Take Good Care of My Baby

Last updated

"Take Good Care of My Baby"
Take Good Care of My Baby - Bobby Vee.jpg
Single by Bobby Vee
from the album Take Good Care of My Baby
B-side "Bashful Bob"
ReleasedJuly 20, 1961
RecordedJune 21, 1961
Studio United Recording Studios, Hollywood, California
Genre Pop [1]
Length2:36
Label Liberty
Songwriter(s) Carole King, Gerry Goffin
Producer(s) Snuff Garrett
Bobby Vee singles chronology
"How Many Tears" / "Baby Face"
(1961)		"Take Good Care of My Baby"
(1961)		"Run to Him" / "Walkin' With My Angel"
(1961)

"Take Good Care of My Baby" is a song written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin. [2] The song was made famous by Bobby Vee, [3] when it was released in 1961.

Contents

Bobby Vee versions

While searching for material for Bobby Vee to record, Vee's producer Snuff Garrett heard a demo of Carole King singing "Take Good Care of My Baby". Garrett told publisher Don Kirshner that he wanted the song for Vee, but he believed the song needed an introductory verse. Garrett met with Carole King, and the introductory verse of Vee's version was written. [2]

Among the musicians on the record were Barney Kessel, Tommy Allsup, and Howard Roberts on guitar, Clifford Hills on bass, Robert Florence on piano, and Earl Palmer on drums, while Sid Sharp did the string arrangements. [4] The Johnny Mann Singers sang backup. [5]

Bobby Vee released "Take Good Care of My Baby" as a single on July 20, 1961, and it was reviewed by Billboard in its issue dated July 31, 1961. [6] Vee's recording quickly became popular, spending 15 weeks on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 1 on September 18, 1961, [7] and spending three weeks in that position. [8] [7] The song became a major hit internationally as well, reaching No. 1 in Canada, [9] New Zealand, [10] and the United Kingdom. [11]

The song was ranked No. 12 on Billboard's "Hot 100 for 1961 – Top Sides of the Year" [12] and No. 23 on Cash Box 's "Top 100 Chart Hits of 1961". [13]

The song was the lead track on Bobby Vee's album, Take Good Care of My Baby , which was released in 1962. [14]

Vee re-recorded the song as a ballad in 1972. [2] He released under his real name, Robert Thomas Velline, on his 1972 album Ain't Nothing Like a Sunny Day, [2] and as a single in 1973. [15] However, it is his original version, along with Bobby Vinton's, that remain as staples of oldies radio stations.

Chart performance

Chart (1961)Peak
position
Australia (Music Maker) [16] 6
Canada (CHUM Hit Parade) [17] 1
Hong Kong [18] 2
Ireland ( Evening Herald ) [19] [20] 2
New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade) [10] [16] 1
United Kingdom ( Record Retailer ) [21] 3
United Kingdom ( NME ) [11] [nb 1] 1
United Kingdom (Record Mirror) [22] 1
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 [7] 1
U.S. Cash Box Top 100 [23] 1
U.S. Cash Box Records Disc Jockeys Played Most [24] 1
U.S. Cash Box Top Ten Juke Box Tunes [25] 1

Bobby Vinton version

"Take Good Care of My Baby"
Take Good Care of My Baby - Bobby Vinton.jpeg
Single by Bobby Vinton
from the album Take Good Care of My Baby
B-side "Strange Sensations"
ReleasedMarch 15, 1968
RecordedFeb. 16, 1968
Genre Pop
Length2:45
Label Epic
Songwriter(s) Carole King, Gerry Goffin
Producer(s) Billy Sherrill
Bobby Vinton singles chronology
"Just as Much as Ever"
(1967)		"Take Good Care of My Baby"
(1968)		"Halfway to Paradise"
(1968)

In 1968, the song was released by Bobby Vinton as a single and on his album, Take Good Care of My Baby . [26] Vinton's version became a hit, spending 8 weeks on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 33, [27] while reaching No. 14 on Billboard 's Easy Listening chart, [28] [29] No. 19 on Record World 's "100 Top Pops", [30] No. 12 on Record World's "Top Non-Rock" chart, [31] No. 36 on Canada's "RPM 100", [32] and No. 16 on Canada's CHUM Hit Parade. [33] Vinton's version omitted the introduction, plus the first two lines of the repeated refrain.

