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Take Good Care of My Baby

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Wikipedia article




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

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.

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.[https://www.facebook.com/WreckingCrewFilm/posts/10154577246983023?match=VGFrZSBHb29kIENhcmUgb2YgTXkgQmFieSx0YWtlIGdvb2QgY2FyZSBvZiBteSBiYWJ5LHRoZSB3cmVja2luZyBjcmV3 September 18, 2016 at 7:57am post], The Wrecking Crew verified page, Facebook.com. September 18, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016. The Johnny Mann Singers sang backup.Vee, Bobby. "Take Good Care of My Baby." Liberty, F-55354, 1961.

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."[https://books.google.com/books?id=DiEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA27#v=onepage&q&f=false Spotlight Singles of the Week]", 'Billboard', July 31, 1961. p. 27. Retrieved February 17, 2018. Vee's recording quickly became popular, spending 15 weeks on the U.S. 'Billboard' Hot 100, reaching No. 1 on September 18, 1961,[https://www.billboard.com/artist/bobby-vee/chart-history/hsi/ Hot 100 Bobby Vee Take Good Care of My Baby Chart History], 'Billboard.com'. Retrieved March 11, 2018. and spending three weeks in that position.Whitburn, Joel (1987). 'The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits', Billboard Publications, Inc. p. 315. The song became a major hit internationally as well, reaching No. 1 in Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

The song was ranked No. 12 on 'Billboard's "Hot 100 for 1961 Top Sides of the Year""[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/60s/1962/Billboard%201962-01-06.pdf Chart Toppers]", 'Billboard', January 6, 1962. p. 33. Retrieved April 17, 2017. and No. 23 on 'Cash Box's "Top 100 Chart Hits of 1961"."[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Cash-Box/60s/1961/CB-1961-12-30.pdf Top 100 Chart Hits of 1961]", 'Cash Box', December 30, 1961. p. 11. Retrieved April 17, 2017.

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

Vee re-recorded the song as a ballad in 1972.Bronson, Fred (2003). '[https://books.google.com/books?id=PgGqNrqfrsoC&pg=PT106#v=onepage&q&f=false The Billboard Book of Number One Hits]', Billboard Books. p. 97. Retrieved October 11, 2016. He released under his real name, Robert Thomas Velline, on his 1972 album 'Ain't Nothing Like a Sunny Day', and as a single in 1973.[http://www.norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Robert+Thomas+Velline&titel=Take+Good+Care+Of+My+Baby&cat=s Robert Thomas Velline Take Good Care of My Baby], norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved October 11, 2016. However, it is his original version, along with Bobby Vinton's, that remain as staples of oldies radio stations.

Chart performance

{| class="wikitable sortable"

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!Chart (1961)

!Peak
position

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|Australia (Music Maker)"[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/60s/1961/Billboard%201961-10-30.pdf Billboard Music Week Hits of the World]", 'Billboard', October 30, 1961. p. 46. Accessed October 10, 2016.

| align="center"|6

|-

|Canada (CHUM Hit Parade)

| align="center"|1

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|Hong Kong"[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/60s/1961/Billboard%201961-12-25.pdf Billboard Music Week Hits of the World]", 'Billboard', December 25, 1961. p. 14. Accessed October 10, 2016.

| align="center"|2

|-

|Ireland ('Evening Herald')Kelly, Eddie (2009). 'Complete Guide to Ireland's Top Ten Hits 1954-79: The Definitive Listing of Ireland's Top Ten Hits 1954 1979''Evening Herald', December 7, 1961.

| align="center"|2

|-

|New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade)[http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=Lever%20hit%20parades&qyear=1961&qmonth=Nov&qweek=02-Nov-1961#n_view_location "Lever Hit Parade" 02-Nov-1961], Flavour of New Zealand. Accessed October 12, 2016.

| align="center"|1

|-

|United Kingdom ('Record Retailer')

| align="center"|3

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|United Kingdom ('NME')"[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/60s/1961/Billboard%201961-12-04.pdf Billboard Music Week Hits of the World]", 'Billboard', December 4, 1961. p. 19. Retrieved October 12, 2016.

| align="center"|1

|-

|United Kingdom ('Record Mirror')

| align="center"|1

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|U.S. 'Billboard' Hot 100

| align="center"|1

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|U.S. 'Cash Box' Top 100"[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Cash-Box/60s/1961/CB-1961-09-30.pdf Cash Box Top 100]", 'Cash Box', September 30, 1961. p. 4. Retrieved March 11, 2018.

| align="center"|1

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|U.S. 'Cash Box' Records Disc Jockeys Played Most"[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Cash-Box/60s/1961/CB-1961-09-30.pdf The Records Disc Jockeys Played Most]", 'Cash Box', September 30, 1961. p. 25. Retrieved April 4, 2018.

| align="center"|1

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|U.S. 'Cash Box' Top Ten Juke Box Tunes"[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Cash-Box/60s/1961/CB-1961-09-30.pdf Top Ten Juke Box Tunes]", 'Cash Box', September 30, 1961. p. 24. Retrieved April 4, 2018.

