Baby Face (song)
"Baby Face" | |
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Song by Jan Garber | |
Published | 1926 |
Composer(s) | Harry Akst |
Lyricist(s) | Benny Davis |
"Baby Face" | ||||
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Single by Little Richard | ||||
from the album Little Richard | ||||
B-side | "I'll Never Let You Go (Boo Hoo Hoo Hoo)" | |||
Released | July 1958 | |||
Studio | J&M Studio, New Orleans, Louisiana | |||
Label | Specialty | |||
Producer(s) | Robert "Bumps" Blackwell | |||
Little Richard singles chronology | ||||
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"Baby Face" is a popular song. The music was written by Harry Akst, the lyrics by Benny Davis. The song was published in 1926. That same year, Jan Garber had a number one hit with the song.
Swan Districts, an Australian Rules club in the WAFL since 1934, bases its club song on this tune.
An instrumental version of the song was used in the 1933 film Baby Face starring Barbara Stanwyck.
Recorded by many
"Baby Face" was performed and recorded by many recording artists of the time, including Al Jolson. It has remained a commonly performed song.
In 1958, Little Richard peaked at #12 on the R&B chart and #41 on the pop chart with his version of the song.[1] It also reached #2 in the UK in January 1959, becoming Little Richard's highest charting single in Britain.
In 1962, American singer Bobby Darin recorded a version as a single.
In 1967, a refrain was mixed with the Hallelujah chorus in Thoroughly Modern Millie.
In 1974, in the Paul McCartney and Wings special One Hand Clapping, McCartney performed the song at a piano. He later sang the song on his 2007 Secret Tour.
In late 1975, disco studio group Wing and a Prayer Fife and Drum Corps recorded a version of the song where it peaked at number two for two weeks on the disco chart.[2] This version also went to #32 on the soul chart, #6 Easy Listening[3] and #14 on the Hot 100[4] during the winter of 1976. In the UK Singles Chart, it peaked at #12, in February 1976, spending 7 weeks within the Top 50.
On Dec. 31, 1976, bandleader Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadians kicked off their New Year's Eve concert (a tradition since 1929), with an instrumental performance of the song on CBS television[5]. The concert was Lombardo's last before his death on Nov. 5, 1977. The Royal Canadians New Year's specials would end on the network in 1978.
A version done by the Muppet Chickens appears on The Muppet Show 2 album. The first singing of it was done with a simple beat in the background, then the rest of the song is sung with more rock-oriented background music.
Other major recordings of the song have been (listed alphabetically) by:
- Beau-Marks 1960
- Billy Vaughan
- Bing Crosby
- Bobby Vee 1961
- Brenda Lee 1959
- Brian Hyland 1960
- Dave Edmunds 1999
- Eddie Cantor
- Elis Regina
- Jack Smith 1948
- James Booker
- Jo Ann Castle 1964
- Julie Andrews 1967
- Marie Osmond
- Mitch Miller
- Roberta Sherwood 1957 & 1963
- Sal Mineo 1958
- The Crew-Cuts 1960
- The Muppets 1978
- The Revelers
- Tiny Hill
- Tiny Tim 1987
- Vampire Rodents
- Vikki Carr 1965
- Whispering Jack Smith 1926
In popular culture
In 1976, the Brady family performed the song for the opening number for the pilot episode of The Brady Bunch Variety Hour.
An upbeat version of the song, retitled "Baby Pants," was used in a Luvs diapers TV commercial in the 1980s.[6]
External links
- Al Jolson performing "Baby Face" on YouTube
- Brenda Lee's version over clips of Judy Garland on YouTube
References
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 356.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 282.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 260.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 632.
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pL60HdslvOk
- ^ Luvs Babypants, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7HVK-pjWsw