You're No Good
Encyclopedia
"You're No Good" is a song written by Clint Ballard, Jr.
which first charted for Betty Everett
in 1963 and in 1975 was a #1 hit for Linda Ronstadt
.
The original version of "You're No Good" would appear to be that cut by Dee Dee Warwick
for Jubilee Records
in 1963 with production by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
. However the song would first become a hit in November 1963 as recorded by Betty Everett
for Vee-Jay Records
of Chicago
. The single peaked at number fifty-one on the Hot 100, and at number five on "Cashbox's R&B Locations" chart. Vee-Jay's head a&r man Calvin Carter
found the song while visiting New York City
in search of material for his label's roster and he originally intended to cut "You're No Good" with Dee Clark
. Carter recalled: "Then when I went to rehearsal with the tune, it was so negative, I said, 'Hey, guys don't talk negative about girls, because girls are the record buyers. No, I better pass on that.' So I gave the song to Betty Everett." During the playback of Everett's track her labelmates the Dells
"were sitting on the wooden platform where the string players would sit....just stomping their feet on this wooden platform to the beat of the song as it was playing back....I told the engineer 'Let's do it again, and let's mike those foot sounds, 'cause it really gave it a hell of a beat.' So we did that, and boom, a hit." - Carter
In the UK the Swinging Blue Jeans
had the hit version of "You're No Good" reaching #3 in the summer of 1964: this version also charted in France
at #26 and was successful enough regionally in the US to reach #97 on the Billboard Hot 100
.
Genya Ravan
has indicated she vainly attempted to interest the producer of her 1974 album Goldie Zelkovitz in the idea of a remake of "You're No Good" while Maria Muldaur
, discussing in a 1985 interview how she "didn't go out of [her] way to find followup hits" to her 1973-74 breakthrough "Midnight at the Oasis
", cited "You're No Good" when explaining: "I've turned down songs that have gone on to be hits for other people because I thought the lyrics were negative or neurotic".
It was Muldaur's friend and professional associate Linda Ronstadt
who'd remake "You're No Good" for her Double Platinum career defining Heart Like A Wheel
album released November 1974 by Capitol Records
; Ronstadt's version benefited from the contribution of Andrew Gold
who provided virtually all the track's instrumentation. Capitol was unsure whether to release "You're No Good" or "When Will I Be Loved
" as the lead single off Heart Like a Wheel only deciding to release "You're No Good" a week after the album's release; the track ascended to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100
dated 15 February 1975. ("When Will I Be Loved" would be issued as the followup single.) The success of "You're No Good" set a precedent for Ronstadt's single releases which over the next five years would virtually all be remakes of classic rock and roll songs. (The B-side of "You're No Good": "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love With You)" - originally by Hank Williams - was simultaneously a major C&W
hit for Ronstadt at #2.) "You're No Good" was also a hit for Linda Ronstadt in Australia (#15), the Netherlands (#17) and New Zealand (#24).
Other artists who have covered "You're No Good" include Aswad
, Michael Bolton
as Michael Bolotin, Ellie Campbell
, Elvis Costello
, Frankie Rose and the Outs, Jose Feliciano
, Keith Hampshire
, Jill Johnson
, Lulu
, Reba McEntire
, The Muppets
, Rosie & The Originals, Floortje Smit
, Ike and Tina Turner, Van Halen
(on Van Halen II
) and Wild Orchid
. And the band Pot Liquor. The 2004 album release California
by Wilson Phillips
contains a version of "You're No Good" which like the Ronstadt version was produced by Peter Asher
but radically reinvents the song. International renderings included the Finnish versions "Olet Paha" a 1964 single release by Eddy and the Boys and "Paha Oot" on the 1975 album Bimbo by Marion Rung
.
Season seven of American Idol
featured a performance of "You're No Good" by Kristy Lee Cook
. Didi Benami
performed the song on American Idol season nine
.
Clint Ballard, Jr.
