"Turn Around, Look at Me" is a song written by
Jerry Capehart and
Glen Campbell
Glen Travis Campbell (April 22, 1936 – August 8, 2017) was an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, actor and television host. He was best known for a series of hit songs in the 1960s and 1970s, and for hosting '' The Glen Campbell Good ...
, though Campbell is not officially credited.
In
1961
Events January
* January 3
** United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower announces that the United States has severed diplomatic and consular relations with Cuba (Cuba–United States relations are restored in 2015).
** Aero Flight 311 ...
, Glen Campbell released his version as a single. This was his first song to chart in 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 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...
, hitting #62 on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100 #15 on the
Adult Contemporary chart
The Adult Contemporary chart is published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine and lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary radio stations in the United States. The chart is compiled based on airplay data submitted to ''Billboard'' by stat ...
, and in Canada, it reached #9 in the
CHUM Charts. This version included session drummer
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 all ...
on drums.
The Lettermen version
In
1962
Events January
* January 1 – Western Samoa becomes independent from New Zealand.
* January 3 – Pope John XXIII excommunicates Fidel Castro for preaching communism.
* January 8 – Harmelen train disaster: 93 die in the wo ...
,
The Lettermen
The Lettermen are an American male pop vocal trio. The Lettermen's trademark is close-harmony pop songs with light arrangements. The group started in 1959. They have had two Top 10 singles (both No. 7), 16 Top 10 singles on the Adult Contempor ...
released their version as a single. It made it to #5 on Billboard's
Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (also known as Bubbling Under the Hot 100) is a chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine in the United States. The chart lists the top songs that have not yet charted on the main ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Chart ...
chart, but the
b-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 ...
of the single, "
How Is Julie?
"How Is Julie?" is a song written by Eddy Carroll (Eddie Carroll) and Barry DeVorzon.
Background
The song's lyrics describe the singer's anguish as Julie, whom he loved, has left him.
Chart performance
In 1962, The Lettermen released it as a s ...
," became the bigger hit.
Bee Gees version
In 1964, while
Bee Gees
The Bee Gees
were a musical group formed in 1958 by brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio were especially successful in popular music in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and later as prominent performers in the disco music era i ...
were still in Australia, they released a version of the song which did not chart. It is also their fifth single, and was credited to "Barry Gibb and the Bee Gees". It was also included on the group's 1967 mop-up compilation ''
Turn Around, Look at Us
''Turn Around, Look at Us'' was the first compilation album released by the Bee Gees
The Bee Gees
were a musical group formed in 1958 by brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio were especially successful in popular music in the ...
'' and the 1998 anthology of their Australian recordings ''Brilliant from Birth''.
Personnel
* Barry Gibb —
lead vocals
The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of th ...
* Robin Gibb —
harmony
In music, harmony is the process by which individual sounds are joined together or composed into whole units or compositions. Often, the term harmony refers to simultaneously occurring frequencies, pitches ( tones, notes), or chords. Howev ...
and
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 u ...
* Maurice Gibb — harmony and backing vocals
* Uncredited musicians — guitar, bass, drums, orchestra, chorus
The Vogues' version
In
1968
The year was highlighted by Protests of 1968, protests and other unrests that occurred worldwide.
Events January–February
* January 5 – "Prague Spring": Alexander Dubček is chosen as leader of the Communist Party of Czechos ...
,
The Vogues
The Vogues are an American vocal rock and roll group from Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh. The original lineup consisted of Bill Burkette (lead baritone), Don Miller (baritone), Hugh Geyer (first tenor), and Chuck Blasko (se ...
released their remake as a single. This version was by far the most successful, reaching #7 on the Hot 100 and #3 on the
Adult Contemporary
Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul, R&B, quiet ...
chart. In 2019 it was used in a
Volkswagen
Volkswagen (),English: , . abbreviated as VW (), is a German motor vehicle manufacturer headquartered in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. Founded in 1937 by the German Labour Front under the Nazi Party and revived into a global brand post ...
commercial.
Chart history
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
References
1961 singles
1962 singles
1964 singles
1968 singles
Songs written by Jerry Capehart
Glen Campbell songs
Bee Gees songs
The Vogues songs
The Lettermen songs
The Bachelors songs
1961 songs
Leedon Records singles
Reprise Records singles
Crest Records singles
Song recordings produced by Dick Glasser
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