Turn Around, Look at Me

"Turn Around, Look at Me" is a song written by Jerry Capehart and Glen Campbell, though Campbell is not officially credited.[1]

"Turn Around, Look at Me"
Single by Glen Campbell
B-side	"Brenda"
Released	October 1961
Genre	Folk
Length	2:35
Label	Crest Records
Songwriter(s)	Jerry Capehart
Glen Campbell singles chronology
"Turn Around, Look at Me" (1961) "Too Late to Worry, Too Blue to Cry" (1962)

"Turn Around, Look at Me"
Single by Barry Gibb and the Bee Gees
B-side	"(Theme From) The Travels Of Jamie McPheeters"
Released	October 1964
Recorded	September 1964 Festival Studio, Sydney, Australia
Genre	Folk, pop, country
Length	2:16
Label	Leedon
Songwriter(s)	Jerry Capehart
Barry Gibb and the Bee Gees singles chronology
"Claustrophobia" (1964) "Turn Around, Look at Me" (1964) "Everyday I Have To Cry" (1965)

"Turn Around, Look at Me"
Single by The Vogues
from the album Turn Around, Look at Me
B-side	"Then"
Released	June 1968
Recorded	1968
Genre	traditional pop
Length	2:33
Label	Reprise
Songwriter(s)	Jerry Capehart
Producer(s)	Dick Glasser
The Vogues singles chronology
"That's the Tune" (1966) "Turn Around, Look at Me" (1968) "My Special Angel" (1968)

In 1961, Glen Campbell released his version as a single. This was his first song to chart in the United States, hitting #62 on the Billboard Hot 100[2] and #15 on the Adult Contemporary chart. This version included session drummer Earl Palmer on drums.[3]

The Lettermen version

In 1962, The Lettermen released their version as a single. It made it to #5 on Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, but the b-side of the single, "How Is Julie?," became the bigger hit.

Bee Gees version

In 1964, while Bee Gees were still in Australia, they released a version of the song which did not chart.[4] It is also their fifth single, and was credited to "Barry Gibb and the Bee Gees".[5] It was also included on the group's 1967 mop-up compilation Turn Around, Look at Us and the 1998 anthology of their Australian recordings Brilliant from Birth.[6]

Personnel

• Barry Gibb — lead vocals
• Robin Gibb — harmony and backing vocals
• Maurice Gibb — harmony and backing vocals
• Uncredited musicians — guitar, bass, drums, orchestra, chorus

The Vogues' version

In 1968, The Vogues released their remake as a single. This version was by far the most successful, reaching #7 on the Hot 100[7] and #3 on the Adult Contemporary chart.[8] In 2019 it is being used in a Volkswagen commercial.[9]

Chart history

Weekly charts Chart (1968) Peak position Australia KMR 43 Canada RPM Top Singles[10] 5 US Billboard Hot 100[11] 7 US Billboard Adult Contemporary 3 US Cash Box Top 100[12] 4

Year-end charts Chart (1968) Rank Canada [10] 32 US Billboard Hot 100[13] 24 US Cash Box [14] 34

References

1. Roberts, Jeremy (2019-10-01). "The complete songwriting list of 'Wichita Lineman' Glen Campbell". Medium. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
2. Glen Campbell charting singles Retrieved 09-18-11.
3. Scherman, Tony, Backbeat: The Earl Palmer Story, forward by Wynton Marsalis, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C., 1999 p. 175
4. The Bee Gees, Spicks & Specks: 26 Songs from the Early Days Retrieved 09-18-11.
5. Joseph Brennan. "Gibb Songs: 1964".
6. Discogs.com. "Bee Gees - Brilliant from Birth".
7. The Vogues charting singles Retrieved 09-18-11.
8. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 251.
9. "Volkswagen Tiguan TV Commercial, 'Overview Effect' Song by the Vogues [T1]".
10. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2015-11-10. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
11. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
12. "Cash Box Top 100 8/31/68". Tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
13. "Top 100 Hits of 1968/Top 100 Songs of 1968". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
14. "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1968". Tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 9 October 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2018.