Oh, Boy! (song)
Encyclopedia
"Oh, Boy!" is a song originally performed by Buddy Holly
's band The Crickets
. It was written by Sonny West
and Bill Tilghman; the band's manager Norman Petty
added his name as co-composer. The song was recorded between June 29 and July 1, 1957, at Petty Studios in Clovis, New Mexico
, with Holly singing lead vocals and The Picks
providing backing vocals. The song is in an A-A-B-A format with a 12-bar blues verse and an 8-bar bridge.
The song appeared on the album The "Chirping" Crickets, and was also released as the A-side of a single, with "Not Fade Away
" as the B-side. The song peaked at #10 on the US Charts, and #3 on the UK Charts in early 1958. (See 1958 in music
for more context.)
. It reached #1 for two weeks in May 1975. A virtually a cappella
cover of the song, it was the band's third and final UK number one.
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
's band The Crickets
The Crickets
The Crickets are a rock & roll band from Lubbock, Texas, formed by singer/songwriter Buddy Holly in the 1950s. Their first hit record was "That'll Be the Day", released in 1957....
. It was written by Sonny West
Sonny West
Sonny West is a rock and roll-musician. West wrote and recorded both "Oh, Boy!" and "Rave On" on the Atlantic label in the late 1950s...
and Bill Tilghman; the band's manager Norman Petty
Norman Petty
Norman Petty was an American musician, songwriter, and pioneer record producer who helped shape modern popular music, including pop and rock....
added his name as co-composer. The song was recorded between June 29 and July 1, 1957, at Petty Studios in Clovis, New Mexico
Clovis, New Mexico
Clovis is the county seat of Curry County, New Mexico, United States. Its population was 32,667 at the 2000 census; according to 2010 Census Bureau estimates, the population had risen to 37,775....
, with Holly singing lead vocals and The Picks
The Picks
The Picks is an American vocal trio that backed Buddy Holly and The Crickets' band on nine of the first twelve Crickets releases on Brunswick in 1957, as well as backing Buddy Holly solos for group sounds, beginning in 1984...
providing backing vocals. The song is in an A-A-B-A format with a 12-bar blues verse and an 8-bar bridge.
The song appeared on the album The "Chirping" Crickets, and was also released as the A-side of a single, with "Not Fade Away
Not Fade Away (song)
"Not Fade Away" is a song credited to Buddy Holly and Norman Petty and first recorded by Holly's band The Crickets in Clovis, New Mexico, on May 27, 1957...
" as the B-side. The song peaked at #10 on the US Charts, and #3 on the UK Charts in early 1958. (See 1958 in music
1958 in music
-Events:*February - 45,000 peoplein one week watch performances of "rokabirī" music by Japanese singers at the first Nichigeki Western Carnival....
for more context.)
Mud version
"Oh Boy" was covered by British group MudMud (band)
Mud were an English glam rock band, formed in February 1968, best remembered for their single "Tiger Feet", which was the UK's best-selling single of 1974...
. It reached #1 for two weeks in May 1975. A virtually a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
cover of the song, it was the band's third and final UK number one.
Other versions
- Jackie DeShannonJackie DeShannonJackie DeShannon is an American singer-songwriter with a string of hit song credits from the 1960s onwards. She was one of the first female singer-songwriters of the rock 'n' roll period.- Life and early career :...
released a version of the song on her Breakin' It Up On the Beatles Tour! album (1964). - The virtual Snthypop Band Silicon TeensSilicon TeensSilicon Teens were a virtual British electronic new wave pop group. The project was the creation of Mute Records founder Daniel Miller.-Background:...
cover the title 1980 on their album Music for Parties, which features Rock´n´Roll Classics as New Wave tracks. - MelanieMelanie SafkaMelanie Anne Safka-Schekeryk is an American singer-songwriter. Known professionally as simply Melanie, she is best known for her hits "Brand New Key", "Ruby Tuesday" and "Lay Down ".-Early career:...
released a version of the song in 1978, as did the Stray CatsStray CatsStray Cats are an American Rockabilly band formed in 1980 by guitarist/vocalist Brian Setzer , upright bassist Lee Rocker and Slim Jim Phantom in the Long Island town of Massapequa, New York. The group had numerous hit singles in the UK, Australia and the U.S...
in 1996. - The song was "revived" in an offbeat power ballad version by Starbabies that hit the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in 1979.
- Christian punk rock band MxPxMxPxMxPx is a pop punk band from Bremerton, Washington with connections to the Christian punk scene. The band has recorded eight studio albums, four EPs, four compilation albums, a live album, a VHS tape, a DVD and released 20 singles....
covered the song on their 1995 covers EP On The CoverOn the CoverOn the Cover is an EP of song covers by the American pop punk band MxPx, released on November 28, 1995 . Two different editions were released: a CD with 8 tracks, and a double 10" vinyl record with 12 tracks...
. - Hank MarvinHank MarvinHank Brian Marvin is an English guitarist, best known as the lead guitarist for The Shadows. The group, which primarily performed instrumentals, was formed as a backing band for vocalist Cliff Richard...
did an instrumental version of the song on Hank Plays Holly in 1996.