Just One Look (song)
Encyclopedia
"Just One Look" was a hit single co-written and sung by American
R&B singer Doris Troy
in 1963. The song peaked at #10 in the U.S. singles charts.
Details vary as to how the single came to be released on Atlantic Records
. According to the book Billboard Book of One-Hit Wonders, James Brown
saw Troy performing in a nightclub (under her then-stage name
Doris Payne), and introduced her to Atlantic. According to a more recent and detailed story in Soulful Divas, Payne recorded a studio demo of the song and took it to Sue Records
first, but their lack of response led her to offer it to Jerry Wexler
at Atlantic, where the label released the demo unchanged.
The single's release was the first time she started using "Doris Troy" as her stage name, though her pen name
remained Doris Payne.
"Just One Look" became a UK hit via a version by the Hollies
which reached #2 in the spring of 1964. Although not a major US hit in its original release, the Hollies' "Just One Look" marked the first appearance of the Hollies on the Billboard Hot 100
at #98 and a US re-issue in 1967 saw the Hollies' "Just One Look" rise as high as #44. The Beatle tribute band
, "The Buggs", also recorded an obscure version (retitled "Soho
Mash") on their 1964 Coronet album, "The Beetle Beat".
Anne Murray
remade "Just One Look" for her 1974 Love Song album and the track was issued as a single that October to become a minor Billboard Hot 100 entry at #86. Linda Ronstadt
remade "Just One Look" for her 1978 Living in the USA
album; issued as the album's third single in February 1979, the track just fell short of the Top 40 with a #44 peak.
Other versions of "Just One Look" are those by Lynda Carter
, Faith Hope and Charity
(#38 UK January 1976), Mark Farner
, Lulu
, Harry Nilsson
on his 1976 album …That's the Way It Is and Klaus Nomi
on his 1982 album Simple Man
.
Troy's version was featured in a 1997 television commercial for Pepsi
starring Cindy Crawford
that aired during Super Bowl XXXI
. Her version was also heard on DTV Disney set to The Wind in the Willows
segment of The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
R&B singer Doris Troy
Doris Troy
Doris Troy was an American R&B singer, known to her many fans as "Mama Soul".She was born as Doris Higginson in The Bronx, the daughter of a Barbadian Pentecostal minister. Her parents disapproved of "subversive" forms of music like rhythm & blues, so she cut her teeth singing in her father's choir...
in 1963. The song peaked at #10 in the U.S. singles charts.
Details vary as to how the single came to be released on Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
. According to the book Billboard Book of One-Hit Wonders, James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
saw Troy performing in a nightclub (under her then-stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Doris Payne), and introduced her to Atlantic. According to a more recent and detailed story in Soulful Divas, Payne recorded a studio demo of the song and took it to Sue Records
Sue Records
Sue Records was founded in 1957 by Henry 'Juggy' Murray in New York City.Also within the group was Symbol Records and Sue also financed and distributed A.F.O.Records owned by Harold Battiste in New Orleans....
first, but their lack of response led her to offer it to Jerry Wexler
Jerry Wexler
Gerald "Jerry" Wexler was a music journalist turned music producer, and was regarded as one of the major record industry players behind music from the 1950s through the 1980s...
at Atlantic, where the label released the demo unchanged.
The single's release was the first time she started using "Doris Troy" as her stage name, though her pen name
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
remained Doris Payne.
"Just One Look" became a UK hit via a version by the Hollies
The Hollies
The Hollies are an English pop and rock group, formed in Manchester in the early 1960s, though most of the band members are from throughout East Lancashire. Known for their distinctive vocal harmony style, they became one of the leading British groups of the 1960s and 1970s...
which reached #2 in the spring of 1964. Although not a major US hit in its original release, the Hollies' "Just One Look" marked the first appearance of the Hollies 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...
at #98 and a US re-issue in 1967 saw the Hollies' "Just One Look" rise as high as #44. The Beatle tribute band
Tribute band
A tribute act is a music group, singer, or musician who specifically plays the music of a well-known music act - sometimes one which has disbanded, ceased touring or is deceased. Probably the largest class of tributes acts are Elvis impersonators, individual performers who mimic the songs and style...
, "The Buggs", also recorded an obscure version (retitled "Soho
Soho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster and part of the West End of London. Long established as an entertainment district, for much of the 20th century Soho had a reputation for sex shops as well as night life and film industry. Since the early 1980s, the area has undergone considerable...
Mash") on their 1964 Coronet album, "The Beetle Beat".
Anne Murray
Anne Murray
Morna Anne Murray CC, ONS is a Canadian singer in pop, country and adult contemporary styles whose albums have sold over 54 million copies....
remade "Just One Look" for her 1974 Love Song album and the track was issued as a single that October to become a minor Billboard Hot 100 entry at #86. 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...
remade "Just One Look" for her 1978 Living in the USA
Living in the USA
Living In The USA is a 1978 album by American singer/songwriter/producer Linda Ronstadt. The album was Ronstadt's third No. 1 on the Billboard album chart and was the first album in history to ship Double Platinum...
album; issued as the album's third single in February 1979, the track just fell short of the Top 40 with a #44 peak.
Other versions of "Just One Look" are those by Lynda Carter
Lynda Carter
Lynda Jean Carter is an American actress and singer, best known for being Miss World USA and as the star of the 1970s television series The New Original Wonder Woman and The New Adventures of Wonder Woman ....
, Faith Hope and Charity
Faith Hope and Charity (US band)
Faith Hope and Charity was the name of a disco band from Tampa, Florida. They are best known for their 1975 hit, "To Each His Own".-Career:Founding members of the group were Zulema Cusseaux, Brenda Hilliard and Al Bailey...
(#38 UK January 1976), Mark Farner
Mark Farner
Mark Fredrick Farner is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lead guitarist for Grand Funk Railroad, and later as a Contemporary Christian Musician.-Early life and career:...
, 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...
, Harry Nilsson
Harry Nilsson
Harry Edward Nilsson III was an American singer-songwriter who achieved the peak of his commercial success in the early 1970s. On all but his earliest recordings he is credited as Nilsson...
on his 1976 album …That's the Way It Is and Klaus Nomi
Klaus Nomi
Klaus Sperber , better known as Klaus Nomi, was a German countertenor noted for his wide vocal range and an unusual, otherworldly stage persona....
on his 1982 album Simple Man
Simple Man (album)
Simple Man is the second album by German countertenor Klaus Nomi. It was also the last album to be released during Nomi's lifetime.-Track listing:#"From Beyond" – 2:51#"After the Fall" – 4:43...
.
Troy's version was featured in a 1997 television commercial for Pepsi
Pepsi
Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo...
starring Cindy Crawford
Cindy Crawford
Cynthia Ann "Cindy" Crawford is an American model. Known for her trademark mole just above her lip, Crawford has adorned hundreds of magazine covers throughout her career. She was named #3 on VH1's 40 Hottest Hotties of the 90s...
that aired during Super Bowl XXXI
Super Bowl XXXI
Super Bowl XXXI was an American football game played on January 26, 1997, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1996 regular season. The National Football Conference champion Green Bay Packers defeated the American...
. Her version was also heard on DTV Disney set to The Wind in the Willows
The Wind in the Willows
The Wind in the Willows is a classic of children's literature by Kenneth Grahame, first published in 1908. Alternately slow moving and fast paced, it focuses on four anthropomorphised animal characters in a pastoral version of England...
segment of The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad is a 1949 animated feature produced by Walt Disney. The film was released to theaters on October 5, 1949 by RKO Radio Pictures and is the eleventh animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series...
.