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Don't Make Me Over (song)
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Wikipedia article
"'Don't Make Me Over'" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, originally recorded by Dionne Warwick in August 1962 and released in October 1962 as her lead solo single from her debut album 'Presenting Dionne Warwick' issued under Sceptor Records. The song reached number 21 on the US 'Billboard' Hot 100 and number five on the 'Billboard' Hot R&B Singles chart.
Dionne Warwick original
Warwick recorded "Don't Make Me Over" in August 1962 a song later chosen as the lead single for her debut album 'Presenting Dionne Warwick'. In October 1962, Scepter Records released the track as her first solo single. Initially, Warwick had found out that "Make It Easy on Yourself" a song on which she had recorded the original demo and had wanted to be her first single release had been given to another artist, Jerry Butler.
From the catchy phrase "don't make me over", Bacharach and David wrote and produced their first US top 40 pop hit (No. 21) and US R&B hit (No. 5). It was also a top-forty hit at number 38, in Canada. The background vocals in the song were from the Gospelaires, which featured sister Dee Dee, Sylvia Shemwell and aunt Cissy Houston, who would be pregnant with her youngest child, Whitney Houston, shortly after it made the charts that December.
Track listing
*'UK, 7-inch single':A1: "Don't Make Me Over" 2:46
:A2: "Shall I Tell Her" 2:33
:B1: "Make The Music Play" 2:25
:B2: "Any Old Time Of Day" 2:25
* 'France, 7-inch single'
:A1: "Don't Make Me Over" 2:46
:A2: "Shall I Tell Her" 3:20
:B1: "I Smiled Yesterday" 2:44
:B2: "Wishin' And Hopin'" 2:25
Charts
Weekly chartsJennifer Warnes version
Sybil version
{{Infobox song
| name = Don't Make Me Over
| cover = Sybil-Don't_Make_Me_Over.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Sybil
| album = Sybil
| B-side = Here Comes My Love
| released =
| recorded =
| venue =
| genre =
* Dance
* soul
| length = 3:54
| label = Next Plateau Records Inc.
| writer =
* Burt Bacharach
* Hal David
| producer =
* Dolores Drewry
* James Bratton
| prev_title = Can't Wait (On Tomorrow)
| prev_year = 1988
| next_title = Walk On By
| next_year = 1990
| misc =
}}
In July 1989, American singer Sybil released a dance cover of the song. Her version became a number-one hit in New Zealand for four weeks, reached number 20 on the US 'Billboard' Hot 100, and peaked at number two on the 'Billboard' Hot Black Singles chart, eventually receiving a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). This version also became a UK hit, peaking at number 19 on the UK Singles Chart.
Critical reception
Bill Coleman from 'Billboard' described Sybil's cover as a "spirited Soul II Soul-ish rendition of the Dionne Warwick classic [that] has smash written all over it". Also Pop Rescue stated that it has a beat that musically reminds of "a hybrid" of Soul II Soul's "Keep On Movin'" and Take That's "Pray", calling it "mellow and soulful". Miranda Sawyer from 'Smash Hits' noted "the swoony dance wisples" of the song.Track listing
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Other cover versions
Various covers of the song have been made:
* In January 1966, Liverpuldian band the Swinging Blue Jeans released a cover version which peaked at 31 in the United Kingdom.
* February 1969 Shirley and Johnny British Duo had minor success with the song. Mercury MF1074
* Brenda & The Tabulations hit number 15 on the US R&B charts with their cover in 1970.
* Jennifer Warnes released version reached number 67 on the US Hot 100 in 1979.
References
Category:1962 songs
Category:1962 debut singles
Category:1989 singles
Category:Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients
Category:Songs with lyrics by Hal David
Category:Songs with music by Burt Bacharach
Category:Dionne Warwick songs
Category:Jennifer Warnes songs
Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand
Category:Scepter Records singles
Category:Sybil (singer) songs
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