About the song
“Take Good Care of My Baby” is a memorable song penned by the talented songwriting duo Carole King and Gerry Goffin. Released in 1961, it was famously performed by Bobby Vee, who turned it into a major hit.
The story behind this song’s success is quite interesting. Bobby Vee’s producer, Snuff Garrett, discovered a demo of the song sung by Carole King. Garrett liked the song but felt it needed an extra touch to make it stand out. After discussing it with King, they decided to add an introductory verse, which was then incorporated into Vee’s version.
The recording session for the song featured a number of skilled musicians, including guitarists Barney Kessel, Tommy Allsup, and Howard Roberts, as well as bassist Clifford Hills, pianist Robert Florence, and drummer Earl Palmer. The Johnny Mann Singers provided the backing vocals, and Sid Sharp arranged the strings to complement Vee’s heartfelt performance.
“Take Good Care of My Baby” was released on July 20, 1961, and quickly captured the hearts of listeners. The song climbed to number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 on September 18, 1961, and maintained its position for three weeks. It also achieved significant success internationally, topping the charts in Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The song’s popularity was further solidified by its ranking as the 12th best song of the year on Billboard’s “Hot 100 for 1961” and the 23rd on Cash Box’s “Top 100 Chart Hits of 1961.”
In addition to its success as a single, “Take Good Care of My Baby” was the title track of Bobby Vee’s album released in 1962. Vee revisited the song in 1972, recording a ballad version under his real name, Robert Thomas Velline. Despite this later rendition, it is the original 1961 recording that continues to resonate on oldies radio stations and remains a cherished classic.
Video
Lyrics
My tears are fallin’ cause you’ve taken her away
And through it really hurts me so
There’s something that I gotta say
Take good care of my baby
Please don’t ever make her blue
Just tell her that you love her
Make sure you’re thinking of her
In everything you say and do
Take good care of my baby
Now don’t you ever make her cry
Just let your love surround her
Don’t let her see a cloudy sky
Once upon a time that little girl was mine
If I’d been true I know she’d never be with you, so
Take good care of my baby
Be just as kind as you can be
And if you should discover
That you don’t really love her
Just send my baby back home to me
Take good care of my baby
Please don’t ever make her blue
Just tell her that you love her
Make sure you’re thinking of her
In everything you say and do
Take good care of my baby
Now don’t you ever make her cry
Just let your love surround her
Don’t let her see a cloudy sky
Once upon a time that little girl was mine
If I’d been true I know she’d never be with you, so
Take good care of my baby
Be just as kind as you can be
And if you should discover
That you don’t really love her
Just send my baby back home to me
Oh take good care of my baby, take good care of my baby
Just take good care of my baby