Chart performance

Chart (1968)Peak
position
Canada (RPM 100) [32] 36
Canada (CHUM Hit Parade) [33] 16
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 [27] 33
U.S. Billboard Easy Listening [29] 14
U.S. Cash Box Top 100 [34] 26
U.S. Record World 100 Top Pops [30] 19
U.S. Record World Top Non-Rock [31] 12
U.S. Record World Juke Box Top 25 [35] 4

Smokie version

"Take Good Care of My Baby"
Single by Smokie
from the album Solid Ground
B-side "I Wanna Kiss Your Lips"
Released1980 (1980)
Length3:15
Label RAK
Songwriter(s) Gerry Goffin, Carole King
Producer(s) Smokie
Smokie singles chronology
"San Francisco Bay"
(1979)		"Take Good Care of My Baby"
(1980)		"Run to Me"
(1980)

In 1980, Smokie released a version of the song, which spent seven weeks on the UK Singles Chart, reaching No. 34, [36] while reaching No. 10 on Austria's Ö3 Hit wähl mit chart, [37] No. 15 on the Irish Singles Chart, [38] and No. 18 in West Germany. [39] It was later released on their 1981 album Solid Ground . [39]

Chart (1980)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [40] 48

Other versions

Dion recorded a version of the song, which was released on his November 1961 album Runaround Sue . [41] Although Dion's version was released after Bobby Vee's version, Dion's was the first version to be recorded. [2]

The song was covered by The Beatles during their audition at Decca Records on January 1, 1962, with George Harrison on lead vocals. [42] The version has never been released officially, but can be found easily through bootlegs. [43]

Gary Lewis & the Playboys recorded a cover version, which was released on their 1966 album, She's Just My Style. [44]

Donny Osmond released a version of the song on his 1972 album Too Young . [45]

Shaun Cassidy included his rendition of the song on his 1977 debut self-titled album.

Neil Innes included an excerpt of the song in the Re-Cycled Vinyl Blues medley, the title track from his 1994 eponymous album.

As Dick Brave and the Backbeats, German pop star Sasha released a version in 2003, which reached No. 21 in Germany and No. 52 on the Ö3 Austria Top 40. [46] [47]

In 2007, Frankie Valli covered the song on his album Romancing The 60's.

Answer songs

An answer song, titled "I'll Take Good Care of Your Baby", was recorded by Ralph Emery. It was released as a single on Liberty F-55383, in 1961. [48] Another answer song, titled "You Should Know I'm Still Your Baby", was recorded by Sammi Lynn. [49] It was released as a single on Sue Records 45-752, in 1961. [49]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Bobby Vee's "Take Good Care of My Baby" and Frankie Vaughan's "Tower of Strength" were classified jointly as NME's number-one single on December 2, 1961. [22]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bobby Vee</span> American singer (1943–2016)

Robert Thomas Velline, known professionally as Bobby Vee, was an American singer who was a teen idol in the early 1960s and also appeared in films. According to Billboard magazine, he had thirty-eight Hot 100 chart hits, ten of which reached the Top 20. He had six gold singles in his career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen</span> 1961 single by Neil Sedaka

"Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" is a pop song released in 1961 by Neil Sedaka. Sedaka wrote the music and performed the song, while the lyrics were written by Howard Greenfield. The song is noted for being similar in musical structure to Take Good Care of My Baby by Bobby Vee, and additionally for its resemblance to the melody of the Chiffons' subsequent 1963 hit "One Fine Day". Both of these songs exhibiting similarity to "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" were penned by the team of Carole King and Gerry Goffin. The song reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(I Don't Know Why) But I Do</span> R&B song written by Paul Gayten and Bobby Charles

"(I Don't Know Why) But I Do" is an R&B song written by Paul Gayten and Bobby Charles, and performed by Clarence "Frogman" Henry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">To Know Him Is to Love Him</span> 1958 single by The Teddy Bears

"To Know Him Is to Love Him" is a song written by Phil Spector, inspired by the words on his father's gravestone, "To Know Him Was to Love Him". It was first recorded by the only vocal group of which he was a member, The Teddy Bears. The single spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1958, while reaching No. 2 on the UK's New Musical Express chart. Peter & Gordon and Bobby Vinton later each experienced chart success with the song, in 1965 and 1968, respectively.

<i>Take Good Care of My Baby</i> (Bobby Vinton album) 1968 studio album by Bobby Vinton

Take Good Care of My Baby was Bobby Vinton's seventeenth studio album, released in 1968. The title track was previously a hit for Bobby Vee. Other cover versions include "I Apologize" and "Serenade of the Bells". The title track is the album's most successful single. "Sentimental Me" was also released as a single and was awarded the Top Song Award by the American Jukebox Association in 1968.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roses Are Red (My Love)</span> 1962 single by Bobby Vinton

"Roses Are Red (My Love)" is a popular song composed by Al Byron and Paul Evans. It was recorded by Bobby Vinton, backed by Robert Mersey and his Orchestra, in New York City in February 1962, and released in April 1962, and the song was his first hit.

