"Are You a Boy or Are You a Girl" is a song written by Geoffry Morris for the American band The Barbarians. It was released as the group's second single, and was the first and most successful tune for the Barbarians to chart on the ''

Billboard Hot 100 The ''Billboard'' Hot 100 is the music industry standard record chart in the United States for songs, published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine. Chart rankings are based on sales (physical and digital), radio play, and online streamin ...

'' and '' Cashbox''. Following the group's unsuccessful debut, "Hey Little Bird", The Barbarians had their breakthrough with an appearance, alongside other musical artists such as

The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for six decades, they are one of the most popular and enduring bands of the album era, rock era. In the early 1960s, the Rolling Stones pioneered the g ...

and

The Supremes The Supremes were an American girl group and a premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s. Founded as the Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, the Supremes were the most commercially successful of Motown's acts and the most successf ...

, on '' The T.A.M.I. Show''. In order to take advantage of their exposure, the band recorded "Are You a Boy or Are You a Girl" with the B-side, "Take It or Leave It". Guitarist Geoffry Morris, who had recently joined the band, was responsible for the arrangements. The song reflected the social commentary of the period, specifically around what distinguishes a male from a female. The lyrics express both sides' opposing views on issues like hair length or how a person dresses. The band members themselves grew their hair long and wore unusual clothing. Jerry Causi, as lead vocalist, initiates call and response with Bruce Benson and Jeff Morris on

backing vocals A backing vocalist is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists. A backing vocalist may also sing alone as a lead-in to the main vocalist's entry or to sing a counter-melody. Backing vocalists are ...

. There is also mockery toward bands from

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

with lyrics like "You're either a girl, or you come from Liverpool", and more specifically "You can dance like a female monkey, but sink like a stone...yeah a rolling stone", a direct reference to The Rolling Stones. The song ends with a brief R&B-influenced guitar solo before fading out. "Are You a Boy or Are You a Girl", with its B-side "Take It or Leave It", was released in September 1965 on the Laurie label. It peaked at number 55 nationally, and stayed on the charts for six weeks. The song was also featured on the group's debut album of the same name, as the opening track. Despite the publicity following their modest hit, the album failed to chart. The song has been included on several compilations thereafter, most prominently the 1998 reissue of '' Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965-1968''.

Releases

Singles/EPs

* "Are You a Boy or Are You a Girl" b/w "Take It or Leave It" –

Laurie Records Laurie Records was a record label established in New York City in 1958 by brothers Robert and Gene Schwartz, and Allan I. Sussel. Among the recording artists on Laurie's roster were Dion and the Belmonts (both together and as separate acts), ...

, #LR 3308, 1965 * ''Are You a Boy or Are You a Girl'' EP – Disques Vouge, #INT 18027, 1965 * "

Little Bit O' Soul "Little Bit O' Soul" is a song written in 1964 by British songwriters John Carter and Ken Lewis. It was originally recorded by Coventry band The Little Darlings, and released in 1965 on Fontana Records in the UK. The Music Explosion version In ...

" b/w "Are You a Boy or Are You a Girl" – Laurie Records, #LDG 113, 1978 (

A-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record company ...

features

The Music Explosion The Music Explosion was an American garage rock band from Mansfield, Ohio, United States, discovered and signed by record producers Jerry Kasenetz and Jeffry Katz. The quintet is best known for their number two hit, "Little Bit O' Soul", that ...

)

Albums/Compilations

* ''Are You a Boy or Are You a Girl'' – 1965 * ''Nuggets, Vol. 1: The Hits'' – 1986 * ''Classic Old and Gold'' – 1987 * ''Nuggets: Even More Nuggets'' – 1989 * ''Classic Rock: Rock Renaissance, Vol. 3'' – 1990 * '' Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965-1968 – 1998 (reissue) * ''The Laurie Records Story, Vol. 1'' – 2003 * ''Absolutely the Best of the Sixties, Vol. 2'' – 2004

References

{{authority control 1965 singles 1965 songs Laurie Records singles