"Bad Boy" is a song by

rock and roll Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock 'n' roll, or rock 'n roll) is a Genre (music), genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It Origins of rock and roll, originated from Africa ...

singer

Marty Wilde Marty Wilde, (born Reginald Leonard Smith; 15 April 1939) is an English singer and songwriter. He was among the first generation of British pop stars to emulate American rock and roll, scoring several 1950s hit singles including "Endless Sle ...

, released as a single in November 1959. It peaked at number 7 on the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

and number 45 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.

Release and reception

Announcing the release of the single in '' Disc'', producer Jack Good wrote that "It's Been Nice", written by

Doc Pomus Jerome Solon Felder (June 27, 1925 – March 14, 1991), known professionally as Doc Pomus, was an American blues singer and songwriter. He is best known as the co-writer of many rock and roll hits. Pomus was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall ...

and

Mort Shuman Mortimer Shuman (12 November 1938 – 2 November 1991) was an American singer, pianist and songwriter, best known as co-writer of many 1960s rock and roll hits, including "Viva Las Vegas". He also wrote and sang many songs in French, such as " ...

, was the "top side". However, he also said that he thought "Bad Boy" was "a toss-up which

ould Ould is an English surname and an Arabic name ( ar, ولد). In some Arabic dialects, particularly Hassaniya Arabic, ولد‎ (the patronymic, meaning "son of") is transliterated as Ould. Most Mauritanians have patronymic surnames. Notable p ...

develop as the top side". Promoting the single several weeks later, it was described as a "double-sided smash… Bad Boy coupled with It's Been Nice". Mort Shuman had intended to give "It's Been Nice" to

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...

, but instead gave it to Wilde after the two struck up an instant friendship. In the US and Canada, "Bad Boy" released with the B-side "Teenage Tears", which had been the B-side to Wilde's previous single "

Sea of Love Sea of Love may refer to * ''Sea of Love'' (film), a 1989 American thriller film * "Sea of Love" (Phil Phillips song), a 1959 song by Phil Phillips and The Twilights, covered by many performers * "Sea of Love" (The National song), 2013 * ''The S ...

". "Bad Boy" was released in the US at the beginning of January 1960 and became the first of two hits there for Wilde. Reviewed in ''

Melody Maker ''Melody Maker'' was a British weekly music magazine, one of the world's earliest music weeklies; according to its publisher, IPC Media, the earliest. It was founded in 1926, largely as a magazine for dance band musicians, by Leicester-born ...

'', "Bad Boy" was described as "easy going, with a folk-sounding air about it".

Track listing

7": Philips / PB.972 # "Bad Boy" – 2:22 # "It's Been Nice" – 1:55 7": Epic / 5-9356 (US & Canada) # "Bad Boy" – 2:22 # "Teenage Tears" – 2:20

Charts

Cover versions

* In December 1959, American rock and roll singer

Robin Luke Robin Luke (born 20 March 1942, Los Angeles, California, United States) is an American rock and roll singing, singer who is best known for his 1958 song, "Susie Darlin'". He later worked as a University professor in Marketing. Luke has been enshrin ...

released a cover of the song as a single. * In 1960, Australian rock and roll singer

Dig Richards Digby George "Dig" Richards (12 September 194017 February 1983) was an Australian rock and roll singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, musical theatre actor and television presenter, active during the late 1950s and early 1960s as lead singer wit ...

covered the song on his album ''Bad Boy''. *In 1964, French singer

Françoise Hardy Françoise Madeleine Hardy (; born 17 January 1944) is a French former singer and songwriter. Mainly known for singing melancholic sentimental ballads, Hardy has been an important figure in French pop music since her debut, spanning a career of ...

released a French-language version, titled "Pas gentille", on her album ''

Mon amie la rose "Mon amie la rose" is a poem written by Cécile Caulier and Jacques Lacome, originally performed in song by French singer Françoise Hardy in 1964. It became one of Hardy's most popular songs, and was collected on her album '' Mon amie la rose'' ...

''. * In 1965, South African band Gene Rockwell and the Falcons covered the song on their album ''The Many Faces of Gene Rockwell''. * In 1966, Danish band

Sir Henry and His Butlers Sir Henry and his Butlers was a Danish rock- pop group which was formed during the summer of 1964 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The group is mostly known for its two front figures Ole "Sir Henry" Bredahl and especially Tommy Seebach and also the song "Let ...

covered the song on their album ''A Portrait of Sir Henry and His Butlers''. * In 1976, British singer

Freddie Starr Freddie Starr (born Frederick Leslie Fowell; 9 January 1943 – 9 May 2019) was an English stand up comedian, impressionist, singer and actor. Starr was the lead singer of Merseybeat rock and roll group the Midniters during the early 1960s, an ...

released a cover of the song as a single. *In 1980, American rockabilly singer

Robert Gordon Robert Gordon may refer to: Entertainment * Robert Gordon (actor) (1895–1971), silent-film actor * Robert Gordon (director) (1913–1990), American director * Robert Gordon (singer) (1947–2022), American rockabilly singer * Robert Gordon (scr ...

covered the song on his album ''Bad Boy''.

References

{{authority control 1959 singles Philips Records singles Epic Records singles 1959 songs Songs written by Marty Wilde