Take Good Care of My Baby
{{Short description|1961 song by Bobby Vee}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{For|the albums|Take Good Care of My Baby (Bobby Vinton album)|Take Good Care of My Baby (Bobby Vee album)}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Take Good Care of My Baby
| cover = Take_Good_Care_of_My_Baby_-_Bobby_Vee.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Bobby Vee
| album = Take Good Care of My Baby
| B-side = Bashful Bob
| released = July 20, 1961
| recorded = June 21, 1961
| studio = United Recording Studios, Hollywood, California
| venue =
| genre = Pop{{cite web|first= Tom |last= Breihan |title= The Number Ones: Bobby Vee's "Take Good Care Of My Baby"|website= Stereogum |date= April 5, 2018 |url= https://www.stereogum.com/1989916/the-number-ones-bobby-vees-take-good-care-of-my-baby/columns/the-number-ones/|quote= ..."Take Good Care Of My Baby"...fits a whole lot of competing emotions into a compact and economical pop-song format.|accessdate= June 9, 2023}}
| length = 2:36
| label = Liberty
| writer =
| producer = Snuff Garrett
| prev_title = How Many Tears
| prev_title2 = Baby Face
| prev_year = 1961
| next_title = Run to Him
| next_title2 = Walkin' With My Angel
| next_year = 1961
}}
"Take Good Care of My Baby" is a song written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin. The song was made famous by American singer Bobby Vee, when it was released in 1961.{{Pop Chronicles|20| 2|Bobby Vee}}
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 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 US 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,{{cite web |url=http://www.1050chum.com/index_chumcharts.aspx?chart=234 |title=CHUM Chart Archives – Chart No. 234 – Monday, October 02, 1961 |access-date=March 22, 2018 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060228234510/http://www.1050chum.com/index_chumcharts.aspx?chart=234 |publisher=CHUM |archive-date=February 28, 2006}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/take-good-care-of-my-baby-mw0002519447 |title=Take Good Care of My Baby – Bobby Vee |publisher= AllMusic |access-date= February 17, 2018}}
Vee re-recorded the song as a ballad in 1972.Bronson, Fred (2003). [https://books.google.com/books?id=PgGqNrqfrsoC&pg=PT106 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.
=Charts=
Bobby Vinton version
{{Infobox song
| name = Take Good Care of My Baby
| cover = Take_Good_Care_of_My_Baby_-_Bobby_Vinton.jpeg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Bobby Vinton
| album = Take Good Care of My Baby
| B-side = Strange Sensations
| released = March 15, 1968
| recorded = Feb. 16, 1968
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Pop
| length = {{Duration|m=2|s=45}}
| label = Epic
| writer =
| producer = Billy Sherrill
| prev_title = Just as Much as Ever
| prev_year = 1967
| next_title = Halfway to Paradise
| next_year = 1968
}}
In 1968, the song was released by American singer Bobby Vinton as a single and on his seventeenth album, Take Good Care of My Baby (1968).{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/take-good-care-of-my-baby-mw0000846837 |title=Take Good Care of My Baby – Bobby Vinton |publisher= AllMusic |access-date= October 12, 2016}} Vinton's version became a hit, spending 8 weeks on the US 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.1050chum.com/charts/chartview.aspx?img=19630408 |title=CHUM Hit Parade – Week of April 22, 1968 |access-date=March 22, 2018 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061107200702/http://www.1050chum.com/charts/chartview.aspx?img=19680422 |publisher=CHUM |archive-date=November 7, 2006 }} Chart No. 585. Vinton's version omitted the introduction, plus the first two lines of the repeated refrain.
=Charts=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Chart (1968)
!Peak |
|---|
| Canada Top 100 (RPM)
| align="center"|36 |
| Canada (CHUM Hit Parade)
| align="center"|16 |
| US Billboard Hot 100
| align="center"|33 |
| US Easy Listening (Billboard)
| align="center"|14 |
| US Cash Box Top 100[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Cash-Box/60s/1968/CB-1968-05-04.pdf Cash Box Top 100], Cash Box, May 4, 1968. p. 4. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
| align="center"|26 |
| US Record World 100 Top Pops
| align="center"|19 |
| US Top Non-Rock (Record World)
| align="center"|12 |
| US Juke Box Top 25 (Record World)"[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Record-World/60s/68/RW-1968-05-04.pdf Juke Box Top 25]", Record World, May 4, 1968. p. 35. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
| align="center"|4 |
Smokie version
{{Infobox song
| name = Take Good Care of My Baby
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Smokie
| album = Solid Ground
| B-side = "I Wanna Kiss Your Lips"
| released = {{start date|1980}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = 3:15
| label = RAK
| writer =
| producer = Smokie
| prev_title = San Francisco Bay
| prev_year = 1979
| next_title = Run to Me
| next_year = 1980
| misc =
}}
In 1980, English rock band 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 Ö3 Hit wähl 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.
=Charts=
| class="wikitable |
| scope="col"| Chart (1980)
!Peak |
|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=279}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 48 |
Other versions
Dion recorded a version of the song, which was released on his November 1961 album Runaround Sue.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/runaround-sue-mw0000083566 |title=Runaround Sue – Dion |publisher= AllMusic |access-date= March 21, 2018}} 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 The Beatles Encyclopedia: Everything Fab Four], ABC-CLIO. p. 885. Retrieved October 11, 2016. The version has never been released officially, but can be found easily through bootlegs.{{Cite web |date=2011-07-05 |title=Take Good Care Of My Baby |url=https://www.beatlesbible.com/songs/take-good-care-of-my-baby/ |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=The Beatles Bible |language=en-GB}}
Gary Lewis & the Playboys recorded a cover version, which was released on their 1966 album, She's Just My Style.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/shes-just-my-style-mw0000865733 |title=She's Just My Style – Gary Lewis & The Playboys |publisher= AllMusic |access-date= October 12, 2016}}
Donny Osmond released a version of the song on his 1972 album Too Young.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/too-young-mw0000852501|title=Too Young – Donny Osmond|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=April 4, 2018}}
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.[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.
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."[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.
See also
Notes
{{Reflist|group="nb"}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Bobby Vee}}
{{Bobby Vinton}}
{{Smokie}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Take Good Care Of My Baby}}
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