About the song
“Suspicion” is a fascinating piece of music history, capturing a unique moment in the 1960s pop landscape. Performed by Terry Stafford, the song achieved remarkable success in 1964, despite the overwhelming presence of The Beatles on the charts at the time. Stafford’s version of “Suspicion” stands out not only for its catchy melody and engaging rhythm but also for the intriguing backstory behind its creation and rise to fame.
After an unsuccessful stint with A&M Records, Terry Stafford found himself at a crossroads in his career. In a bold move, he decided to record a demo of “Suspicion” at the Los Angeles studio of Bob Summers. Summers, who had previously produced the 1959 hit “Sandy” by Larry Hall, played all the instruments on the demo, creating a distinct sound that would later become a defining feature of the song. The demo’s arrangement included a unique rhythmic backing accompanied by an Ondioline, a quirky French-built electronic keyboard, which added an unusual but captivating element to the track.
Stafford and his manager tirelessly pitched the demo to record companies and radio stations around Los Angeles. Their persistence paid off when Gene Weed, a disc jockey at KFWB, took a liking to the track. Weed introduced the demo to Crusader Records, a newly formed label at the time. John Fisher, Crusader’s president, spent several hours remastering the demo, transforming it into the polished single that would eventually take the airwaves by storm.
“Suspicion” quickly gained traction, first breaking out in San Bernardino in January 1964. By February, it had made its way to Los Angeles, where it peaked at number 2 on KRLA and number 4 on KFWB in March. The song’s popularity continued to grow as it spread across the country, eventually reaching number 1 on WLS in Chicago, where it dominated the airwaves throughout April 1964.
Nationally, “Suspicion” made a significant impact, climbing to number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 by April 4, 1964. Remarkably, it broke the Beatles’ monopoly on the top five spots of the chart by rising to its peak position of number 3 the following week. This achievement was no small feat, considering the British invasion that was taking place in the U.S. music scene at the time.
The success of “Suspicion” wasn’t limited to the United States. The song also reached number 31 on the UK Singles Chart and peaked at number 3 in Canada, further solidifying Stafford’s brief but notable presence in the international music scene.
Terry Stafford’s “Suspicion” is more than just a hit single; it’s a testament to the power of determination and the ability of a great song to stand out, even in the most competitive of environments. The track’s innovative use of the Ondioline, combined with Stafford’s distinctive vocal delivery and the expert production by Bob Summers, makes “Suspicion” a memorable and enduring piece of pop music history.
Video
Lyrics
Every time you kiss me, I’m still not certain that you love me
Every time you hold me, I’m still not certain that you care
Though you keep on saying you really, really, really love me
Do you say the same words to someone else when I’m not there?
torments my heart
(Suspicion) keeps us apart
(Suspicion) why torture me?
Every time you call me and tell me we should meet tomorrow
I can’t help but think that you’re meeting someone else tonight
Why should our romance just keep on causing me such sorrow?
Why am I so doubtful whenever you are out of sight?
torments my heart
(Suspicion) keeps us apart
(Suspicion) why torture me?
Darling, if you love me, I beg you wait a little longer
Wait until I drive all these foolish fears out of my mind
Why can’t our romance just keep on? You know it’s longer
Maybe I’m suspicious ’cause true love is so hard to find
torments my heart
(Suspicion) keeps us apart
(Suspicion) why torture me?