Clint Ballard, Jr. was an American songwriter. He wrote two Billboard Hot 100 number one hits. The first was "Game of Love" by Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders in 1965...
which first charted for Betty Everett
Betty Everett
Betty Everett was an African-American soul singer and pianist, best known for her biggest hit single, the million-selling "The Shoop Shoop Song ".-Early career:...
in 1963 and in 1975 was a #1 hit for Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
.
The original version of "You're No Good" would appear to be that cut by Dee Dee Warwick
Dee Dee Warwick
Dee Dee Warwick was an American soul singer. Born in Newark, New Jersey as Delia Mae Warrick, she was the sister of Dionne Warwick, niece of Cissy Houston and cousin of Whitney Houston....
for Jubilee Records
Jubilee Records
Jubilee Records was a record label specializing in rhythm and blues along with novelty records. It was founded in New York City in 1946 by Herb Abramson. Jerry Blaine became Abramson's partner. Blaine bought out Abramson's half of the company in 1947. The company name was Jay-Gee Recording...
in 1963 with production by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
Jerome "Jerry" Leiber and Mike Stoller were American songwriting and record producing partners. Stoller was the composer and Leiber the lyricist. Their most famous songs include "Hound Dog", "Jailhouse Rock", "Kansas City", "Stand By Me" Jerome "Jerry" Leiber (April 25, 1933 – August 22, 2011)...
. However the song would first become a hit in November 1963 as recorded by Betty Everett
Betty Everett
Betty Everett was an African-American soul singer and pianist, best known for her biggest hit single, the million-selling "The Shoop Shoop Song ".-Early career:...
for Vee-Jay Records
Vee-Jay Records
Vee-Jay Records is a record label founded in the 1950s, specializing in blues, jazz, rhythm and blues and rock and roll. It was owned and operated by African Americans.-History:...
of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. The single peaked at number fifty-one on the Hot 100, and at number five on "Cashbox's R&B Locations" chart. Vee-Jay's head a&r man Calvin Carter
Calvin Carter
Calvin Carter is the brother of the founder of Vee-Jay Records Vivian Carter. Born May 27, 1925. He joined the company in 1953 and became the principal producer, in charge of the recording sessions. He is a songwriter and composer of jazz and popsongs....
found the song while visiting New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in search of material for his label's roster and he originally intended to cut "You're No Good" with Dee Clark
Dee Clark
Dee Clark was an African-American soul singer best known for a string of R&B and pop hits in the late 1950s and early 1960s, including the ballad "Raindrops," which became a million-seller in the United States in 1961....
. Carter recalled: "Then when I went to rehearsal with the tune, it was so negative, I said, 'Hey, guys don't talk negative about girls, because girls are the record buyers. No, I better pass on that.' So I gave the song to Betty Everett." During the playback of Everett's track her labelmates the Dells
The Dells
The Dells are an R&B and crossover musical group. Their successful recordings spanned more than four decades. Formed in 1952 after attending high school together, the Dells' repertoire has included doo-wop, jazz, soul, disco and contemporary rhythm and blues...
"were sitting on the wooden platform where the string players would sit....just stomping their feet on this wooden platform to the beat of the song as it was playing back....I told the engineer 'Let's do it again, and let's mike those foot sounds, 'cause it really gave it a hell of a beat.' So we did that, and boom, a hit." - Carter
In the UK the Swinging Blue Jeans
The Swinging Blue Jeans
The Swinging Blue Jeans were a four piece 1960s British Merseybeat band, best known for their hit singles with the HMV label; "Hippy Hippy Shake", the follow-up, Little Richard's "Good Golly Miss Molly", and "You're No Good", a Clint Ballard song that provided a change of pace and furnished the...
had the hit version of "You're No Good" reaching #3 in the summer of 1964: this version also charted in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
at #26 and was successful enough regionally in the US to reach #97 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...
.
Genya Ravan
Genya Ravan
Genya Ravan, aka Goldie Zelkowitz is an American rock singer and producer. She is the former lead singer of The Escorts, Goldie & the Gingerbreads, and Ten Wheel Drive....
has indicated she vainly attempted to interest the producer of her 1974 album Goldie Zelkovitz in the idea of a remake of "You're No Good" while Maria Muldaur
Maria Muldaur
Maria Muldaur is a folk-blues singer who was part of the American folk music revival in the early 1960s...