| align="center"|1

|}

Bobby Vinton version



In 1968, the song was released by Bobby Vinton as a single and on his album, 'Take Good Care of My Baby'. Vinton's version became a hit, spending 8 weeks on the U.S. 'Billboard' Hot 100, reaching No. 33,[https://www.billboard.com/artist/bobby-vinton/chart-history/hsi/ Hot 100 Bobby Vinton Take Good Care of My Baby Chart History], 'Billboard.com'. Retrieved March 10, 2018. while reaching No. 14 on 'Billboard's Easy Listening chart,[https://www.billboard.com/artist/bobby-vinton/chart-history/asi/ Adult Contemporary Bobby Vinton Take Good Care of My Baby Chart History], 'Billboard.com'. Retrieved March 10, 2018."[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/60s/1968/Billboard%201968-05-04.pdf Billboard Top 40 Easy Listening]", 'Billboard', May 4, 1968. p. 49. Accessed October 9, 2016. No. 19 on 'Record World's "100 Top Pops","[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Record-World/60s/68/RW-1968-05-04.pdf 100 Top Pops]", 'Record World', May 4, 1968. Retrieved March 10, 2018. No. 12 on 'Record World's "Top Non-Rock" chart,"[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Record-World/60s/68/RW-1968-05-11.pdf Record World's Top Non-Rock]", 'Record World', May 11, 1968. p. 30. Retrieved March 10, 2018. No. 36 on Canada's "'RPM' 100","[http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=4322& RPM 100]", 'RPM Weekly', Volume 9, No. 11, May 11, 1968. Accessed October 10, 2016. and No. 16 on Canada's CHUM Hit Parade. Chart No. 585. Vinton's version omitted the introduction, plus the first two lines of the repeated refrain.

Chart performance



Smokie version



In 1980, Smokie released a version of the song, which spent seven weeks on the UK Singles Chart, reaching No. 34,[http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/15376/smokie/ Smokie Full Official Chart History], Official Charts Company. Accessed October 10, 2016. while reaching No. 10 on Austria's 3 Hit whl mit chart,[http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Smokie&titel=Take+Good+Care+Of+My+Baby&cat=s Smokie Take Good Care of My Baby], austriancharts.at. Accessed October 10, 2016. No. 15 on the Irish Singles Chart,[http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement Song Title Search Results for "Take Good Care of My Baby"], The Irish Charts. Accessed October 10, 2016. and No. 18 in West Germany.[http://www.norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Smokie&titel=Take+Good+Care+Of+My+Baby&cat=s Smokie Take Good Care of My Baby], norwegiancharts.com. Accessed October 10, 2016. It was later released on their 1981 album 'Solid Ground'.

Other versions



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

The song was covered by The Beatles during their audition at Decca Records on January 1, 1962, with George Harrison on lead vocals.Womack, Kenneth (June 30, 2014). '[https://books.google.com/books?id=xWRyBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA885#v=onepage&q&f=false The Beatles Encyclopedia: Everything Fab Four]', ABC-CLIO. p. 885. Retrieved October 11, 2016. Gary Lewis & The Playboys recorded a cover version, which was released on their 1966 album, 'She's Just My Style'.

Donny Osmond released a version of the song on his 1972 album 'Too Young'.

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 3 Austria Top 40.[http://www.norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Dick+Brave+%26+The+Backbeats&titel=Take+Good+Care+Of+My+Baby&cat=s Dick Brave and the Backbeats Take Good Care of My Baby], norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved October 12, 2016.[http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Dick+Brave+%26+The+Backbeats&titel=Take+Good+Care+Of+My+Baby&cat=s Dick Brave and the Backbeats Take Good Care of My Baby], austriancharts.at. Accessed October 12, 2016.

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."[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/60s/1961/Billboard%201961-10-23.pdf Reviews of New Singles]", 'Billboard', October 23, 1961. p. 41. Retrieved October 12, 2016. Another answer song, titled "You Should Know I'm Still Your Baby", was recorded by Sammi Lynn.Cooper, B. Lee; Haney, Wayne S. (1990). 'Response Recordings: An Answer Song Discography, 1950-1990', Scarecrow Press. p. 151. It was released as a single on Sue Records 45-752, in 1961.

Notes



References



Category:1961 singles

Category:1968 singles

Category:1973 singles

Category:1980 singles

Category:1961 songs

Category:Bobby Vee songs

Category:Dion DiMucci songs

Category:Bobby Vinton songs

Category:The Beatles songs

Category:Smokie (band) songs

Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles

Category:Cashbox number-one singles

Category:Number-one singles in Canada

Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand

Category:Songs with lyrics by Gerry Goffin

Category:Songs written by Carole King

Category:Song recordings produced by Snuff Garrett

Category:Song recordings produced by Billy Sherrill

Category:Liberty Records singles

Category:Epic Records singles

Category:United Artists Records singles

Category:RAK Records singles

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