Always Where I Need to Be

"Always Where I Need to Be"
"Always Where I Need to Be"
Single by the Kooks
from the album Konk
B-side	"Walk Away"; "Always Free"; "Mrs. Thompson";
Released	19 March 2008
Genre	Indie rock
Length	2:42
Label	Virgin
Songwriter	Luke Pritchard
Producer	Tony Hoffer
The Kooks singles chronology

"Always Where I Need to Be" is a song by British rock band the Kooks from their second studio album, Konk (2008). It was released in Japan on 19 March 2008 and in the United Kingdom on 31 March 2008. In the latter country, it debuted at number 71 on the UK Singles Chart via download sales alone and jumped to its peak at number three the following week, giving the band their highest-charting single in the UK. The video shows the band members playing their instruments in various parts of New York City, including Central Park and Coney Island.

Track listings

UK CD1^[2]

"Always Where I Need to Be"
"Always Where I Need to Be" (video)

UK CD2^[3]

"Always Where I Need to Be"
"Walk Away"
"Always Free"

UK 7-inch single^[4]

A. "Always Where I Need to Be"

B. "Mrs. Thompson"

Japanese CD single^[5]

"Always Where I Need to Be"
"Slave to the Game"
"Something to Say"
"Naïve" (live)

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2008)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[6]	84
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[7]	63
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[8]	19
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)^[9]	4
CIS Airplay (TopHit)^[10]	174
Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)^[11]	67
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[12]	10
Germany (GfK)^[13]	55
Ireland (IRMA)^[14]	15
Italy (FIMI)^[15]	41
Japan (Japan Hot 100)^[16]	17
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[17]	27
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[18]	43
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[19]	40
Scotland (OCC)^[20]	6
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[21]	53
UK Singles (OCC)^[22]	3
US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)^[23]	22

Year-end charts

Chart (2008)	Position
UK Singles (OCC)^[24]	104

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)^[25]	Silver	200,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
Japan	19 March 2008	CD	Virgin	^[26]
United Kingdom	31 March 2008	7-inch vinyl CD		^[27]
Australia	5 April 2008	CD		^[28]

In popular culture

"Always Where I Need to Be" features on the soundtrack to the video game by EA Sports, FIFA 09.^[29] This song is available in the PlayStation 3 Singstore, for the game Singstar. This song is also used as background music on ABC's commercials for Scrubs season eight premiering in 2009. The song has been featured several episodes of MTV Latin America Acapulco Shore.

References

^ https://singersroom.com/w3/10-best-the-kooks-songs-of-all-time/#5_Always_Where_I_Need_to_Be ^{[bare URL]}
^ Always Where I Need to Be (UK CD1 liner notes). The Kooks. Virgin Records. 2008. VSCDT1967.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Always Where I Need to Be (UK CD2 liner notes). The Kooks. Virgin Records. 2008. VSCDX 1967.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Always Where I Need to Be (UK 7-inch single sleeve). The Kooks. Virgin Records. 2008. VSCDT1967.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Always Where I Need to Be (Japanese CD single liner notes). The Kooks. Virgin Records. 2008. TOCP 61132.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ "Issue 947" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
^ "The Kooks – Always Where I Need to Be" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
^ "The Kooks – Always Where I Need to Be" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
^ "The Kooks – Always Where I Need to Be" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
^ The Kooks — Always Where I Need To Be. TopHit. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 15. týden 2008 in the date selector. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
^ "Hits of the World – Eurocharts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 120, no. 16. 19 April 2008. p. 59. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
^ "The Kooks – Always Where I Need to Be" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Always Where I Need to Be". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
^ "Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 17 (dal 18.04.2008 al 24.04.2008)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
^ "The Kooks - Artist - Billboard Japan" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 17, 2008" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
^ "The Kooks – Always Where I Need to Be" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
^ "The Kooks – Always Where I Need to Be". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
^ "The Kooks – Always Where I Need to Be". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
^ "The Kooks Chart History: Alternative Airplay". Billboard. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
^ "Official Singles Chart 2008" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
^ "British single certifications – Kooks – Always Where I Need to Be". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
^ "オールウェイズ(ジャパン・オンリーEP) | ザ・クークス" [Always (Japan Only EP) | The Kooks] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
^ "Music Upfront: March 31". Music Week. 22 March 2008. p. 13.
^ "The Kooks Discography". musichead.com.au. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
^ "EA's FIFA Soccer 09 soundtrack scores". EA Sports. 14 August 2008. Archived from the original on 17 August 2008. Retrieved 23 April 2009.