, discussing in a 1985 interview how she "didn't go out of [her] way to find followup hits" to her 1973-74 breakthrough "Midnight at the Oasis
Midnight at the Oasis
A version of this song was recorded by the group Brand New Heavies, attributed to "Brand New Heavies featuring N'Dea Davenport". This version reached #13 in the UK in 1994 and was their biggest hit up until the departure of Davenport, when Sometimes made #11....
", cited "You're No Good" when explaining: "I've turned down songs that have gone on to be hits for other people because I thought the lyrics were negative or neurotic".
It was Muldaur's friend and professional associate Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
who'd remake "You're No Good" for her Double Platinum career defining Heart Like A Wheel
Heart Like a Wheel
Heart Like a Wheel is Linda Ronstadt's fifth solo album release and the last-ever of her studio projects for Capitol Records, released in late 1974. It is universally considered to be Ronstadt's all-time high watermark masterpiece recording and a pioneering blueprint of Country Rock...
album released November 1974 by Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
; Ronstadt's version benefited from the contribution of Andrew Gold
Andrew Gold
Andrew Maurice Gold was an American singer, musician and songwriter. His works include the Top 10 single "Lonely Boy" , as well as the singles "Thank You for Being a Friend" , and "Never Let Her Slip Away" ....
who provided virtually all the track's instrumentation. Capitol was unsure whether to release "You're No Good" or "When Will I Be Loved
When Will I Be Loved (song)
"When Will I Be Loved" is a popular song, written by Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers and a #8 hit single for that duo in the summer of 1960. The track had been recorded in 1959 while the Everly Brothers were contracted to Cadence Records; by 1960 they had moved to Warner Brothers and recording...
" as the lead single off Heart Like a Wheel only deciding to release "You're No Good" a week after the album's release; the track ascended to #1 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...
dated 15 February 1975. ("When Will I Be Loved" would be issued as the followup single.) The success of "You're No Good" set a precedent for Ronstadt's single releases which over the next five years would virtually all be remakes of classic rock and roll songs. (The B-side of "You're No Good": "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love With You)" - originally by Hank Williams - was simultaneously a major C&W
Hot Country Songs
Hot 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...
hit for Ronstadt at #2.) "You're No Good" was also a hit for Linda Ronstadt in Australia (#15), the Netherlands (#17) and New Zealand (#24).
Other artists who have covered "You're No Good" include Aswad
Aswad
Aswad are a long-lasting British reggae group, noted for adding strong R&B and soul influences to the reggae sound. They have been performing since the mid 1970s, having released a total of twenty-one albums.-History:...
, Michael Bolton
Michael Bolton
Michael Bolton is an American singer and songwriter. Bolton originally performed in the hard rock and heavy metal genres from the mid 1970s to the mid 1980s, both on his early solo albums and those recorded as the frontman of the band Blackjack...
as Michael Bolotin, Ellie Campbell
Ellie Campbell
Ellie Campbell is a British singer. She released four singles and an album between 1998 and 2001. Initially winning a GMTV contest to find a new singer, Campbell released her debut single "Sweet Lies" in 1998, the single reached #42 in the UK Singles Chart. In August 1999 Ellie released her second...
, Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
, Frankie Rose and the Outs, Jose Feliciano
José Feliciano
José Feliciano is a Puerto Rican singer, virtuoso guitarist and composer known for many international hits including the 1970 holiday single "Feliz Navidad".-Childhood:...
, Keith Hampshire
Keith Hampshire
Keith Hampshire is an English-born Canadian popular singer of the 1970s, famous in Canada for three top ten hits , and the successful television show Music Machine...
, Jill Johnson
Jill Johnson
Jill Anna Maria Johnson, , is a Swedish country- and pop-singer and songwriter. She performed the Melodifestivalen 1998 winning song Kärleken är, and represented Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest 1998 with that song, which finished 10th with 53 points. In 2003 she again entered Melodifestivalen...