"There! I've Said It Again" is a popular song written and published by Redd Evans and David Mann in 1941. In early 1945, Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra released Victor 20-1637, which reached the number one position on the Billboard's National Radio Airplay chart for five straight weeks, then no.2 for six more weeks, and a total run of 29 weeks. It finished 1945 as the no. 4 record of the year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">More Than I Can Say</span> 1960 single by the Crickets

"More Than I Can Say" is a song written by Sonny Curtis and Jerry Allison, both former members of Buddy Holly's band the Crickets. They recorded it in 1959 soon after Holly's death and released it in 1960. Their original version reached No. 42 on the British Record Retailer Chart in 1960. It has been notably performed by singers Bobby Vee and Leo Sayer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Only Love Can Break a Heart</span> 1962 single by Gene Pitney

"Only Love Can Break a Heart" is a popular song from 1962, performed by the American singer-songwriter Gene Pitney. The song was written by Hal David (words) and Burt Bacharach (music) and appears on Pitney's second album Only Love Can Break a Heart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raining in My Heart</span> 1959 single by Buddy Holly

"Raining in My Heart" is a song recorded by Buddy Holly on October 21, 1958 at the Pythian Temple on West 70th Street in New York City, with the orchestral backing by Dick Jacobs. The music and lyrics are written by the songwriting team of Felice Bryant and Boudleaux Bryant. It was released as a single on Coral Records in 1959, peaking at number 88 on the Billboard chart as the B-side of "It Doesn't Matter Anymore". This recording was included on Buddy Holly's first "greatest hits" compilation album, The Buddy Holly Story, that was released in March 1959.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It Might as Well Rain Until September</span> 1962 single by Carole King

"It Might as Well Rain Until September" is a 1962 song originally written for Bobby Vee by Carole King and Gerry Goffin. King recorded the demo version of the song and it became a hit for her. However, Vee's management balked at releasing the song as a single, instead using it only as an album track. Bobby Vee recorded the song the same year for his 1963 Liberty album The Night Has a Thousand Eyes.

"Run to Him" is a song written by Gerry Goffin and Jack Keller and performed by Bobby Vee featuring the Johnny Mann Singers. It was produced by Snuff Garrett, and was featured on Vee's 1962 album, Take Good Care of My Baby. One of the musicians on the song was session drummer Earl Palmer.

"Good Time Baby" is a song released in January 1961 by Bobby Rydell. The song spent 11 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 11, while reaching No. 6 in Australia, No. 6 on Canada's CHUM Hit Parade, No. 18 in the Netherlands, and No. 42 in the United Kingdom's Record Retailer chart.

"Please Love Me Forever" is a song written by John Malone and Ollie Blanchard. The song was originally released by Tommy Edwards in 1958. Hit versions were later released by Cathy Jean and the Roommates in 1960 and Bobby Vinton in 1967.

"Just as Much as Ever" is a song written by Charles Singleton and Larry Coleman. The song was a hit single for Bob Beckham, Nat King Cole, and Bobby Vinton.

"Clinging Vine" is a song released by Bobby Vinton in 1964. The song spent 8 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 17, while reaching No. 2 on Billboard's Pop-Standards Singles chart, No. 14 on the Cash Box Top 100, No. 11 on Canada's RPM "Top 40-5s", and No. 9 on Canada's CHUM Hit Parade.

"My Heart Belongs to Only You" is a song written by Frank Daniels & Dorothy Daniels. Bette McLaurin and June Christy both released versions of the song in 1952. In 1953, the song reached No. 27 on Cash Box's chart of "The Nation's Top 50 Best Selling Records", in a tandem ranking of June Christy, Bette McLaurin, these versions were marked as bestsellers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Over the Mountain; Across the Sea</span>

"Over the Mountain; Across the Sea" is a song written by Rex Garvin. The song was a hit for Johnnie & Joe in 1957 and Bobby Vinton in 1963.

<i>A Bobby Vee Recording Session</i> 1962 studio album by Bobby Vee

A Bobby Vee Recording Session is the sixth studio album American singer Bobby Vee, and was released in May 1962 by Liberty Records.

<i>Take Good Care of My Baby</i> (Bobby Vee album) 1962 studio album by Bobby Vee

Take Good Care of My Baby is the fifth studio album American singer Bobby Vee, and was released in 1962 by Liberty Records.

