Hey! Baby
Encyclopedia
"Hey! Baby" is a song written by Margaret Cobb and Bruce Channel
, who recorded the song in 1961. Channel co-produced the song with Major Bill Smith and released it on Mercury Records
' Smash
label. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100
for three weeks, starting the week ending March 10, 1962.
The song features a prominent riff from well-known harmonica player Delbert McClinton
. According to a CNN article from 2002, "while touring the U.K. in 1962 with a little known group called The Beatles
, harmonica player Delbert McClinton met John Lennon
and gave him some harmonica tips. Lennon put the lessons to use right away on "Love Me Do
" and later "Please Please Me
". Lennon included the song in his jukebox
, and it is also featured on the related compilation album."
Bruce Channel
Bruce Channel is an American singer, known for his 1962 million selling number one hit, "Hey! Baby".-Career:...
, who recorded the song in 1961. Channel co-produced the song with Major Bill Smith and released it on Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
' Smash
Smash Records
Smash Records is an American record label. It was founded in 1961 as a subsidiary of Mercury Records by Mercury executive Shelby Singleton and run by Singleton with Charlie Fach. Fach took over after Singleton left Mercury in 1966...
label. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
for three weeks, starting the week ending March 10, 1962.
The song features a prominent riff from well-known harmonica player Delbert McClinton
Delbert McClinton
Delbert McClinton is an American blues rock and electric blues singer-songwriter, guitarist, harmonica player, and pianist....
. According to a CNN article from 2002, "while touring the U.K. in 1962 with a little known group called The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, harmonica player Delbert McClinton met John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
and gave him some harmonica tips. Lennon put the lessons to use right away on "Love Me Do
Love Me Do
"Love Me Do" is The Beatles' first single, backed by "P.S. I Love You" and released on 5 October 1962. When the single was originally released in the United Kingdom, it peaked at number seventeen; in 1982 it was re-issued and reached number four...
" and later "Please Please Me
Please Please Me (song)
"Please Please Me" is a song and the second single released by The Beatles in the United Kingdom, and the first to be issued in the United States. It was also the title track of their first LP, which was recorded to capitalise on the success of the single...
". Lennon included the song in his jukebox
John Lennon's jukebox
In 1989, John Lennon's jukebox surfaced in an auction of Beatles memorabilia at Christie's, and was sold for £2,500 to Bristol-based music promoter John Midwinter. Lennon had apparently bought the jukebox – specifically a Swiss KB Discomatic – in 1965, and filled it with forty singles...
, and it is also featured on the related compilation album."
Cover versions
- "Hey! Baby" was covered by Ringo StarrRingo StarrRichard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
and released as a single in 1976 (#74 US Pop). - "Hey! Baby" was remade under the title "Hey Baby" by Juice NewtonJuice NewtonJudith Kay "Juice" Newton is an American Pop music and Country singer, songwriter and guitarist...
for her Well Kept Secret album in 1978; it was released as a single but failed to make the charts. - In 1982 Canadian country pop singer Anne MurrayAnne MurrayMorna Anne Murray CC, ONS is a Canadian singer in pop, country and adult contemporary styles whose albums have sold over 54 million copies....
covered the song, reaching #7 on the US Country SinglesHot Country SongsHot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart and #26 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Murray also reached #1 on the RPMRPM (magazine)RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,...
country and adult contemporary charts in Canada. - AlabamaAlabama (band)Alabama is a country music and southern rock band from Fort Payne, Alabama, United States. The band was founded in 1969 by Randy Owen and his cousin Teddy Gentry , soon joined by Jeff Cook...
covered the song in their 1997 album Dancin' on the BoulevardDancin' on the BoulevardDancin' on the Boulevard is the fourteenth studio album by country music band Alabama. It was released on April 8, 1997, via RCA Records. The album includes the singles "Dancin, Shaggin' on the Boulevard", "Sad Lookin' Moon," "She's Got That Look in Her Eyes" and "Of Course I'm Alright"...
. - Singer and DJ DJ ÖtziDJ ÖtziDJ Ötzi is the stage name of Gerhard Friedle , an Austrian entertainer and singer. Successful mainly in German-speaking countries, he is best known in the English-speaking world for his 2001 cover version of the Bruce Channel song "Hey Baby".-Biography:DJ Ötzi was born Gerhard Friedle in St...
released a cover version of "Hey! Baby" in 2001. In 2002, it was re-released when it became the unofficial theme song for the 2002 FIFA World Cup2002 FIFA World CupThe 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
. It reached #1 in UK, France, Australia and Japan. - Bobby G. RiceBobby G. RiceRobert Gene Rice is an American country music singer-songwriter, known professionally as Bobby G. Rice. Between 1970 and 1988, Rice released nine albums and charted thirty songs on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart...
released a cover version in 1970, which reached #35 on the country music charts. - A cover version can also be found on the album Yours Sincerely published in 1977 by the Algerian-French singer Sharif Dean.
In popular culture
- The song was also featured in the 1987 film Dirty DancingDirty DancingDirty Dancing is a 1987 American romantic film. Written by Eleanor Bergstein and directed by Emile Ardolino, the film features Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in the lead roles, as well as Cynthia Rhodes and Jerry Orbach...
and its hugely popular soundtrackDirty Dancing (soundtrack)Dirty Dancing is the original soundtrack of the 1987 film Dirty Dancing. The album became a huge commercial success in the USA. It spent 18 weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200 album sales charts and went multi-platinum. It spawned a follow-up album entitled More Dirty Dancing . Executive Produced by...
. - "Hey! Baby" is a song played by many U.S. college pep bands, although Nebraska retired it in 2011.
- DJ Ötzi's version of "Hey! Baby" is played during the 7th inning stretch at Coors Field during the Colorado Rockies home games. It is also played during the closing credits of the 2003 film "Kangaroo JackKangaroo JackKangaroo Jack is a 2003 American comedy film directed by David McNally, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, and starring Jerry O'Connell, Anthony Anderson, Christopher Walken, Estella Warren and Adam Garcia...
", and at darts matches as a walk-on theme for BDO player Tony O'SheaTony O'SheaTony O'Shea is an English darts player who competes in British Darts Organisation events. He was born in Stockport. His squat figure has resulted in the nickname Silverback. His walk-on music is "Hey Baby" by DJ Ötzi...
Anne Murray
| Chart (1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 7 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 26 |