Thursday June 3, 2021 “Take Good of My Baby” Bobby Vee
Before you classify this 60s pop classic as trivial you should know that when the Beatles auditioned for Decca Records this was the song they chose to sing. OK, that audition didn’t turn out so well but let’s not blame the song.
Also Bobby Vee had a mention in last week’s celebration of Bob Dylan’s 80th birthday in that Dylan played in Bobby Vee’s band very early in both their careers, so it seemed only appropriate to spend some time with Mr. Vee and his most successful charting song, and he is also immediately connected to Buddy Holly.
The “day the music died” Buddy Holly and his tour were scheduled to do a concert in Fargo, ND, Robert Velline’s (Vee) hometown. The promoter and the local radio station were looking for someone who could replace Holly on the bill and Bobby Vee and his band the Shadows, named that very night, fit the sound. It is no accident that you might think Bobby Vee sounds remarkably like Buddy Holly.
In a 2013 concert in Dylan’s hometown of Duluth, MN (really Hibbing but they're close) where Bobby Vee was present Dylan noted, “I’ve played with everybody from Mick Jagger to Madonna, but the most beautiful person I’ve ever been on stage with is Bobby Vee. He used to sing a song called ‘Suzie Baby.” After which he broke into a Bob Dylan version of “Suzie Baby”.
“Take Good Care of My Baby” was written by Brill Building legends Gerry Goffin and Carole King and was a number one song for Bobby Vee as well as the first number one of many more to follow, for the songwriting team of Goffin & King. Bobby Vee would have a total of fourteen charting singles during his career.
Stay safe and well...and do take good care of your baby, regardless of their age.