Whatcha Gonna Do About It
Encyclopedia
"Whatcha Gonna Do About It" is the debut single released by the English
R&B, mod group Small Faces, released in the UK on 6 August 1965. The song peaked at number 14 in the UK Singles Chart
, and stayed on chart for a total of 14 weeks.
and Ronnie Lane
already had the melody for the song, the inspiration coming from Solomon Burke
's hit record "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love
", however they had no lyrics so Don Arden
quickly brought in Ian Samwell
to provide the words for the song. The song entered the UK Singles Chart
at number 27 and rose to number 14 just missing the all important Top Ten.
Arden, in later years admitted to spending £12,000 chart fixing to ensure the band's debut song would be a hit. In an interview Arden denied it was cheating: "I had a saying, you can't polish a turd. In other words, if the record's no good to begin with it still won't be any good after you've wasted your time and money getting it played."
recorded a cover version of "Whatcha Gonna Do About It", changing the lyrics from "I want you to know that I love you baby" to "I want you to know that I hate you baby." Apart from John Lydon
, the Sex Pistols were known to be fans of the Small Faces' music. Cock Sparrer
and The Templars have also recorded versions of the song.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
R&B, mod group Small Faces, released in the UK on 6 August 1965. The song peaked at number 14 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, and stayed on chart for a total of 14 weeks.
Song profile
The songwriting duo of the group Steve MarriottSteve Marriott
Stephen Peter Marriott , popularly known as Steve Marriott, was an English musician, songwriter, and frontman of several notable rock and roll bands, spanning over two decades...
and Ronnie Lane
Ronnie Lane
Ronald Frederick "Ronnie" Lane was an English musician, songwriter, and producer who is best known as the bass guitarist and founding member of two prominent English rock and roll bands; the Small Faces where he was nicknamed "Plonk", – and, after losing the band's frontman, Faces, with two new...
already had the melody for the song, the inspiration coming from Solomon Burke
Solomon Burke
Solomon Burke was an American singer-songwriter, entrepreneur, mortician, and an archbishop of the United House of Prayer For All People. Burke was known as "King Solomon", the "King of Rock 'n' Soul", and as the "Bishop of Soul", and described as "the Muhammad Ali of soul", and as "the most...
's hit record "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love
Everybody Needs Somebody to Love
"Everybody Needs Somebody to Love" is a song written by Bert Berns, Solomon Burke and Jerry Wexler, and originally recorded by Solomon Burke under the production of Bert Berns at Atlantic Records in 1964...
", however they had no lyrics so Don Arden
Don Arden
Don Arden , born Harry Levy, was an English music manager, agent and businessman, best known for overseeing the careers of rock groups Small Faces, Electric Light Orchestra and Black Sabbath....
quickly brought in Ian Samwell
Ian Samwell
Ian "Sammy" Samwell was an English musician, songwriter and record producer, best known as the writer of Cliff Richard's debut hit "Move It" and his association with the rock band America with whom he had his biggest commercial success with their hit single "A Horse With No Name"...
to provide the words for the song. The song entered the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
at number 27 and rose to number 14 just missing the all important Top Ten.
Arden, in later years admitted to spending £12,000 chart fixing to ensure the band's debut song would be a hit. In an interview Arden denied it was cheating: "I had a saying, you can't polish a turd. In other words, if the record's no good to begin with it still won't be any good after you've wasted your time and money getting it played."
Covers
Sex PistolsSex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
recorded a cover version of "Whatcha Gonna Do About It", changing the lyrics from "I want you to know that I love you baby" to "I want you to know that I hate you baby." Apart from John Lydon
John Lydon
John Joseph Lydon , also known by the former stage name Johnny Rotten, is a singer-songwriter and television presenter, best known as the lead singer of punk rock band the Sex Pistols from 1975 until 1978, and again for various revivals during the 1990s and 2000s...
, the Sex Pistols were known to be fans of the Small Faces' music. Cock Sparrer
Cock Sparrer
Cock Sparrer are a punk rock band formed in 1972 in the East End of London, England. Although they never enjoyed much commercial success, they are considered one of the most influential streetpunk bands, helping pave the way for the late-1970s punk scene and the Oi! subgenre...
and The Templars have also recorded versions of the song.