Sharon Myers adopted the name Jackie DeShannon, believed to be an Irish ancestor. Record company executives at Liberty Records thought the name Sharon Myers wouldn't sell records. (She once reported that record executives added "Shannon" to "Jackie Dee," one of the names under which she recorded, to create her name.)
Life and early career:
DeShannon was born the daughter of musically inclined farming parents, Sandra Jean and James Erwin Myers, DeShannon was introduced to singing country tunes on a local radio show at the age of six. By the age of eleven, DeShannon was already hosting her own radio program. When life on the farm became too difficult, the family moved to Aurora, Illinois, her mother's home town, and her father resumed his other career as a barber. After a year, they moved up the Fox River to Batavia, Illinois, where Sharon attended high school.
Recording under various names such as Sherry Lee, Jackie Dee, and Jackie Shannon, she had little success. However, her interpretations of country songs "Buddy" and "Trouble" gained the attention of Eddie Cochran who arranged for her to travel to California and meet singer-songwriter Sharon Sheeley, who formed a writing partnership with DeShannon in 1960. The partnership produced hits such as "Dum Dum" for Brenda Lee and "I Love Anastasia" for The Fleetwoods. The latter was named after one of her good friends in high school.
In 1960, DeShannon signed with Liberty Records. She made the WLS Chicago survey with "Lonely Girl" in late 1960. A string of mostly flop singles followed, although "The Prince" bubbled under at #108 in the United States in early 1962, and "Faded Love" (#97 in February 1963) became her first U.S. Hot 100 hit, albeit just barely .
She broke through a little more solidly singing "Needles and Pins" and "When You Walk in the Room" later in 1963. Both reached the lower rungs of the U.S. pop charts, but were substantial top 40 hits in Canada, where "Needles and Pins" made it all the way to #1. "Needles and Pins" and "When You Walk in the Room" later became U.S. and UK hits for The Searchers.
DeShannon recorded many other singles that encompassed teen pop, country ballads, rockabilly, gospel, and Ray Charles-style soul that didn't fare as well on the charts. During these years it was her songwriting and public profile rather than her recording career that kept her contracted to Liberty Records. DeShannon dated Elvis Presley and formed friendships with The Everly Brothers and Ricky Nelson. She also co-starred and sang with Bobby Vinton in the teen surf movie Surf Party.
DeShannon's biggest break came in February 1964, when she supported The Beatles on their first U.S. tour, and formed a touring band with guitarist Ry Cooder. DeShannon also wrote "Don't Doubt Yourself Babe" for debut album by The Byrds. Her music at this stage was heavily influenced by the American West Coast sounds and folk music. Staying briefly in England in 1965, DeShannon formed a songwriting partnership with Jimmy Page, which resulted in the hit singles "Dream Boy" and "Don't Turn Your Back On Me". Page and DeShannon also wrote material for singer Marianne Faithfull, including her Top Ten UK and U.S. hit "Come and Stay With Me". DeShannon also appeared on the television show Ready Steady Go!
Hit love songs:
Moving to New York, DeShannon co-wrote with Randy Newman, producing such songs as "She Don't Understand Him" and "Did He Call Today Mama?", as well as writing "You Have No Choice" for Delaney Bramlett. In March 1965, DeShannon recorded Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "What the World Needs Now Is Love," which provided her first Number 1 hit and regular appearances on television shows and club tours. (DeShannon's recording of the song was subsequently used in the 1969 film Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice.) She appeared in the 1967 film C'mon Let's Live a Little, with Bobby Vee, as a folk singer. DeShannon continued writing and recording but it was not until 1969 that she scored her next biggest smash single and album, both entitled "Put a Little Love in Your Heart". The single "Love Will Find A Way" from the same album was also a moderate hit. Switching to Atlantic Records in 1970 and moving to Los Angeles, DeShannon recorded the critically acclaimed albums Jackie and Your Baby Is A Lady, but they failed to produce the same commercial success as previous releases. In 1973, she was invited by Van Morrison to sing on his Hard Nose the Highway album.
"Put A Little Love In Your Heart" was performed as the closing number at the Music for UNICEF Concert, broadcast worldwide from the United Nations General Assembly in 1979.
Later career:
While DeShannon has not produced any further Top Ten singles of her own, her songs have been covered by other artists who have in turn converted them into hits. In 1974, with Donna Weiss, she composed "Queen Of The Rodeo" and "Bette Davis Eyes" for her album New Arrangement. The song "Bette Davis Eyes" later became a world-wide Number 1 single for singer Kim Carnes in 1981. It earned DeShannon the 1982 Grammy Award for Song of the Year.
