"Take Good Care of My Baby" is a song written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin. The song was made famous by

Bobby Vee Robert Thomas Velline (April 30, 1943 – October 24, 2016), known professionally as Bobby Vee, was an American singer who was a teen idol in the early 1960s and also appeared in films. According to ''Billboard'' magazine, he had thirty-ei ...

, when it was released in 1961.

Bobby Vee versions

While searching for material for Bobby Vee to record, Vee's producer

Snuff Garrett Thomas Lesslie Garrett (July 5, 1938 – December 16, 2015) known as Snuff Garrett or Tommy Garrett, was an American record producer whose most famous work was during the 1960s and 1970s. Early years Garrett was born in Dallas, Texas, United ...

heard a demo of Carole King singing "Take Good Care of My Baby". Garrett told publisher

Don Kirshner Donald Kirshner (April 17, 1934 – January 17, 2011) was an American music publisher, music consultant, rock music producer, talent manager, and songwriter. Dubbed "the Man with the Golden Ear" by ''Time'' magazine, he was best known fo ...

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. Among the musicians on the record were Barney Kessel,

Tommy Allsup Thomas Douglas Allsup (November 24, 1931 – January 11, 2017) was an American rockabilly and swing musician. Personal life Allsup was born near Owasso, Oklahoma in 1931, and was an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation. Allsup had a son, ...

, and

Howard Roberts Howard Mancel Roberts (October 2, 1929 – June 28, 1992) was an American jazz guitarist, educator, and session musician. Early years Roberts was born in Phoenix, Arizona to Damon and Vesta Roberts, and began playing guitar at the age of 8 - a ...

on guitar, Clifford Hills on bass, Robert Florence on piano, and

Earl Palmer Earl Cyril Palmer (October 25, 1924 – September 19, 2008) was an American drummer. Considered one of the inventors of rock and roll, he is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Palmer was one of the most prolific studio musicians of a ...

on drums, while Sid Sharp did the string arrangements. The

Johnny Mann John Russell Mann (August 30, 1928June 18, 2014) was an American arranger, composer, conductor, entertainer, singer, and recording artist. Career Johnny Mann's began his music career in the late 1940s in his hometown of Baltimore before serving ...

Singers sang backup. 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. Vee's recording quickly became popular, spending 15 weeks on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100, reaching No. 1 on September 18, 1961,Hot 100 – Bobby Vee Take Good Care of My Baby Chart History
''Billboard.com''. Retrieved March 11, 2018. and spending three weeks in that position. The song became a major hit internationally as well, reaching No. 1 in Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The song was ranked No. 12 on ''Billboard''s " Hot 100 for 1961 – Top Sides of the Year" and No. 23 on '' Cash Box''s "Top 100 Chart Hits of 1961". The song was the lead track on Bobby Vee's album, ''Take Good Care of My Baby'', which was released in 1962. Vee re-recorded the song as a ballad in 1972. Bronson, Fred (2003).
The Billboard Book of Number One Hits
',

Billboard Books ''Billboard'' (stylized as ''billboard'') is an American music and entertainment magazine published weekly by Penske Media Corporation. The magazine provides music charts, news, video, opinion, reviews, events, and style related to the mus ...

. p. 97. Retrieved October 11, 2016. He released under his real name, Robert Thomas Velline, on his 1972 album ''Ain't Nothing Like a Sunny Day'', and as a single in 1973. However, it is his original version, along with

Bobby Vinton Stanley Robert "Bobby" Vinton (born April 16, 1935) is a American former singer and occasional actor, who also hosted his own self-titled TV show in the late 1970s. As a teen idol, he became known as "The Polish Prince", as his music paid trib ...

's, that remain as staples of oldies radio stations.

