"Baby It's You"
Single by the Shirelles
from the album Baby It's You
B-side"The Things I Want to Hear (Pretty Words)"
Released1961
StudioBell Sound (New York City)
Length2:42
LabelScepter
Composer(s)Burt Bacharach
Lyricist(s)
Producer(s)Luther Dixon
The Shirelles singles chronology
"Big John (Ain't You Gonna Marry Me)"
(1961)		 "Baby It's You"
(1961)		 "Soldier Boy"
(1962)

"Baby It's You" is a song written by Burt Bacharach (music), Luther Dixon (credited as Barney Williams),[1] and Mack David (lyrics). It was recorded by the Shirelles and the Beatles and was a hit for both. The highest-charting version of "Baby It's You" was by the band Smith, who took the track to number 5 on the US charts in 1969.[2]

The Shirelles' original version

The song was produced by Luther Dixon. When released as a single in 1961, it became a Top 10 smash on the Pop and R&B Charts, reached number 3 on the R&B chart and peaked at number 8 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.[3] It later appeared on the album Baby It's You,[4] named to capitalize upon the success of the single. The vocal arrangements on this version proved influential in subsequent ones, including that by the Beatles. One notable feature of the song is its minor-to-major key chord changes on the verses.

The Beatles' version

"Baby It's You"
Sheet music cover
Song by the Beatles
from the album Please Please Me
Released
RecordedFebruary 11 & 20, 1963
StudioEMI, London
GenreMerseybeat
Length2:40
LabelParlophone
Composer(s)Burt Bacharach
Lyricist(s)
Producer(s)George Martin

"Baby It's You"
Single by the Beatles
from the album Live at the BBC
ReleasedMarch 20, 1995 (1995-03-20)[5]
RecordedJune 1, 1963 (United Kingdom)
GenreMerseybeat
Length2:44
LabelApple
Composer(s)Burt Bacharach
Lyricist(s)
Producer(s)George Martin
The Beatles singles chronology
"The Beatles' Movie Medley"
(1982)		 "Baby It's You"
(1995)		 "Free as a Bird"
(1995)

British rock band the Beatles performed "Baby It's You" as part of their stage act from 1961 until 1963, and recorded it on February 11, 1963, for their first album, Please Please Me, along with "Boys", another song by the Shirelles.[6] American label Vee-Jay Records included it on Introducing... The Beatles and Songs, Pictures and Stories of the Fabulous Beatles. Capitol included it on The Early Beatles. The Beatles' take differs from the Shirelles' in that it repeats the second verse instead of the first.[7]

A live version was released on Live at the BBC in 1994. Here, Lennon does not repeat part of the second verse after the solo (as he did on the studio cut), but repeats part of the first verse, which is the way the Shirelles sang the song.[8] The song was issued as a CD single and a vinyl E.P. in 1995 in both the UK and the US, the Beatles' first in nearly a decade. Both versions have four tracks, as was the norm on CD singles at that point. The three additional tracks, while from BBC recordings, did not appear on Live at the BBC. "I'll Follow the Sun" and "Boys" were later included on On Air – Live at the BBC Volume 2, but this recording of "Devil in Her Heart" remains unique to this release. The single reached number seven in the UK and number 67 on the Billboard Hot 100.

1995 release track listing

  1. "Baby It's You" (Bacharach/David/Williams) – 2:45
  2. "I'll Follow the Sun" (Lennon–McCartney) – 1:51
  3. "Devil in Her Heart" (Drapkin) – 2:23
  4. "Boys" (Dixon/Farrell) – 2:29

Music video

A live music video was released in 1994 to promote the single. It consisted of a combination of the Beatles dancing and still photographs, and was later included on a DVD or Blu-ray that comes with the 2015 release 1+.

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1995) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[9] 33
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10] 43
Denmark (IFPI)[11] 8
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[12] 17
Germany (Official German Charts)[13] 94
Ireland (IRMA)[14] 12
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[15] 44
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[16] 30
Scotland (OCC)[17] 5
UK Singles (OCC)[18] 7
US Billboard Hot 100[19] 67

Smith version

Smith's version appeared on their debut album, A Group Called Smith. The single was released on Dunhill Records (4206) in 1969. It was their first and most successful release. This version, arranged by Del Shannon who "discovered" the group, alters the traditional vocal arrangement as performed by the Shirelles and the Beatles in favor of a more belted, soulful vocal. The single hit number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100,[20] and was ranked number 28 in Billboard's year-end chart of 1969.[21] The Smith version was used in Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof.[22] Smith's version is referenced in season 10, episode 6 of Friends, "The One with Ross's Grant", wherein the band is not referenced by name but as a "popular British Invasion Band".

Charts

Chart (1969) Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[23] 4
US Billboard Hot 100[24] 5

References

  1. ↑ Dominic, Serene (2003). Burt Bacharach, Song by Song: The Ultimate Burt Bacharach Reference for Fans. Schirmer Trade Books. p. 69. ISBN 0-8256-7280-5.
  2. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 581.
  3. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 523.
  4. ↑ Baby It's You - The Shirelles, AllMusic, retrieved April 7, 2022
  5. ↑ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. March 18, 1995. p. 35.
  6. ↑ Mark Lewisohn, The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions (London: The Hamlyn Publishing Group Limited, 1988, ISBN 0-681-03189-1), p. 24, 26
  7. ↑ All Together Now, the ABC of the Beatles' songs and albums by David Rowley
  8. ↑ "The Beatles Studio <> Lyrics <> Baby It's You (live at the BBC)". thebeatles.hk. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  9. ↑ "The Beatles – Baby It's You". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  10. ↑ "The Beatles – Baby It's You" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  11. ↑ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 15. April 15, 1995. p. 30. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 14. April 8, 1995. p. 22. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  13. ↑ "The Beatles – Baby It's You" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  14. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Baby It's You". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  15. ↑ "The Beatles – Baby It's You" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  16. ↑ "The Beatles – Baby It's You". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  17. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  18. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  19. ↑ "The Beatles Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  20. ↑ "Smith. Baby it's you". Billboard. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Top Records of 1969". Billboard. Vol. 81, no. 52. December 27, 1969. p. 16.
  22. ↑ McCown, Alex (September 3, 2015). "Quentin Tarantino's least-seen flick delivers one of his best music choices". The A.V. Club.
  23. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7755." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  24. ↑ "Smith Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
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