The songs "Breakaway", recorded by Tracey Ullman in 1983, and "Put A Little Love In Your Heart", recorded by Annie Lennox and Al Green in 1988, also became huge hits, the latter of which Dolly Parton also covered in 1993. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and Stevie Nicks had a Top 40 U.S. hit in 1986 with a cover of "Needles And Pins", which was a song DeShannon originally recorded, although not one she wrote. A version of "When You Walk In The Room" by Pam Tillis in 1994 topped the country charts. Another recent cover of "When You Walk In The Room" was by ex-ABBA vocalist Agnetha Fältskog, both in her comeback album My Colouring Book and as a UK and European hit single.
Jackie was portrayed by singer Liz Phair in an episode of the NBC period drama American Dreams.
Personal life:
DeShannon is married to singer/songwriter and film music composer Randy Edelman, who is her third husband. Her first husband was Liberty Records executive Irving "Bud" Dain, whom she married on January 29, 1966. She has also dated Jimmy Page and Love guitarist Bryan MacLean. It is likely that Jimmy Page wrote the song "Tangerine" (which appeared on the third Led Zeppelin album) after the breakup of his relationship with DeShannon in early 1965.
Windows And Doors
Jackie DeShannon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nothing more than the windows and doors
Tell me what is a palace when you think it over?
Ceilings and floors
Windows and doors, ceilings and floors
True love is something you can′t buy in stores
Like the windows and doors
Here we stand wond'ring
Where the future will lead
If good fortune desert us
We still have each other
That′s all we need
Windows and doors, ceilings and floors
True love is something you can't buy in stores
Like the windows and doors
Like the ceilings and floors
If good fortune desert us
We still have each other
That's all we need
Windows and doors, ceilings and floors
True love is something you can′t buy in stores
Like the windows and doors
Like the ceilings and floors
Like windows and doors
The lyrics of Jackie DeShannon's song Windows And Doors describe the contrast between the ostentatious and materialistic aspects of wealth, such as mansions and palaces, and the simple and intangible nature of true love. The opening lines of the song ask the listener to consider what a mansion or palace really is, and DeShannon suggests that they are nothing more than the windows, doors, ceilings, and floors that make them up. She then contrasts this with the idea that true love is something that cannot be bought in stores.
Throughout the song, DeShannon emphasizes the importance of love and relationships over material possessions, using the metaphor of windows and doors to represent the openness and vulnerability that are necessary for genuine connection. She also acknowledges the uncertainty of the future, but reassures that as long as they have each other, they have everything they need.
Overall, the lyrics of Windows And Doors encourage listeners to prioritize meaningful relationships and connection over the pursuit of wealth and material possessions, and to appreciate the simplicity and intangibility of love.
Line by Line Meaning
What is a mansion wide and tall?
If you really think about it, a mansion is just a collection of windows and doors.
Tell me what is a palace when you think it over?
If you take a closer look at it, a palace really just consists of ceilings and floors.
Windows and doors, ceilings and floors
These are the basic components that make up a house or any other building.
True love is something you can′t buy in stores
True love cannot be purchased or acquired; it comes from within.
Like the windows and doors
Just like how windows and doors are essential parts of a building, love is an essential part of our lives.
Like so many lovers before
Love has been an important part of many people's lives throughout history.
Here we stand wond'ring
At this moment, we find ourselves pondering about our future.
Where the future will lead
We are unsure of what lies ahead for us.
If good fortune desert us
If we are not favored by luck or success,
We still have each other
At the very least we have each other for support and companionship.
That′s all we need
We don't need anything else to be happy as long as we have each other.
Like the ceilings and floors
Similar to how a building needs a roof and a foundation, love needs strong support to thrive.
Writer(s): David Hal, Bacharach Burt F
Contributed by Connor V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@7Limousine
Thank you BURT & HAL for all the great songs the two of you have written. Now you are both in heaven....R.I.P.
@bradly2007
Gorgeous timeless classic from DeShannon/Bacharach combo & would be great to have a CD of all their gems...last year their "What The World Needs Now Is Love" received Lifetime Grammy...Bravo Jackie & Burt!!!
@bradly2007
Stunning blue-eyed soulful singing wonder Jackie DeShannon turns "Windows & Doors" inside out creating a timeless masterpiece, great singer always nails & owns any Bacharach gem she does...Bravo Jackie!
@GuitarMan1117a
One of the best love songs ever written. Thanks Burt , Hal and Jackie for this masterpiece.
@Papermac
One of my favourites.... What incredible marriage of words and music. The arrangements are wonderful and so is the great Jackie DeShannon of course. I hope she'll make another album with an orchestra...
@jerry854
First heard this song on KXN-FM (The young Sound) in 1968. It became an instant favorite.
@bradly2007
Peter agree it would be miraculous for Jackie to record an album with full orchestra plus feel long overdue for legendary trailblazing icon to receive induction to Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame!
@theindividual
Jack Riley, WPRK, sent me here. Take Care, Buddy.
@ccalccol
entered CKLG radio chart Hitbount Oct 29, 1966
@StanBennet
Does anyone know if she still makes appearances?