UK charts with first week sales of 97,100. The album includes the band singing with guest stars Cliff Richard, Lesley Garrett and Robin Gibb. ...

'', later also included on Cliff Richard's 2006 album '' Two's Company - The Duets'' Other covers include: *1976:

Diane Solomon Diane Solomon is an American singer, songwriter and nutritionist, who was part of the group who represented Luxembourg in the Eurovision Song Contest 1985, in which they sang "Children, Kinder, Enfants". They received 37 points and finished in thi ...

on her album ''Mixed Feelings'' *1977:

Marie Osmond Olive Marie Osmond (born October 13, 1959) is an American singer, actress, television host, and a member of the show business family the Osmonds. Although she was never part of her family's singing group, she gained success as a country and pop ...

on her album ''

This Is the Way That I Feel ''This Is the Way That I Feel'' is the name of the fourth solo studio album released by American country music singer, Marie Osmond. This was Osmond's first album under the Polydor/Kolob label, following her departure from MGM Records. It was rele ...

'' *1978:

Dobie Gray Dobie Gray (born Lawrence Darrow Brown; July 26, 1940 – December 6, 2011) was an American singer and songwriter whose musical career spanned soul, country, pop, and musical theater. His hit songs included " The 'In' Crowd" in 1965 and "Dr ...

on his album ''Midnight Diamond'' *1979:

Art Garfunkel Arthur Ira Garfunkel (born November 5, 1941) is an American singer, poet, and actor. He is best known for his partnership with Paul Simon in the folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel. Highlights of Garfunkel's solo music career include one top-10 ...

on his album ''

Fate for Breakfast ''Fate for Breakfast'' is the fourth solo studio album by Art Garfunkel, released in March 1979 on Columbia Records. It was his first album to miss the U.S. Billboard Top 40 (charting at a dismal 67) and his first album containing no U.S. Top 40 ...

'' *1979:

The Nolans The Nolans are an Anglo-Irish girl group who formed in Blackpool in 1974 as the Nolan Sisters, before changing their name in 1980. Often referred to as Ireland's ''First Family of Music'', they were the first Irish performing family to achie ...

on their album '' Nolan Sisters'' *1980:

Demis Roussos Artemios "Demis" Ventouris-Roussos ( ; el, Αρτέμιος "Ντέμης" Βεντούρης-Ρούσσος, ; 15 June 1946 – 25 January 2015) was a Greek singer, songwriter and musician. As a band member he is best remembered for his work in ...

on his album '' Man of the World'' *1980:

Roger Whittaker Roger Henry Brough Whittaker (born 22 March 1936) is a British singer-songwriter and musician, who was born in Nairobi to English parents. His music is an eclectic mix of folk music and popular songs in addition to radio airplay hits. He is bes ...

on his album ''You Are My Miracle'' *1981:

Brotherhood of Man Brotherhood of Man are a British pop group who achieved success in the 1970s. They won the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest with "Save Your Kisses for Me". Created in 1969 by songwriter and record producer Tony Hiller, Brotherhood of Man was initia ...

on their album ''

20 Disco Greats / 20 Love Songs ''20 Disco Greats / 20 Love Songs'' is a double album released by British pop group Brotherhood of Man which was released as two separate albums, but sold together as a 'buy one get one free' package, as was the popular trend at the time. Backgr ...

'' *1982:

Carl Wayne Carl Wayne (born Colin David Tooley; 18 August 1943 – 31 August 2004) was an English singer and actor. He is best remembered as the lead singer of The Move in the 1960s. Early days Wayne was born in Winson Green, Birmingham, and grew up in ...

with Choral Union *1983:

Acker Bilk Bernard Stanley "Acker" Bilk, (28 January 1929 – 2 November 2014) was a British clarinetist and vocalist known for his breathy, vibrato-rich, lower-register style, and distinctive appearance – of goatee, bowler hat and striped waistc ...

*1990: Johnny Logan &

The Jordanaires The Jordanaires were an American vocal quartet that formed as a gospel group in 1948. Over the years, they recorded both sacred and secular music for recording companies such as Capitol Records, RCA Victor, Columbia Records, Decca Records, Vocal ...

single from Logan's album ''Love Songs'' *1996:

Randy VanWarmer Randy VanWarmer (also written as Vanwarmer, Van Warmer; March 30, 1955 – January 12, 2004) was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. His biggest success was the pop hit, "Just When I Needed You Most". It reached No. 8 on the UK Single ...

on his album ''Sun, Moon & Stars'' *2001: Smokie on their album ''Uncovered Too'' *2005:

Rick Springfield Richard Lewis Springthorpe (born 23 August 1949), known professionally as Rick Springfield, is an Australian-American musician and actor. He was a member of the pop rock group Zoot from 1969 to 1971, then started his solo career with his debut ...

on his album ''

The Day After Yesterday ''The Day After Yesterday'' is the 14th studio album by Australian singer-songwriter Rick Springfield, released in 2005. It spent a single week on ''Billboards album chart, peaking at #197. The album is composed largely of covers of his favourit ...

References

External links

Second Hand Songs: "Miss You Night" song page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Miss you nights 1975 singles 1994 singles Cliff Richard songs The Nolans songs EMI Records singles 1974 songs