"Needle in a Haystack" - The Twilights (1966)

The Twilights were a very important and successful '60s pop band in Australia. This song was their highest charting hit single. Lead singer, Glenn Shorrock, had further success with the Little River Band. This song was originally released by US black girl group The Velvelettes, peaking at #45 on the Billboard Hot 100 in mid-1964. Their version is also very good.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Needle
• in
• Haystack
• The
• Twilights
• Glenn
• Shorrock
• '60s
• pop
• Melbourne

[blackteacher1]

This is a very nice cover of the Velvelettes hit Needle in a haystack. Glenlyons98, I don't agree that this was a minor hit in the US for the black girl group the Velvelettes, as written in your description. This was a major hit in the US for this group. With the Velvelettes hit, I can feel what they're singing..singing like they know what they're talking about, unsure about the Twilights, but again, I do like it. Thank you for posting.

[glenlyons98]

In the interests of accuracy I've changed the video description to state that The Velvelettes version peaked at #45 on the Billboard Top 100 in 1964. I think you're right about the difference in feel between the versions but I like The Twilights' rockier arrangement.

[glenlyons98]

Gentlemen, please relax. During the '60s Australia had a population of about 10 million compared to the US of over 250 million. We produced a few strongly original bands (The Easybeats, The Loved Ones, Wild Cherries, Masters Apprentices et al) in the '60s compared to the 50-100 from the US and UK. It's a relativity thing. White British & UK bands copied from black US R&B and blues artists and Oz artists copied from the white versions. So credit where credit is due...

[z30soulbrother]

i believe the origional version was by the velvelettes 1964 tamla motown .... i think thats the version you recall.....? i dont know of an earlier version

[TheNukarnifc]

What ever happened to one of the founding members of The Checkmates, Billy Volraat? The Band that became The Twilights?

[Larrikins54]

Hell who cares who did which to whom in what order - this is a great track and if it doesn't get people up to dance I'd give up.

[1551952]

I thought these guys were a gas live and sharrock well look what happened to him .

[xmasforme]

Hey I loved them in the sixties awesome..

i used to go to the oxford club in Adelaide every Saturday Night.

They were packed out

[CruzaJS]

I knew the Twilights before they were famous. Aren't they just GREAT! Love this song, and all the others they did. P.S. I am 60 this month.

[ronniewylie]

Wonderful, wow

[denidowi]

@anitashelby Yes; Great song and certainly, a very good footage of the guys :)

[denidowi]

I don't know about the "Billboard", but in most places all around Australia, I can distinctly remember this song being #1 for quite some weeks, in fact.

It was No 1 for 4 weeks on the Melbourne radio station 3DB charts that were printed every Monday morning in "The Sun" newspaper. I used to keep a record of them :)

[irishgodfatherchris]

jeez look how young Glenn looks

[Lenasupersonic]

oh godness, i love that.