Take Good Care of My Baby

"Take Good Care of My Baby" is a song written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin.[1] The song was made famous by Bobby Vee,[2] when it was released in 1961.

For the Bobby Vinton album, see Take Good Care of My Baby (album).
"Take Good Care of My Baby"
Single by Bobby Vee
from the album Take Good Care of My Baby
B-side"Bashful Bob"
ReleasedJuly 20, 1961
Recorded1961
GenreRock and roll, pop
Length2:36
LabelLiberty
Songwriter(s)Carole King and 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)

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.[1]

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.[3] The Johnny Mann Singers sang backup.[4]

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.[5] Vee's recording quickly became popular, spending 15 weeks on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 1 on September 21, 1961,[6] and spending three weeks in that position.[7][6] The song became a major hit internationally as well, reaching No. 1 in Canada,[8] New Zealand,[9] and the United Kingdom.[10]

The song was ranked No. 12 on Billboard's "Hot 100 for 1961 – Top Sides of the Year"[11] and No. 23 on Cash Box's "Top 100 Chart Hits of 1961".[12]

The song was the lead track on Bobby Vee's album, Take Good Care of My Baby, which was released in 1962.[13]

Vee re-recorded the song as a ballad in 1972.[1] He released under his real name, Robert Thomas Velline, on his 1972 album Ain't Nothing Like a Sunny Day,[1] and as a single in 1973.[14] 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)[15] 6
Canada (CHUM Hit Parade)[8] 1
Hong Kong[16] 2
Ireland (Evening Herald)[17][18] 2
New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade)[9][15] 1
United Kingdom (Record Retailer)[19] 3
United Kingdom (NME)[10][nb 1] 1
United Kingdom (Record Mirror)[20] 1
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[6] 1
U.S. Cash Box Top 100[21] 1
U.S. Cash Box Records Disc Jockeys Played Most[22] 1
U.S. Cash Box Top Ten Juke Box Tunes[23] 1

Bobby Vinton version
"Take Good Care of My Baby"
Single by Bobby Vinton
from the album Take Good Care of My Baby
B-side"Strange Sensations"
Released1968
GenrePop
Length2:45
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)Carole King and 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.[24] Vinton's version became a hit, spending 8 weeks on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 33,[25] while reaching No. 14 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart,[26][27] No. 19 on Record World's "100 Top Pops",[28] No. 12 on Record World's "Top Non-Rock" chart,[29] No. 36 on Canada's "RPM 100",[30] and No. 16 on Canada's CHUM Hit Parade.[31] Vinton's version omitted the introduction, plus the first two lines of the repeated refrain.

Chart performance
Chart (1968) Peak
position
Canada (RPM 100)[30] 36
Canada (CHUM Hit Parade)[31] 16
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[25] 33
U.S. Billboard Easy Listening[27] 14
U.S. Cash Box Top 100[32] 26
U.S. Record World 100 Top Pops[28] 19
U.S. Record World Top Non-Rock[29] 12
U.S. Record World Juke Box Top 25[33] 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
LabelRAK
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,[34] while reaching No. 10 on Austria's Ö3 Hit wähl mit chart,[35] No. 15 on the Irish Singles Chart,[36] and No. 18 in West Germany.[37] It was later released on their 1981 album Solid Ground.[37]

Chart (1980) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[38] 48

Other versions

Dion recorded a version of the song, which was released on his November 1961 album Runaround Sue.[39] Although Dion's version was released after Bobby Vee's version, Dion's was the first version to be recorded.[1]

The song was covered by The Beatles during their audition at Decca Records on January 1, 1962 with George Harrison on lead vocals.[40] Gary Lewis & The Playboys recorded a cover version, which was released on their 1966 album, She's Just My Style.[41]

Donny Osmond released a version of the song on his 1972 album Too Young.[42]

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.[43][44]

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.[45] Another answer song, titled "You Should Know I'm Still Your Baby", was recorded by Sammi Lynn.[46] It was released as a single on Sue Records 45-752, in 1961.[46]

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 2 December 1961.[20]

