Soldier Boy (The Shirelles song)

Last updated
"Soldier Boy"
Single by The Shirelles
from the album Baby It's You
B-side "Love Is a Swingin' Thing"
ReleasedMarch 1962
Recorded Bell Sound (New York City)
Genre R&B
Length2:42
Label Scepter (Florence Greenberg-Owner)
Songwriter(s) Luther Dixon, Florence Greenberg
Producer(s) Luther Dixon
The Shirelles singles chronology
"Baby It's You"
(1962)
"Soldier Boy"
(1962)
"Welcome Home, Baby"
(1962)

"Soldier Boy" is a song written by Luther Dixon and Florence Greenberg and made famous by the girl group the Shirelles. Released as a single in 1962, it met with great success, topping the US Billboard Hot 100 for three consecutive weeks. [1] Billboard ranked it as the No. 10 song for 1962. [2]

Contents

Background

Record executive Florence Greenberg, founder of Scepter Records (the Shirelles' record label), wrote the song and was originally titled it "I'll Be True to You". The main frame of the lyrics make no mention of a soldier. It was only while recording at Bell Sound Studios that the Shirelles decided upon a much better title to reflect the narrative, the profession of someone's love for the titular soldier boy in which she promises to remain true to him while he's away. [3] The song was released as a single by The Shirelles in 1962 and met with great success, topping the US Billboard Hot 100. [4]

Charts

Chart (1962)Peak
position
Canada ( CHUM Chart ) [5] (3 weeks)1
New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade) [6] 1
US Billboard Hot 100 1
US R&B 3
UK Singles Chart 23

Cover versions

References

  1. "The Hot 100 - 1962 Archive | Billboard Charts Archive". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-04-14.
  2. Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1962
  3. The History of Rock and Roll Radio series, Bill Drake, 1978, Westwood One.
  4. "The Hot 100 - 1962 Archive | Billboard Charts Archive". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-04-14.
  5. "CHUM Hit Parade - April 30, 1962".
  6. Flavour of New Zealand, 14 June 1962
  7. Whitburn, Joel (2013). Hot Country Songs 1944–2012. Record Research, Inc. p. 115. ISBN   978-0-89820-203-8.