Liar, Liar (The Castaways song)

"Liar, Liar"
Single by The Castaways
B-side	"Sam"
Released	1965
Genre	Rock
Length	1:51
Label	Soma
Songwriter(s)	James Donna and Denny Craswell

"Liar, Liar" is a song by The Castaways, a number 12 hit single on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1965 on Soma Records.

The song appears on the iconic compilation album Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965–1968.

Original version

"Liar, Liar" was the first and only hit single by The Castaways. It was written by James Donna and Denny Craswell; the producer was Timothy D. Kehr.

Guitarist Robert Folschow contributed the distinctive falsetto vocal on "Liar, Liar".

Debbie Harry version

"Liar, Liar"
Single by Debbie Harry
from the album Married to the Mob Soundtrack
Released	1988
Recorded	1988
Genre	New wave
Label	Reprise
Songwriter(s)	James Donna and Denny Craswell
Debbie Harry singles chronology
"In Love With Love" (1987) "Liar, Liar" (1988) "I Want That Man" (1989)
"In Love With Love" (1987) "Liar, Liar" (1989) "I Want That Man" (1989)
Audio sample
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"Liar, Liar" was recorded by Debbie Harry for the soundtrack album Married to the Mob in 1988, and produced by Mike Chapman. It was their first collaboration since the 1982 Blondie album The Hunter. The following year the two would team up again for the album Def, Dumb and Blonde. A music video (co-directed by Adam Bernstein) was produced to promote the single.^[1]

"Liar, Liar" is as yet only available on the deleted Married to the Mob soundtrack album.

Track listing

7"

1. Debbie Harry: "Liar, Liar" (James Donna) Dennis Craswell- 3:01
2. (The Voodooist Corporation: "Queen of Voudou" - 3:39)

7" Promo'

1. Debbie Harry: "Liar, Liar" (James Donna) Dennis Craswell- 3:01
2. Debbie Harry: "Liar, Liar" (James Donna) Dennis Craswell - 3:01

12"

1. "Liar, Liar" (Extended Version) (James Donna) Dennis Craswell- 5:45
2. "Liar, Liar" (7" Version) (James Donna) Dennis Craswell- 3:01
3. "Liar, Liar" (Instrumental) (James Donna) Dennis Craswell- 4:50

Cover versions

• The Mustangs (US 60's garage band) from Riverside, California recorded a version of "Liar Liar" in 1966.
• The Spanish freakbeat band Los Iberos also cut a version in 1969.
• The Pretenders covered "Liar, Liar" as a hidden final track of the Not Real Records bootleg LP, Talk of the Town.
• Phranc included a track with this title and an identical chorus on her album Folksinger. The verses, however, address journalistic fakery.
• In 2007 a Dutch hip-hop group called The Opposites used the instrumentals of the hit "Liar, Liar" and made a new hit-song "Dom, Lomp & Famous" (Literal translation "Dumb, Rude & Famous"). Similarly titled after Debbie Harry's "Def, Dumb and Blonde".
• Elgazelle, a group from Manchester, England, have recorded a version of the song.
• Death Grips sampled the beat in "Klink", the seventh track of their debut mixtape, Exmilitary.

Film appearance

The song was featured in a number of feature films, including Animal House, Good Morning, Vietnam and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. The Castaways performed "Liar, Liar" in the 1967 beach movie, It's a Bikini World.

Charts

References