Chart performance

Bobby Vinton version

In 1968, the song was released by

as a single and on his album, '' Take Good Care of My Baby''. Vinton's version became a hit, spending 8 weeks on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100, reaching No. 33,Hot 100 – Bobby Vinton Take Good Care of My Baby Chart History
''Billboard.com''. Retrieved March 10, 2018. while reaching No. 14 on '' Billboard''s

Easy Listening Easy listening (including mood music) is a popular music genre and radio format that was most popular during the 1950s to 1970s. It is related to middle-of-the-road (MOR) music and encompasses instrumental recordings of standards, hit songs, n ...

chart,Billboard Top 40 Easy Listening
, '' Billboard'', May 4, 1968. p. 49. Accessed October 9, 2016. No. 19 on '' Record World''s "100 Top Pops",100 Top Pops
, '' Record World'', May 4, 1968. Retrieved March 10, 2018. No. 12 on ''Record World''s "Top Non-Rock" chart,Record World's Top Non-Rock
, '' Record World'', May 11, 1968. p. 30. Retrieved March 10, 2018. No. 36 on Canada's " ''RPM'' 100",RPM 100
, '' RPM Weekly'', Volume 9, No. 11, May 11, 1968. Accessed October 10, 2016. and No. 16 on Canada's CHUM Hit Parade. Chart No. 585. Vinton's version omitted the introduction, plus the first two lines of the repeated refrain.

Chart performance

Smokie version

In 1980, Smokie released a version of the song, which spent seven weeks 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 ...

, reaching No. 34, while reaching No. 10 on Austria's Ö3 Hit wähl mit chart, No. 15 on the Irish Singles Chart, and No. 18 in

West Germany West Germany is the colloquial term used to indicate the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG; german: Bundesrepublik Deutschland , BRD) between its formation on 23 May 1949 and the German reunification through the accession of East Germany on 3 O ...

.Smokie – Take Good Care of My Baby
norwegiancharts.com. Accessed October 10, 2016. It was later released on their 1981 album '' Solid Ground''.

Other versions

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

covered Cover or covers may refer to: Packaging * Another name for a lid * Cover (philately), generic term for envelope or package * Album cover, the front of the packaging * Book cover or magazine cover ** Book design ** Back cover copy, part of co ...

The Beatles The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the developmen ...

during their

audition An audition is a sample performance by an actor, singer, musician, dancer or other performer. It typically involves the performer displaying their talent through a previously memorized and rehearsed solo piece or by performing a work or piece giv ...

at Decca Records on January 1, 1962, with George Harrison on lead vocals. Gary Lewis & The Playboys recorded a cover version, which was released on their 1966 album, ''She's Just My Style''. Donny Osmond released a version of the song on his 1972 album '' Too Young''. 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 Ö3 Austria Top 40 is the official Austrian singles chart, as well as the radio show which presents it, aired Tuesdays on Hitradio Ö3. The show presents the Austrian singles, ringtones and downloads chart. It premiered on 26 November 1968 as ...

Answer songs

An answer song, titled "I'll Take Good Care of Your Baby", was recorded by

Ralph Emery Walter Ralph Emery (March 10, 1933 – January 15, 2022) was an American country music disc jockey, radio and television host from Nashville, Tennessee. Emery promoted numerous stars on his radio and TV shows, and was called the Dick Clark o ...

. It was released as a single on Liberty F-55383, in 1961.Reviews of New Singles
, '' Billboard'', October 23, 1961. p. 41. Retrieved October 12, 2016. Another answer song, titled "You Should Know I'm Still Your Baby", was recorded by Sammi Lynn.Cooper, B. Lee; Haney, Wayne S. (1990). ''Response Recordings: An Answer Song Discography, 1950-1990'', Scarecrow Press. p. 151. It was released as a single on

Sue Records ''Sue Records was also the name of a Louisiana-based record company which owned Jewel Records (Shreveport record label).'' Sue Records ("The Sound of Soul") was an American record label founded by Henry 'Juggy' Murray and Bobby Robinson in 1957. ...

45-752, in 1961.

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Take Good Care Of My Baby 1961 singles 1968 singles 1973 singles 1980 singles 1961 songs Bobby Vee songs Dion DiMucci songs Bobby Vinton songs The Beatles songs Smokie (band) songs Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles Cashbox number-one singles Number-one singles in Canada Number-one singles in New Zealand Songs with lyrics by Gerry Goffin Songs written by Carole King Song recordings produced by Snuff Garrett Song recordings produced by Billy Sherrill Liberty Records singles Epic Records singles United Artists Records singles RAK Records singles