[1] ttps://singersroom.com/w3/10-best-the-kooks-songs-of-all-time/#5_Always_Where_I_Need_to_Be ^{[bare URL]}

[2] Always Where I Need to Be (UK CD1 liner notes). The Kooks. Virgin Records. 2008. VSCDT1967.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[3] Always Where I Need to Be (UK CD2 liner notes). The Kooks. Virgin Records. 2008. VSCDX 1967.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[4] Always Where I Need to Be (UK 7-inch single sleeve). The Kooks. Virgin Records. 2008. VSCDT1967.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[5] Always Where I Need to Be (Japanese CD single liner notes). The Kooks. Virgin Records. 2008. TOCP 61132.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[sc_Australiapandora_-6] "Issue 947" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 24 April 2021.

[sc_Austria_The_Kooks-7] "The Kooks – Always Where I Need to Be" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 15 July 2018.

[sc_Flanders_The_Kooks-8] "The Kooks – Always Where I Need to Be" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 15 July 2018.

[sc_Wallonia_Tip_The_Kooks-9] "The Kooks – Always Where I Need to Be" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 15 July 2018.

[CIS-10] The Kooks — Always Where I Need To Be. TopHit. Retrieved 5 March 2024.

[sc_Czech_Republic_-11] "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 15. týden 2008 in the date selector. Retrieved 5 January 2022.

[12] "Hits of the World – Eurocharts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 120, no. 16. 19 April 2008. p. 59. Retrieved 3 August 2020.

[sc_Germany_The_Kooks-13] "The Kooks – Always Where I Need to Be" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 15 July 2018.

[sc_Ireland2_-14] "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Always Where I Need to Be". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 July 2018.

[15] "Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 17 (dal 18.04.2008 al 24.04.2008)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 22 February 2024.

[16] "The Kooks - Artist - Billboard Japan" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. Retrieved 13 February 2025.

[sc_Dutch40_-17] "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 17, 2008" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 15 July 2018.

[sc_Dutch100_The_Kooks-18] "The Kooks – Always Where I Need to Be" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 15 July 2018.

[sc_New_Zealand_The_Kooks-19] "The Kooks – Always Where I Need to Be". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 15 July 2018.

[sc_Scotland_-20] "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 July 2018.

[sc_Switzerland_The_Kooks-21] "The Kooks – Always Where I Need to Be". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 July 2018.

[sc_UK_-22] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 July 2018.

[23] "The Kooks Chart History: Alternative Airplay". Billboard. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2023.

[24] "Official Singles Chart 2008" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 15 July 2018.

[United_KingdomKooksAlways_Where_I_Need_to_BesingleCertRef-25] "British single certifications – Kooks – Always Where I Need to Be". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 3 August 2020.

[26] "オールウェイズ(ジャパン・オンリーEP) | ザ・クークス" [Always (Japan Only EP) | The Kooks] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 3 November 2023.

[27] "Music Upfront: March 31". Music Week. 22 March 2008. p. 13.

[28] "The Kooks Discography". musichead.com.au. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 6 September 2025.

[29] "EA's FIFA Soccer 09 soundtrack scores". EA Sports. 14 August 2008. Archived from the original on 17 August 2008. Retrieved 23 April 2009.

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v t e The Kooks
Studio albums	Inside In / Inside Out Konk Junk of the Heart Listen Let's Go Sunshine 10 Tracks to Echo in the Dark
Compilation albums	The Best of... So Far
Singles	"Eddie's Gun" "Sofa Song" "You Don't Love Me" "Naïve" "She Moves in Her Own Way" "Ooh La" "Always Where I Need to Be" "Shine On" "Sway" "Down" "Bad Habit"
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