Take Good Care of My Baby

1961 song by Bobby Vee

the albums

"Take Good Care of My Baby" is a song written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin. when it was released in 1961.

While searching for material for Bobby Vee to record, Vee's producer Snuff Garrett heard a demo of Carole King singing "Take Good Care of My Baby". Garrett told publisher Don Kirshner that he wanted the song for Vee, but he believed the song needed an introductory verse. Garrett met with Carole King, and the introductory verse of Vee's version was written. The Johnny Mann Singers sang backup. Bobby Vee released "Take Good Care of My Baby" as a single on July 20, 1961, and it was reviewed by Billboard in its issue dated July 31, 1961. Vee's recording quickly became popular, spending 15 weeks on the U. S. Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 1 on September 18, 1961, and spending three weeks in that position. New Zealand, and No. 23 on Cash Boxs "Top 100 Chart Hits of 1961". The song was the lead track on Bobby Vee's album, Take Good Care of My Baby, which was released in 1962. Vee re recorded the song as a ballad in 1972. He released under his real name, Robert Thomas Velline, on his 1972 album Ain't Nothing Like a Sunny Day, However, it is his original version, along with Bobby Vinton's, that remain as staples of oldies radio stations.

Chart (1961)PeakpositionAustralia (Music Maker)6Canada (CHUM Hit Parade)1Hong Kong2Ireland (Evening Herald)2New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade)3Bobby Vee's "Take Good Care of My Baby" and Frankie Vaughan's "Tower of Strength" were classified jointly as NMEs number one single on December 2, 1961.1U. S. Billboard Hot 1001U. S. Cash Box Records Disc Jockeys Played Most1U. S. Cash Box Top Ten Juke Box Tunes1

In 1968, the song was released by Bobby Vinton as a single and on his album, Take Good Care of My Baby. Vinton's version became a hit, spending 8 weeks on the U. S. Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 33, while reaching No. 14 on Billboards Easy Listening chart, No. 19 on Record Worlds "100 Top Pops", No. 12 on Record Worlds "Top Non Rock" chart, No. 36 on Canada's "RPM 100", and No. 16 on Canada's CHUM Hit Parade. Vinton's version omitted the introduction, plus the first two lines of the repeated refrain.

Chart (1968)PeakpositionCanada (RPM 100)26U. S. Record World 100 Top Pops4

Dion recorded a version of the song, which was released on his November 1961 album Runaround Sue. Although Dion's version was released after Bobby Vee's version, Dion's was the first version to be recorded. Gary Lewis & The Playboys recorded a cover version, which was released on their 1966 album, She's Just My Style. Donny Osmond released a version of the song on his 1972 album Too Young. Shaun Cassidy included his rendition of the song on his 1977 debut self titled album. Neil Innes included an excerpt of the song in the Re Cycled Vinyl Blues medley, the title track from his 1994 eponymous album. As Dick Brave and the Backbeats, German pop star Sasha released a version in 2003, which reached No. 21 in Germany and No. 52 on the Ö3 Austria Top 40.

An answer song, titled "I'll Take Good Care of Your Baby", was recorded by Ralph Emery. It was released as a single on Liberty F 55383, in 1961. Another answer song, titled "You Should Know I'm Still Your Baby", was recorded by Sammi Lynn. It was released as a single on Sue Records 45 752, in 1961.