References
  1. Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits, Billboard Books. p. 97. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
  2. Bobby Vee interviewed on the Pop Chronicles (1969)
  3. September 18, 2016 at 7:57am post, The Wrecking Crew verified page, Facebook.com. September 18, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  4. Vee, Bobby. "Take Good Care of My Baby." Liberty, F-55354, 1961.
  5. "Spotlight Singles of the Week", Billboard, July 31, 1961. p. 27. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  6. Hot 100 – Bobby Vee Take Good Care of My Baby Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  7. Whitburn, Joel (1987). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, Billboard Publications, Inc. p. 315.
  8. "CHUM Chart Archives – Chart No. 234 – Monday, October 02, 1961". CHUM. Archived from the original on February 28, 2006. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  9. "Lever Hit Parade" 02-Nov-1961, Flavour of New Zealand. Accessed October 12, 2016.
  10. "Billboard Music Week Hits of the World", Billboard, December 4, 1961. p. 19. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  11. "Chart Toppers", Billboard, January 6, 1962. p. 33. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
  12. "Top 100 Chart Hits of 1961", Cash Box, December 30, 1961. p. 11. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
  13. "Take Good Care of My Baby – Bobby Vee". AllMusic. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  14. Robert Thomas Velline – Take Good Care of My Baby, norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
  15. "Billboard Music Week Hits of the World", Billboard, October 30, 1961. p. 46. Accessed October 10, 2016.
  16. "Billboard Music Week Hits of the World", Billboard, December 25, 1961. p. 14. Accessed October 10, 2016.
  17. Kelly, Eddie (2009). Complete Guide to Ireland's Top Ten Hits 1954-79: The Definitive Listing of Ireland's Top Ten Hits 1954 – 1979
  18. Evening Herald, December 7, 1961.
  19. "Artist Chart History Details: Bobby Vee". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  20. 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 4 November 2010.
  21. "Cash Box Top 100", Cash Box, September 30, 1961. p. 4. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  22. "The Records Disc Jockeys Played Most", Cash Box, September 30, 1961. p. 25. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  23. "Top Ten Juke Box Tunes", Cash Box, September 30, 1961. p. 24. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  24. "Take Good Care of My Baby – Bobby Vinton". AllMusic. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  25. Hot 100 – Bobby Vinton Take Good Care of My Baby Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  26. Adult Contemporary – Bobby Vinton Take Good Care of My Baby Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  27. "Billboard Top 40 Easy Listening", Billboard, May 4, 1968. p. 49. Accessed October 9, 2016.
  28. "100 Top Pops", Record World, May 4, 1968. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  29. "Record World's Top Non-Rock", Record World, May 11, 1968. p. 30. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  30. "RPM 100", RPM Weekly, Volume 9, No. 11, May 11, 1968. Accessed October 10, 2016.
  31. "CHUM Hit Parade – Week of April 22, 1968". CHUM. Archived from the original on November 7, 2006. Retrieved March 22, 2018. Chart No. 585.
  32. Cash Box Top 100, Cash Box, May 4, 1968. p. 4. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  33. "Juke Box Top 25", Record World, May 4, 1968. p. 35. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  34. Smokie – Full Official Chart History, Official Charts Company. Accessed October 10, 2016.
  35. Smokie – Take Good Care of My Baby, austriancharts.at. Accessed October 10, 2016.
  36. Song Title Search Results for "Take Good Care of My Baby", The Irish Charts. Accessed October 10, 2016.
  37. Smokie – Take Good Care of My Baby, norwegiancharts.com. Accessed October 10, 2016.
  38. 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.
  39. "Runaround Sue – Dion". AllMusic. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  40. Womack, Kenneth (June 30, 2014). The Beatles Encyclopedia: Everything Fab Four, ABC-CLIO. p. 885. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
  41. "She's Just My Style – Gary Lewis & The Playboys". AllMusic. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  42. "Too Young – Donny Osmond". AllMusic. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  43. Dick Brave and the Backbeats – Take Good Care of My Baby, norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  44. Dick Brave and the Backbeats – Take Good Care of My Baby, austriancharts.at. Accessed October 12, 2016.
  45. "Reviews of New Singles", Billboard, October 23, 1961. p. 41. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  46. Cooper, B. Lee; Haney, Wayne S. (1990). Response Recordings: An Answer Song Discography, 1950-1990, Scarecrow Press. p. 151.
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