“Lies” is a song by The Knickerbockers, an American rock band from the 1960s. The song was released in November of 1965 and became one of the band’s most well-known hits.
“Lies” was written by two of the Knickerbockers, Beau Charles and Buddy Randell. The Knickerbockers’ sound in “Lies” drew inspiration from the British Invasion bands of the time, particularly The Beatles. The song features catchy melodies, harmonies, and a distinct ’60s pop-rock vibe. The tune was produced by Jerry Fuller[1].
We desperately tried to write something that sounded like the British Invasion’. We wrote ‘Lies’ in less than one half hour. We demo-ed it in New York.” After a Jerry Fuller inspired re-arrangement, the track was recorded at Sunset Sound in West Hollywood with Bruce Botnick[2] as the Engineer. Things were not quite right, so the multi-track master was taken to Leon Russell’s house in Hollywood Hills. Jerry Fuller knew Leon and “Leon had this great little studio – just a four track”. The band recorded the vocals there and overdubbed a new guitar part that was recorded from a beat up old Fender guitar amp that gave the guitar sound a meaty, edgy feel
Beau Charles
The Knickerbockers would become regulars on Dick Clark’s Where The Action Is. Their debut album was released a few months later, in early 1966, and was named after the hit, and featured the song on there too. “Lies” peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Personnel
- Buddy Randall – lead vocals
- Beau Charles – guitar, harmonizing vocals
- John Charles – bass, harmonizing vocals
- Jimmy Walker – drums
Covers
Covers of the song “Lies” are popular. Some of them are The Ventures on their 1965 album Where the Action Is, Nancy Sinatra on her 1966 album Boots, The T-Bones on their 1966 album No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach’s In),
Gary Lewis & the Playboys on their 1967 album Gary Lewis & the Playboys, Lulu on her 1966 album From Lulu…with Love, one of my favorites is Styx on their 1974 album Man of Miracles, another excellent one is by a band formed in London in 1975 called Tarney/Spencer Band who released a version on their 1979 album Run for Your Life, Linda Ronstadt on her 1982 album Get Closer,
The Delmonas on their 1985 album Dangerous Charms, The Undead on their 1986 album Never Say Die!, The Landlords on their 1987 EP Our Favorite Songs!, The Basement Wall on their 1993 compilation album There Goes the Neighborhood! Volume 2 Featuring The Basement Wall,
The Fireballs on their 2006 compilation album Firebeat! The Great Lost Vocal Album, The Brymers on their 2007 compilation album Sacrifice, and The Black Belles as the B-side to their 2010 single “What Can I Do?”.
Lies written by Beau Charles and Buddy Randell
Lies, lies, you're tellin' me that you'll be true
Lies, lies
That's all I ever get from you
Tears, tears
I shed a million tears for you
Tears, tears
And now you're lovin' someone new
Someday I'm gonna be happy
But I don't know when just now
Lies, lies
A-breakin' my heart
You think that you're such a smart girl
And I'll believe what you say
But who do you think you are, girl
To lead me on this way hey
Lies, lies
I can't believe a word you say
Lies, lies
Are gonna make you sad someday
Some day you're gonna be lonely
But you won't find me around
Lies, lies
A-breakin' my heart, ah
Someday I'm gonna be happy
But I don't know when just now
Lies, lies
A-breakin' my heart
You think that you're such a smart girl
And I'll believe what you say
But who do you think you are, girl
To lead me on this way hey
Lies (ah), lies (yeah baby)
I can't believe a word you say
Lies, lies
Are gonna make you sad someday
Some day you're gonna be lonely
But you won't find me around
Lies, lies
A-breakin' my heart
I said, baby, now (breakin' my heart)
Oh, yeah, you're still breakin' my heart (breakin' my heart)
Footnotes
- Jerry Fuller is an American musician, songwriter, and producer known for his contributions to the music industry. Born on March 27, 1938, in Fort Worth, Texas, Fuller gained recognition for his work as a producer and songwriter in the 1960s. He has collaborated with various artists, including The Knickerbockers and Ricky Nelson, producing and writing songs that became hits during that era. His notable works include “Lies” by The Knickerbockers and several successful compositions for Ricky Nelson. Fuller’s versatile skills extend to his roles as a singer and performer. His impact on the music scene, particularly in the realm of pop and rock, solidifies his place in the history of American music. [Back]
- Bruce Botnick is an accomplished American audio engineer and record producer, renowned for his significant contributions to the music industry. Born on April 17, 1939, Botnick has played a pivotal role in shaping the sound of numerous iconic albums. He is particularly known for his collaboration with The Doors, serving as the engineer on many of their albums. Botnick’s work extends beyond The Doors, having worked with various artists across different genres. His expertise in the studio and commitment to achieving high-quality sound have made him a respected figure in the field of audio engineering. [Back]
Further Reading
Sources
- Unterberger, R. (n.d.). The Knickerbockers – Biography. AllMusic. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-knickerbockers-mn0000101025/biography
- Discogs. (n.d.). The Knickerbockers – Lies. https://www.discogs.com/The-Knickerbockers-Lies/master/402259
- “Lies (The Knickerbockers song)” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lies_(The_Knickerbockers_song)
- “The Knickerbockers” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Knickerbockers
- “The Knickerbockers – Lies” https://www.discogs.com/release/2310091-The-Knickerbockers-Lies
- Jerry Fuller. (n.d.). AllMusic. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jerry-fuller-mn0000273931
- Jerry Fuller. (n.d.). Discogs. https://www.discogs.com/artist/350893-Jerry-Fuller
- Bruce Botnick. (n.d.). AllMusic. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bruce-botnick-mn0000622205
- Bruce Botnick. (n.d.). Discogs. https://www.discogs.com/artist/229470-Bruce-Botnick
