Girl Watcher

"Girl Watcher"
Single by The O'Kaysions
from the album Girl Watcher
B-side	"Deal Me In"
Released	March 1968 (Original US release) June 1968 (Second US release)
Genre	Blue-eyed soul
Length	2:35
Label	ABC
Songwriter(s)	Ronald B. Killette, Wayne Pittman
Producer(s)	North State Music
The O'Kaysions singles chronology
"Girl Watcher" (1968) "Love Machine" (1968)

"Girl Watcher" is a song written by Ronald B. Killette and Wayne Pittman and performed by The O'Kaysions. It was produced by North State Music. ^[1] The single was first released in March 1968 on North State Records, but it did not become a hit until re-released in June 1968 on ABC Records. ^[2]

"Girl Watcher" received gold record status for a million sales from the R.I.A.A. in December 1968. ^[3]

Chart performance

It reached No.5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #6 on the Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart in 1968 ^[4] and was featured on the group's 1968 album, Girl Watcher. ^[5]

The single ranked No.45 on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1968. ^[6]

Certifications

Certifications for "Girl Watcher"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [7]	Gold	1,000,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Other versions

• Tam White, as a single in 1968 in the UK. ^[8]
• In the '80s, the long-running syndicated game show Wheel of Fortune commissioned a promotional version with adapted lyrics titled "I'm a Wheel Watcher" and was also used on the show itself when Vanna White was introduced. ^[9] The Italian version titled La Ruota Della Fortuna ("The Wheel of Fortune") has a theme song called "Gira la Ruota" ("Spin the Wheel") that sounds very similar to "I'm a Wheel Watcher", which could've been the inspiration for it.
• Spontaneous Combustion, on their 2004 album Strike Anywhere. ^[10]
• Beau Jocque and the Zydeco Hi-Rollers, with the title "I'm a Girl Watcher", on the 1999 album Zydeco Giant. ^[11]
• In the Nickelodeon show Zoey 101 episode "Dance Contest", the song is remade to "I'm a Contender" by Scott Bennett in 2007.

References

1. "The O'Kaysions, "Girl Watcher" Second Single Release". Discogs . June 1968. Retrieved November 20, 2016.
2. "The O'Kaysions, "Girl Watcher" Original Single Release" . Retrieved November 20, 2016.
3. MurrellI, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p.  245. ISBN   0-214-20512-6.
4. "The O'Kaysions, "Girl Watcher" Chart Positions" . Retrieved November 20, 2016.
5. "The O'Kaysions, Girl Watcher". Discogs . 1968. Retrieved November 20, 2016.
6. "Billboard Top 100 - 1968". Archived from the original on November 25, 2010. Retrieved November 20, 2016.
7. "American single certifications – Kaysions – Girl Watcher". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved July 1, 2024.
8. "Tam White, "Girl Watcher" Single Release". Discogs . 1968. Retrieved November 20, 2016.
9. "Wheel Watcher Wheel Of Fortune Promo". YouTube . Retrieved June 24, 2020.
10. "Spontaneous Combustion, Strike Anywhere". Discogs . Retrieved November 20, 2016.
11. "Beau Jocque And The Zydeco Hi-Rollers* – Zydeco Giant". Discogs . 1999. Retrieved May 31, 2020.