Maybe (The Chantels)
Encyclopedia
Maybe is a popular song, with words and music credited to the producer/writer/arranger and lead singer of The Valentines
, Richard Barrett, but probably written by The Chantels' lead Arlene Smith and George Goldner, was a song first recorded by The Chantels
on October 16, 1957 in a doo-wop
style, released in December 1957, and climbing the charts in January 1958. The Chantels's version reached #15 in the pop chart and #2 in the R&B chart. It was [ subsequently described] as "arguably, the first true glimmering of the girl group
sound". Rolling Stone
ranked it #195 on their list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
.
The song has since been covered by many artists, including Janis Joplin
, The Three Degrees
(whose 1970 version became a top thirty hit) and The Shangri-Las
. John Frusciante
of the Red Hot Chili Peppers
has been known to perform his own rendition of the song during live shows, as can be seen on the band's live DVD, Live At Slane Castle
. The song is also the only recording attributed to artist Jill Read (a pseudonym for the song's credited producer, Dave Edmunds
, whose vocals were manipulated in the studio to make him sound like a woman).
The song also made an appearance, albeit somewhat anachronistically, in the 2010 video game Mafia II
, which took place in 1951 despite the fact that the song was recorded in 1957.
The Valentines (doo-wop band)
The Valentines were one of the most highly regarded American Doo Wop groups from the mid 1950s. Their records are highly sought by collectors....
, Richard Barrett, but probably written by The Chantels' lead Arlene Smith and George Goldner, was a song first recorded by The Chantels
The Chantels
The Chantels were the second African-American girl group to have nationwide success in the United States, preceded by The Bobbettes. The group was established in the early 1950s and attended St. Anthony of Padua school in The Bronx...
on October 16, 1957 in a doo-wop
Doo-wop
The name Doo-wop is given to a style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music that developed in African American communities in the 1940s and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. It emerged from New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and...
style, released in December 1957, and climbing the charts in January 1958. The Chantels's version reached #15 in the pop chart and #2 in the R&B chart. It was [ subsequently described] as "arguably, the first true glimmering of the girl group
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
sound". Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
ranked it #195 on their list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
"The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" was the cover story of a special issue of Rolling Stone, issue number 963, published December 9, 2004, a year after the magazine published its list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time"....
.
The song has since been covered by many artists, including Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin
Janis Lyn Joplin was an American singer, songwriter, painter, dancer and music arranger. She rose to prominence in the late 1960s as the lead singer of Big Brother and the Holding Company and later as a solo artist with her backing groups, The Kozmic Blues Band and The Full Tilt Boogie Band...
, The Three Degrees
The Three Degrees
The Three Degrees are an American female vocal group. Formed in 1963 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,, the group has always been a trio though there have been a number of personnel changes and a total of fourteen women have represented the group so far. The original members were Fayette Pinkney,...
(whose 1970 version became a top thirty hit) and The Shangri-Las
The Shangri-Las
The Shangri-Las were an American pop girl group of the 1960s. Between 1964 and 1966 they charted with often heartbreaking teen melodramas, and remain best known for "Leader of the Pack" and "Remember ".- Early career :...
. John Frusciante
John Frusciante
John Anthony Frusciante is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, record and film producer. He is best known as the former lead guitarist of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, with whom he had been for a number of years and recorded five studio albums...
of the Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
has been known to perform his own rendition of the song during live shows, as can be seen on the band's live DVD, Live At Slane Castle
Live at Slane Castle (Red Hot Chili Peppers video)
Live at Slane Castle is a Red Hot Chili Peppers concert video released in 2003, two years after the release of their latest concert DVD, Off the Map. The concert taped was their second show at Slane Castle in Ireland, the Foo Fighters also played as the opening act, and have their own DVD footage...
. The song is also the only recording attributed to artist Jill Read (a pseudonym for the song's credited producer, Dave Edmunds
Dave Edmunds
David 'Dave' Edmunds is a Welsh singer, guitarist and record producer. Although he is primarily associated with Pub rock and New Wave, and had numerous hits in the 1970s and early 1980s, his natural leaning has always been towards 1950s style rock and roll.-Early bands:As a teenager Edmunds first...
, whose vocals were manipulated in the studio to make him sound like a woman).
The song also made an appearance, albeit somewhat anachronistically, in the 2010 video game Mafia II
Mafia II
Mafia II is a third-person action-adventure video game, the sequel to Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven. It is developed by 2K Czech, previously known as Illusion Softworks, and is published by 2K Games...
, which took place in 1951 despite the fact that the song was recorded in 1957.