, Lulu
Lulu (singer)
Lulu Kennedy-Cairns, OBE , best known by her stage name Lulu, is a Scottish singer, actress, and television personality who has been successful in the entertainment business from the 1960s through to the present day...
, Reba McEntire
Reba McEntire
Reba Nell McEntire is an American country music artist and actress. She began her career in the music industry as a high school student singing in the Kiowa High School band , on local radio shows with her siblings, and at rodeos. As a solo act, she was invited to perform at a rodeo in Oklahoma...
, The Muppets
The Muppets
The Muppets are a group of puppet characters created by Jim Henson starting in 1954–55. Although the term is often used to refer to any puppet that resembles the distinctive style of The Muppet Show, the term is both an informal name and legal trademark owned by the Walt Disney Company in reference...
, Rosie & The Originals, Floortje Smit
Floortje Smit
-Career:Smit's career started in season three of the Dutch TV talent show Idols, the Dutch spin-off of Pop Idol. In a surprising twist, Smit, a big audience favorite with her girl-nextdoor image and very popular lost in the final to Raffaëla Paton...
, Ike and Tina Turner, Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
(on Van Halen II
Van Halen II
-Personnel:*David Lee Roth - lead vocals*Eddie Van Halen - electric and acoustic guitars, backing vocals*Michael Anthony - bass guitar, backing vocals*Alex Van Halen - drums-Production:*Producer: Ted Templeman...
) and Wild Orchid
Wild Orchid (band)
Wild Orchid was an American pop vocal group. -History:Wild Orchid began in 1990 when Renee Sandstrom and Stefanie Ridel met in their southern California high school's drama department. What brought Renee and Stefanie together was their shared love of poetry, music, and taste for fame. Soon after...
. And the band Pot Liquor. The 2004 album release California
California (Wilson Phillips album)
California is the third studio album and the first cover album by American female group Wilson Phillips. The group reunited in 2003 to record it. It is their first studio album in twelve years...
by Wilson Phillips
Wilson Phillips
-Studio albums:-Compilation albums:-Singles:-Other charted songs:-Awards and nominations:...
contains a version of "You're No Good" which like the Ronstadt version was produced by Peter Asher
Peter Asher
Peter Asher is an English guitarist, singer, manager and record producer. He first came to prominence in the 1960s as a member of the vocal duo Peter and Gordon before going on to a successful career as a record producer.-Early life:He was born at the Central Middlesex Hospital, a child actor and...
but radically reinvents the song. International renderings included the Finnish versions "Olet Paha" a 1964 single release by Eddy and the Boys and "Paha Oot" on the 1975 album Bimbo by Marion Rung
Marion Rung
Marion Rung is a Finnish pop singer. She is known to have represented Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1962 and 1973. Her 1962 Eurovision song placed 7th and in 1973, she managed to bring Finland's second best result ever in this contest, placing 6th...
.
Season seven of American Idol
American Idol (season 7)
The seventh season of American Idol, the annual reality show and singing competition, began on January 15, 2008 and concluded on May 21, 2008. Ryan Seacrest continued to host the show with Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson returning as judges...
featured a performance of "You're No Good" by Kristy Lee Cook
Kristy Lee Cook
Kristy Lee Cook is an American country singer who was born in Seattle, Washington and was the seventh place finalist on the seventh season of American Idol. In 2005 Cook released her debut album called Devoted. In June 2008, Cook signed to 19 Recordings and Arista Nashville. She released her...
. Didi Benami
Didi Benami
Vered "Didi" Benami is an American singer/songwriter from Knoxville, Tennessee, who was the tenth place finalist on the ninth season of American Idol.-Early life:...
performed the song on American Idol season nine
American Idol (season 9)
The ninth season of American Idol premiered on January 12, 2010 and concluded on May 26, 2010 on Fox. Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi all returned as judges, and Ellen DeGeneres permanently replaced Paula Abdul as the fourth judge. Idol Gives Back also returned for the season and was...
.