music.wikisort.org - Composition

"You Showed Me" is a song written by Gene Clark and Jim McGuinn (later known as Roger) of the Byrds in 1964.[1] It was recorded by the Turtles and released as a single at the end of 1968, becoming the group's last big hit in the U.S.[2] The song has also been covered by a number of other bands and artists over the years, including the Lightning Seeds, Salt-n-Pepa, and Lutricia McNeal.[3]

"You Showed Me"
Song by the Byrds
from the album Preflyte
Released	July 29, 1969
Recorded	1964
Studio	World Pacific (Los Angeles)
Genre	Pop
Length	2:05
Label	Together
Songwriter(s)	Gene Clark, Jim McGuinn
Producer(s)	Jim Dickson

The Byrds version

The song was composed by Clark and McGuinn in early 1964 at a time when the pair were performing as a duo at The Troubadour and other folk clubs in and around Los Angeles.[1][4] Critic Matthew Greenwald has described "You Showed Me" as "a minor-key romantic ballad", while also commenting that "the song has a near-Beach Boys feel and ends up being an effervescent piece of moody pop."[5] Music historian Richie Unterberger has remarked that "You Showed Me", like many of the songs that Clark had a hand in writing during the 1960s, contains a mix of major and minor chords arranged in unexpected progressions.[2] He also stated that the song recounts the tale of a lover who is being tutored in the ways of love by a more experienced partner.[2]

Soon after writing "You Showed Me", Clark and McGuinn formed a trio with David Crosby and named themselves the Jet Set.[4] The trio began rehearsing at World Pacific Studios under the guidance of their manager Jim Dickson, with Michael Clarke and Chris Hillman joining the group soon afterward.[6] Dickson recorded many of the Jet Set's rehearsal sessions at World Pacific and it was during this time that demos of "You Showed Me" were recorded by the band.[1][7] The song was soon abandoned by the group, who had now changed their name to the Byrds, and was not included on their debut album, Mr. Tambourine Man.[8][9] However, recordings of "You Showed Me" by the Byrds, dating from 1964, were released on the archival albums Preflyte, In the Beginning, The Prefylte Sessions, and Preflyte Plus.[1][10]

The Turtles version

"You Showed Me"
Picture sleeve for the US single
Single by the Turtles
from the album The Turtles Present the Battle of the Bands
B-side	"Buzz Saw"
Released	December 1968
Genre	Psychedelic pop[11]
Length	3:16
Label	White Whale
Songwriter(s)	Jim McGuinn, Gene Clark
Producer(s)	Chip Douglas
The Turtles singles chronology
"Elenore" (1968) "You Showed Me" (1968) "House on the Hill" (1969)

In 1968, the song was recorded by the Turtles as part of their album The Turtles Present the Battle of the Bands.[12] It was also released as a single in 1968, reaching No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.[13]

"You Showed Me" had been introduced to the Turtles by their producer and former bass player, Chip Douglas, who had first become acquainted with the song after hearing Clark, McGuinn, and Crosby perform it at The Troubadour in 1964.[14] Douglas had also performed the song with Clark during 1966, while he was a member of Gene Clark and the Group.[2] Although the song had originally been an uptempo number, Douglas first demonstrated it for the Turtles' vocalists Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman on a harmonium with a broken bellows, requiring him to play the song slowly.[15] The slower tempo impressed Kaylan and Volman and consequently, the Turtles' recording of the song uses this slower arrangement. Their version features an accompaniment of strings, including violins, violas, and cellos.

Charts

Salt-n-Pepa version

"You Showed Me"
Artwork for non-US releases
Single by Salt-n-Pepa
from the album Blacks' Magic
B-side	"Let's Talk About Sex" (remix)
Released	November 18, 1991 (1991-11-18)[23]
Length	3:23
Label	Next Plateau
Songwriter(s)	Gene Clark, Jim McGuinn
Producer(s)	The Invincibles, Excalibar
Salt-n-Pepa singles chronology
"Let's Talk About Sex" (1991) "You Showed Me" (1991) "Expression (Hard Ecu Edit)" (1992)

American group Salt-n-Pepa covered the song on their 1990 album, Blacks' Magic. It was released as the fifth and final single from that album. The track reached No. 15 on the UK Singles Chart when it was released as a single in 1991.[24]

Track listing

1. You Showed Me (The Born Again mix) – 3:25
2. You Showed Me (The Born Again club mix) – 5:41
3. Let's Talk About Sex (Universal club) – 7:16

Charts

The Lightning Seeds version

"You Showed Me"
Artwork for standard UK and Australian releases
Single by the Lightning Seeds
from the album Dizzy Heights
Released	1996
Genre	Trip hop pop
Length	4:09
Songwriter(s)	Jim McGuinn Gene Clark
The Lightning Seeds singles chronology
"What If..." (1996) "You Showed Me" (1996) "Sugar Coated Iceberg" (1997)
Music video
"You Showed Me" on YouTube

In 1996, the song was covered in a trip hop style[46] by British alternative rock band the Lightning Seeds and released as a single. It was originally intended to be a B-side to their previous single, "What If...", and utilises loops and samplers from the Turtles original. The song became the Lightning Seeds' most successful chart release (not including the two versions of "Three Lions") reaching No. 8 in the UK.[47] By the time the single was released, drummer Chris Sharrock had left the band to join Robbie Williams' backing group, and new percussionist Zak Starkey took his place in its music video. Additionally, it peaked at No. 4 in Iceland and No. 42 on the Eurochart Hot 100. It was also included on the Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery soundtrack.[46]

Critical reception

Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report wrote, "One of the Turtles' biggest hits comes out of its shell to be artfully re-invented by the Lightning Seeds. A gigantic hit in 1969, it plays well in Mike Myers' newest comedy, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. The film, like the song, doesn't disappoint."[48] A reviewer from Music Week rated it four out of five, adding, "Remixed and reshaped from the version included on Dizzy Heights, it's a moody, atmospheric offering."[49] David Sinclair from The Times viewed it as a "workmanlike version of the song written by Gene Clark and James McGuinn of the Byrds, complete with strings and "scratches"."[50]

Music video

The accompanying black-and-white music video for "You Showed Me" was directed by Pedro Romhanyi.[51]

Track listing

Charts

Chart (1996-1997)	Peak position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[52]	42
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[53]	4
Israel (IBA)[54]	17
Scotland (OCC)[55]	13
UK Singles (OCC)[56]	8

Sampling and controversy

The Turtles version also features a gently rising and falling string section, which was sampled by U2 in 1997 for their song "The Playboy Mansion" on their album Pop.[15]

The American hip hop group De La Soul also sampled the Turtles' recording of "You Showed Me" for their song "Transmitting Live From Mars (Interlude)" on their 1989 album, 3 Feet High and Rising, but did not ask permission or clear the sample. The Turtles took litigation against the group, suing them for $1.7 million. An out-of-court settlement was reached for an undisclosed sum. It is said to be the first time that a hip hop act was ever sued for unethical use of another artist's music.[2]

Other cover versions

The song has also been covered by Lutricia McNeal on her 2002 album, Metroplex.[57] In addition, Kanye West based his song Gorgeous, from his 2010 album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, on elements derived from "You Showed Me".[58] In 2011, the alternative country duo the Watson Twins offered a free download of their cover of "You Showed Me" on their website.[59]

References

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