December 30, 2022     —–     Chart #176

Hello Music Friends,

Hey folks, welcome to another edition of Chart of the Week. It’s almost New Year’s Eve! Wow, where did 2022 go? Thought today I would give you a good sign along party song for your NYE celebrations.

“Hey! Baby” is a song written by Margaret Cobb and Bruce Channel, first recorded at Clifford Herring Studios in Ft. Worth Tx, and recorded by Channel in 1961, first released on LeCam Records, a local Fort Worth, Texas label. After it hit, it was released on Smash Records for national distribution. Channel co-produced the song with Major Bill Smith (owner of LeCam) and released it on Mercury Records’ Smash label. It reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks, starting the week ending March 10, 1962. Who knew this song was a Texas recording right here in DFW?

The song features a prominent riff from well-known harmonica player Delbert McClinton, and drums played by Ray Torres. Other musicians on the record included Bob Jones and Billy Sanders on guitar and Jim Rogers on bass. According to a CNN article from 2002, while touring the UK in 1962 with the Beatles, McClinton met John Lennon and gave him some harmonica tips. Lennon put the lessons to use right away on “Love Me Do” and later “Please Please Me”. Lennon included the song in his jukebox, and it is also featured on the 2004 related compilation album John Lennon’s Jukebox.

“Hey! Baby” was used in the 1987 hit film Dirty Dancing in the scene in which Johnny and Baby dance on top of a log.

Keep rockin my friends,

Stan Bradshaw