Come Go with Me
"Come Go With Me" is a song written by C. E. Quick (a.k.a. Clarence Quick), an original member (bass vocalist) of the American doo-wop vocal group The Del-Vikings.[1] The song was originally recorded by The Del-Vikings in 1956 and was released on Fee Bee Records. Norman Wright was the lead vocalist on this song.[2] When the group signed with Dot Records in 1957, the song became a hit, peaking at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[3] The song was later featured in the films American Graffiti (1973), Diner (1982), Stand by Me (1986), Joe Versus the Volcano (1990), and Set It Up (2018).[4] It was included in Robert Christgau's "Basic Record Library" of 1950s and 1960s recordings, published in Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981).[5] It sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc.[6]
"Come Go With Me" | ||||
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Single by The Del-Vikings | ||||
B-side | "How Can I Find True Love" | |||
Released | December 1956 (Fee Bee)/ January 1957 (Dot Records) | |||
Recorded | 1956 | |||
Genre | Doo-wop | |||
Length | 2:40 | |||
Label | Fee Bee, Dot | |||
Songwriter(s) | Clarence Quick | |||
The Del-Vikings singles chronology | ||||
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Rolling Stone magazine ranked the song No. 449 on its list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[7]
The Beach Boys version
"Come Go With Me" | ||||
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Single by The Beach Boys | ||||
from the album M.I.U. Album | ||||
B-side | "Don't Go Near the Water" | |||
Released | October 2, 1978 (album) November 2, 1981 (single) | |||
Genre | Doo-wop | |||
Length | 2:08 | |||
Label | Caribou Records | |||
Songwriter(s) | Clarence Quick | |||
Producer(s) | Al Jardine, Ron Altbach | |||
The Beach Boys singles chronology | ||||
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"Come Go With Me" was later covered by American rock band the Beach Boys and was included on their 1978 album, M.I.U. Album. Although not released as a single at the time, the song was included on a Beach Boys compilation album, Ten Years of Harmony, in 1981. After being released as a single to promote the compilation, it rose to No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in January 1982.[8] According to Al Jardine, he requested bandmate Brian Wilson to contribute the horn arrangement; Wilson devised it on the spot at Sunset Sound Recorders while dressed in a bathrobe.[9]
Personnel
Partial credits from 2000 liner notes.[10]
The Beach Boys
- Brian Wilson - horn arrangement
- Mike Love - backing vocals
- Al Jardine - lead vocals, electric rhythm guitar, bass guitar
- Carl Wilson - backing vocals, electric lead guitar
- Dennis Wilson – drums
Additional musicians
- Michael Andreas – saxophone, horn arrangements
- Charles Lloyd – saxophone
- Lance Buller – trumpet
- John Foss – trumpet
- Rod Novak – saxophone
- Charlie McCarthy – saxophone
- Bob Williams – saxophone
- Matt Jardine, Michael Sherry – handclaps, finger snaps
Chart positions
Chart | Peak position |
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Canada Top Singles | 20 |
US Billboard Hot 100 | 18 |
US Billboard Adult Contemporary | 11 |
US Cash Box Top 100 | 20 |
Other versions
Dion covered a version of the song on his 1962 album, Lovers Who Wander. Released as a single (Laurie 3121), it reached No. 48 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963.[11]
The Quarrymen, a precursor to The Beatles, played "Come Go with Me" at the fete at St Peter's Church, Woolton, Liverpool on 6 July 1957. This was the first time Paul McCartney had heard John Lennon performing. In 2000, several ex-Quarrymen performed a version of the song for the film Two of Us.[12]
References
- Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 14 - Big Rock Candy Mountain: Rock 'n' roll in the late fifties. [Part 4]" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.
- Hinckley, David. "Fox's 'Glee' rehabilitates 1980s radio hits like 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' by Bonnie Tyler". nydailynews.com.
- Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 172.
- "Set It Up (2018) Music Soundtrack & Complete List of Songs - WhatSong Soundtracks". What-song.
- Christgau, Robert (1981). "A Basic Record Library: The Fifties and Sixties". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 0899190251. Retrieved March 16, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 90. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- "500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. 7 April 2011. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 51.
- Scoppa, Bud (May 2016), "I Know There's an Answer...", Uncut
- Tamarkin, Jeff (2000). M.I.U./L.A. Light Album (booklet). The Beach Boys. California: Capitol Records.
- Dion's charting singles Retrieved 09-23-11
- "The Beatles Anthology" DVD (2003) (Episode 1 – 0:21:56) Lennon talking 3> about meeting McCartney.