References

  1. ↑ Breihan, Tom (April 5, 2018). "The Number Ones: Bobby Vee's "Take Good Care Of My Baby"". Stereogum . Retrieved June 9, 2023. ..."Take Good Care Of My Baby"...fits a whole lot of competing emotions into a compact and economical pop-song format.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits , Billboard Books. p. 97. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
  3. ↑ Bobby Vee interviewed on the Pop Chronicles (1969)
  4. ↑ September 18, 2016 at 7:57am post, The Wrecking Crew verified page, Facebook.com. September 18, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  5. ↑ Vee, Bobby. "Take Good Care of My Baby." Liberty, F-55354, 1961.
  6. ↑ "Spotlight Singles of the Week", Billboard , July 31, 1961. p. 27. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  7. 1 2 3 Hot 100 – Bobby Vee Take Good Care of My Baby Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  8. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1987). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, Billboard Publications, Inc. p. 315.
  9. ↑ "CHUM Chart Archives – Chart No. 234 – Monday, October 02, 1961". CHUM. Archived from the original on February 28, 2006. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  10. 1 2 "Lever Hit Parade" 02-Nov-1961, Flavour of New Zealand. Accessed October 12, 2016.
  11. 1 2 "Billboard Music Week Hits of the World", Billboard , December 4, 1961. p. 19. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Chart Toppers", Billboard , January 6, 1962. p. 33. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Top 100 Chart Hits of 1961", Cash Box , December 30, 1961. p. 11. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Take Good Care of My Baby – Bobby Vee". AllMusic . Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  15. ↑ Robert Thomas Velline – Take Good Care of My Baby, norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
  16. 1 2 "Billboard Music Week Hits of the World", Billboard , October 30, 1961. p. 46. Accessed October 10, 2016.
  17. ↑ "CHUM Hit Parade - September 18, 1961".
  18. ↑ "Billboard Music Week Hits of the World", Billboard , December 25, 1961. p. 14. Accessed October 10, 2016.
  19. ↑ Kelly, Eddie (2009). Complete Guide to Ireland's Top Ten Hits 1954-79: The Definitive Listing of Ireland's Top Ten Hits 1954 – 1979
  20. ↑ Evening Herald , December 7, 1961.
  21. ↑ "Artist Chart History Details: Bobby Vee". The Official Charts Company . Retrieved August 4, 2010.
  22. 1 2 Smith, Alan. "Every No.1 in the 1960s is listed from all the nine different magazine charts!". Dave McAleer's website. Archived from the original on July 4, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  23. ↑ "Cash Box Top 100", Cash Box , September 30, 1961. p. 4. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  24. ↑ "The Records Disc Jockeys Played Most", Cash Box , September 30, 1961. p. 25. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  25. ↑ "Top Ten Juke Box Tunes", Cash Box , September 30, 1961. p. 24. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  26. ↑ "Take Good Care of My Baby – Bobby Vinton". AllMusic . Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  27. 1 2 Hot 100 – Bobby Vinton Take Good Care of My Baby Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  28. ↑ Adult Contemporary – Bobby Vinton Take Good Care of My Baby Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  29. 1 2 "Billboard Top 40 Easy Listening", Billboard , May 4, 1968. p. 49. Accessed October 9, 2016.
  30. 1 2 "100 Top Pops", Record World , May 4, 1968. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  31. 1 2 "Record World's Top Non-Rock", Record World , May 11, 1968. p. 30. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  32. 1 2 "RPM 100", RPM Weekly , Volume 9, No. 11, May 11, 1968. Accessed October 10, 2016.
  33. 1 2 "CHUM Hit Parade – Week of April 22, 1968". CHUM. Archived from the original on November 7, 2006. Retrieved March 22, 2018. Chart No. 585.
  34. ↑ Cash Box Top 100, Cash Box , May 4, 1968. p. 4. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  35. ↑ "Juke Box Top 25", Record World , May 4, 1968. p. 35. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  36. ↑ Smokie – Full Official Chart History, Official Charts Company. Accessed October 10, 2016.
  37. ↑ Smokie – Take Good Care of My Baby, austriancharts.at. Accessed October 10, 2016.
  38. ↑ Song Title Search Results for "Take Good Care of My Baby", The Irish Charts. Accessed October 10, 2016.
  39. 1 2 Smokie – Take Good Care of My Baby, norwegiancharts.com. Accessed October 10, 2016.
  40. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 279. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  41. ↑ "Runaround Sue – Dion". AllMusic . Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  42. ↑ Womack, Kenneth (June 30, 2014). The Beatles Encyclopedia: Everything Fab Four , ABC-CLIO. p. 885. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
  43. ↑ "Take Good Care Of My Baby". The Beatles Bible. July 5, 2011. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  44. ↑ "She's Just My Style – Gary Lewis & The Playboys". AllMusic . Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  45. ↑ "Too Young – Donny Osmond". AllMusic . Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  46. ↑ Dick Brave and the Backbeats – Take Good Care of My Baby, norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  47. ↑ Dick Brave and the Backbeats – Take Good Care of My Baby, austriancharts.at. Accessed October 12, 2016.
  48. ↑ "Reviews of New Singles", Billboard , October 23, 1961. p. 41. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  49. 1 2 Cooper, B. Lee; Haney, Wayne S. (1990). Response Recordings: An Answer Song Discography, 1950-1990, Scarecrow Press. p. 151.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.