"Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie" is a 1967 song written by Maurice Irby, Jr., produced by Jerry Ross, arranged by

Joe Renzetti Joe Renzetti (born January 4, 1941) is an American film composer and session musician. He scores for films and television, and composes works for orchestra, chamber groups, and solo artists. Career Born in Philadelphia, Renzetti began his career ...

and performed by

Jay & the Techniques Jay & the Techniques was an American pop group formed in Allentown, Pennsylvania during the mid-1960s. Their song " Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie", released in 1967 on the Smash label, reached the Top 10 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart. Biogra ...

on their 1968 album of the same name.

Background

Bobby Hebb Robert Von Hebb (July 26, 1938 – August 3, 2010) was an American R&B and soul singer, musician, songwriter, recording artist, and performer known for his 1966 hit entitled " Sunny". Biography Hebb was born in Nashville, Tennessee. His par ...

was originally offered "Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie", but rejected it due to its

novelty Novelty (derived from Latin word ''novus'' for "new") is the quality of being new, or following from that, of being striking, original or unusual. Novelty may be the shared experience of a new cultural phenomenon or the subjective perception of an ...

sound. Jerry Ross then offered it to Jay & the Techniques. The song was originally recorded in January 1967 at

Bell Sound Studios Bell Sound Studios was an independent recording studio in New York City from 1950 to 1976. At its height, the studio was the largest independent recording studio in the United States, and the site of recording sessions that produced seminal hits by ...

in New York with Ross producing and Joe Renzetti arranging and conducting.

Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson Ashford & Simpson were an American husband-and-wife songwriting-production team and recording artists, recording duo of Nickolas Ashford (May 4, 1941 – August 22, 2011) and Valerie Simpson (born August 26, 1946). Ashford was born in Fairfield ...

provided background vocals, accompanying the lead singer Jay Proctor; Ross used session musicians for the instrumental backing in place of the Techniques. This process would continue for all of the band's singles recorded after this.

Chart performance

"Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie" reached #6 on the ''Billboard'' chart and #8 on the U.S. R&B chart Outside the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

, it peaked at #6 on the Canadian R&B chart, and #61 on the Canadian pop chart.

Other versions

Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs Domingo "Sam" Samudio (born February 28, 1937, in Dallas, Texas, United States), better known by his stage name Sam the Sham, is a retired American rock and roll singer. Sam the Sham was known for his camp robe and turban and hauling his equi ...

, using the title "Ready or Not", on their 1966 ''The Best of Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs'' album on MGM Records (#SE-4422.) *Truman Thomas, on his 1967 album ''Groovin on the United Artists side label Veep (#VPS 16517). *

The Fourmost The Fourmost are an English Merseybeat band that recorded in the 1960s. Their biggest UK hit single was "A Little Loving" in 1964. Biography Guitarist/vocalist Brian O'Hara and best friend guitarist/vocalist Joey Bower (born Joseph Bower, 17 N ...

, a single in November 1968. *

Mary Wells Mary Esther Wells (May 13, 1943 – July 26, 1992) was an American singer, who helped to define the emerging sound of Motown in the early 1960s. Along with The Supremes, The Miracles, The Temptations, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, and the F ...

, on her 1968 album, '' Servin' Up Some Soul''. *

Foster Sylvers Foster Emerson Sylvers (born February 25, 1962) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known for being a member of the family act The Sylvers and his hit single "Misdemeanor". Biography Foster ...

, on his 1974 album, '' Foster Sylvers Featuring Pat & Angie Sylvers''. *

Brave Combo Brave Combo is a polka/ rock/ worldbeat band based in Denton, Texas. Founded in 1979 by guitarist/keyboardist/accordionist Carl Finch, they have been a prominent fixture in the Texas music scene for more than thirty-five years. Their music, bot ...

, on their 1999 album, ''

Polkasonic ''Polkasonic'' is an album by the American polka band Brave Combo. It was released through Cleveland International Records in 1999. In 2000, the album won Brave Combo the Grammy Award for Grammy Award for Best Polka Album, Best Polka Album. It was ...

''.Brave Combo, ''Polkasonic''
Retrieved January 4, 2014

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie 1967 songs 1967 singles 1968 singles Mary Wells songs Smash Records singles