I first heard the Linda Ronstadt version when I was younger but I’ve grown to like this one just as well. The Everly Brothers version peaked at #8 in the Billboard 100, #16 in Canada and #4 in the UK in 1960.
Linda’s version peaked at #2 in the Billboard 100 and #1 in Canada in 1975.
Phil Everly wrote this in his car, parked outside an A&W root beer stand. He took inspiration from his on-again, off-again romance with Jackie Ertel-Bleyer, the stepdaughter of Cadence Records founder, Archie Bleyer. Phil and Jackie got married in 1963 and divorced in 1972.
From Songfacts
One of their classic songs, this tune finds the Everly Brothers fed up with the constant heartache that leaves them wondering, “When will I be loved?”
The Everly Brothers had already moved from Cadence Records to Warner Bros. when their former label issued this as a single in 1960. Hoping to shift from their signature rockabilly style to mainstream pop-rock, they were already achieving their goal as the pop-oriented “Cathy’s Clown” climbed to #1. The release of “When Will I Be Loved” was not only a throwback to their old sound, but it also threatened to derail their success by splitting airplay among their other tunes. But the public couldn’t get enough of the Everlys and they notched four Top 10 hits that year, including the #8 entry “When Will I Be Loved.”
Linda Ronstadt had even greater success when she released this as the second single from her 1974 album, Heart Like A Wheel. Aside from peaking at #2 on the Hot 100, it became her first #1 hit on the Country chart.
Several other artists have recorded this, including John Denver, Tanya Tucker, Gram Parsons, Rosemary Clooney, Manfred Mann, and The Little River Band, while Dolly Parton frequently included it in her live repertoire. As part of the English folk-rock collective The Bunch, Sandy Denny and Linda Thompson covered it on the 1972 covers album, Rock On. Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds included it on their 1980 EP, Nick Lowe & Dave Edmunds Sing The Everly Brothers. John Fogerty and Bruce Springsteen also recorded it as a duet for Fogerty’s 2009 album, The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again.
Green Day singer Billie Joe Armstrong sang this with Miranda Lambert at the 2014 Grammy Awards in honor of Phil Everly, who died of lung disease earlier that year.
Cabaret singer Amanda McBroom sang this on the 1985 Magnum P.I. episode “Let Me Hear The Music.” Jamison Belushi also performed it on her dad James Belushi’s sitcom According to Jim in the 2008 episode “Jami McFame.”
When Will I Be Loved
I’ve been made blue, I’ve been lied to
When will I be loved
I’ve been turned down, I’ve been pushed around
When will I be loved
When I meet a new girl that I want for mine
She always breaks my heart in two, it happens every time
I’ve been cheated, been mistreated
When will I be loved
When I meet a new girl that I want for mine
She always breaks my heart in two, it happens every time
I’ve been cheated, been mistreated
When will I be loved
When will I be loved
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I heard Linda’s version first, and was turned off by it. Then I heard the Everlys’ version and liked it a lot better.
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She turns it into a pure rock song. It’s hard to beat their voices together.
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Linda has such a powerful voice, I could listen to her all fay long.
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My dad was such an Everly Bros fan. Grew up with all their music. Shame the brothers couldn’t get along.
Ronstadt’s version is good, too. Always liked her music.
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I don’t blame your dad on that one. Their two voices together made a third voice. It is too bad they kept fighting with each other .
I do like Linda’s version but I’ve come to appreciate the Everly Brothers version more and more.
She did have one of the best voices around. So sad to see her silenced…glad she can still talk though.
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Yeah. She is another voice I miss on the radio.
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I don’t hear her as much…and as a guy…she was a looker.
I’ve read the kindest stories of her in her prime with fans.
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She came out in 2013 to say she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Last year, it was changed to PSP…progressive supranuclear palsy. I can’t help but wonder if her cocaine habit was a contributing factor.
She could cause controversy speaking her mind on politics.
She was a very pretty lady.
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They are still learning about Parkinson’s but yea who knows…it could have been.
I’ve seen her interviewed…she responds very well and has her memories or so it seemed.
Didn’t she live with the Gov of California?
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They were together in the 70s. She was also engaged to George Lucas at one time. She never married.
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George Lucas…lucky man.
I was so sad watching that video of her recently. She tried to describe why she can’t sing.
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Well I learned something today! I knew it wasn’t an original of Linda’s but wasn’t aware of its origin. Mmm, I still like Ronstadt’s but I’ve heard it 1000 times to once for the Everlys! Might have to look up the Fogerty/Springsteen version of it…
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Yes she turned it into more of a rock song…I love her version but I’m liking the Everly’s more and more…
Just like their version of Love Hurts…I know Nazereth’s better but I’m starting to really like the Brothers better.
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weird random fact I remember. I love trains (as I thinkI’ve said before on here)and in the early-90s did some fan photog of CP Rail in my hometown. Even got one of my photos of a westbound freight at sunset hanging in the regional managers office. So after awhile, I got a waiver from the company, allowing me to trespass on their property (but absolving them of legal responsibility should I get hit by a 200 ton train) … was told to carry it around when taking pictures because they had two cops that patroled their right of way.And the two cops names were… I kid you not … Don and Phil!
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First of all that is cool that you got permission where other people couldn’t go. That must have awesome for you being that big of fan.
Second…how cool is that with those two cops! That is funny.
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Sweet little poppin’ ditty that sounds good by the wonderful Everlys and their harmony or with Linda’s smooth voice.
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The Everlys were tremendous, and this is a great song. I like both their and Linda Ronstadt’s version, but she looks a lot better doing it…
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I won’t argue with that!
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It’s a great song. They were a great duo. The first song of theirs I heard (that one of my family – probably my sister – had on disc) was Ebony Eyes, an overly sentimental song about love and loss. I still like it but it makes me wince a bit now!! I prefer their later stuff like the one you’ve chosen.
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I remember hearing that song. When artists talk in songs…it never holds up well.
Their voices together made one other voice…
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