Goin' Out of My Head
"Goin' Out of My Head" | ||||
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Single by Little Anthony and the Imperials | ||||
from the album Goin' Out of My Head | ||||
B-side | "Make it Easy on Yourself" | |||
Released | November 1964 | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 2:50 | |||
Label | DCP | |||
Songwriter(s) | Teddy Randazzo, Bobby Weinstein | |||
Producer(s) | Teddy Randazzo, Don Costa | |||
Little Anthony and the Imperials singles chronology | ||||
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"Goin' Out of My Head" is a song written by Teddy Randazzo and Bobby Weinstein, initially recorded by Little Anthony and the Imperials in 1964. Randazzo, a childhood friend of the group, wrote the song especially for them, having also supplied the group with their previous Top 20 Hit "I'm on the Outside (Looking In)".[1] Their original version of the song was a Billboard Top 10 Pop smash, reaching No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100,[2] and No. 1 in the Canadian RPM-list in 1965. The song peaked at No. 8 on Cashbox magazine's R&B chart (Billboard was in a chart recess for R&B listings at that time). The Little Anthony and the Imperials original recording is the best-known version of the song, although it has since been covered by many other artists, including the Zombies, who released a rendition as their last single on Decca Records.
Credits – The Imperials
- "Little Anthony" Gourdine – Lead Vocals
- Sammy Strain – First Tenor
- Ernest Wright – Second Tenor
- Clarence "Wah-Hoo" Collins – Baritone/Bass, Group Founder
- Orchestra directed by Don Costa
- Gary Chester — drums
Charts
Chart (1964–65) | Peak position |
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Canada Top Singles (RPM) | 1 |
US Billboard Hot 100 | 6 |
US Cash Box R&B | 8 |
The Zombies rendition
"Goin' Out Of My Head" | ||||
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Single by the Zombies | ||||
B-side | "She Does Everything For Me" | |||
Released | 17 March 1967 | |||
Recorded | 23 October 1966 | |||
Studio | Kingsway Studios, London | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:05 | |||
Label | Decca | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Ken Jones | |||
The Zombies UK singles chronology | ||||
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Background and recording
In 1967, British band the Zombies recorded the song as a single, and was released as the group's final Decca Records single.[3] Throughout 1965 and 1966, their commercial success had been declining in the US,[4] while they had completely failed to reach the Record Retailer chart since 1965's "Tell Her No".[5] Decca primarily put this fault on the group's keyboardist Rod Argent and bassist Chris White, who composed virtually all of the group's music.[6] According to Decca, their own compositions were "too uncommercial", including "I Want You Back Again", which Decca cited among their least commercial singles.[7] Therefore, Decca chose covers for the band to record.[8] The first cover song the group released as a single in the UK was "Gotta Get A Hold Of Myself", which was a chart failure, not being noted on the chart at all.[5]
The group also suffered the issue of finding suitable material to cover, "Gotta Get A Hold Of Myself" happened by chance.[8] However, also by a stroke of luck, the band remember hearing Little Anthony and the Imperials perform alongside them on the Dick Clark tour, which they embarked on in April 1965.[9] One of the tracks on their setlist was "Goin' Out Of My Head", which the Zombies then promptly picked up and incorporated into their own setlist.[10] Decca then wanted the band to record it as a follow up to "Gotta Get A Hold Of Myself", which the band, initially reluctant, did not want to do.[10] This was because the band at the time once again wanted to record original material, which was turned down by Decca.[10] The band eventually had to accept the offer after the record company threatened to drop the act from their label.[10]
For the first time since around May or June of 1966, the Zombies returned to a studio to record in October of that year.[11] As the group did not want to record at Decca Studios, Kingsway Studios (later De Lane Lea Studios) was booked on 23 October, something Argent recalls quite clearly.[3] He states that the band met guitarist Jimi Hendrix on his way out of the studio before they entered.[3] Hendrix had just recorded his debut single "Hey Joe" at the studio.[3] The Zombies rendition was, although slightly different to the original, apparently a homage to Little Anthony.[3] Producer Ken Jones, who had been the group's standard producer for their Decca material,[6] was also present during recording.[3] Lead vocalist Colin Blunstone was overdubbed at Advision Studios in order to give the single "extra-kick.", since Jones felt that the vocals "weren't strong enough"[3]
Release and reception
The release of "Goin' Out Of My Head" was a highlight in the Zombies career, as they'd gotten incredibly popular in the Phillipines.[12] This meant that they had started earning money as well as their commercial success once again started increasing.[12] In hearing this, Decca, who had been keeping "Goin' Out Of My Head" in their vaults for around half a year, decided to release it.[13] So on 17 March 1967, "Goin' Out Of My Head" was released in the UK.[14] As their contract with Parrot Records had expired, the song never got a release in the US.[14] It was backed by "She Does Everything For Me", which was a song Argent had composed.[11] Like all singles by the Zombies after "Tell Her No", it failed to reach Record Retailer.[5] This was to the disappointment of Decca, who thought it would become a big hit, while the Zombies did not attempt to promote it.[8]
The single received generally favorable reviews in the British press. In a review for Disc and Music Echo, critic Penny Valentine called the song "splendid treatment" of the original,[15] hoping it would reach the charts.[15] According to author Claes Johansen, this was expected, as she loved the Zombies music.[16] Derek Johnson of New Musical Express also praised the single, calling it an "exceptionally good tune."[17] He does however, state that it was "too recent" to the original for making the charts.[17] Other than that, he writes that song is "well worth hearing", noting the "colorful" harmonies and it's "big-bash treatment".[17] He ends the review by stating that their rendition is "highly creditable."[17] Peter Jones of Record Mirror called the song their "best, performance wise."[18] He notes the vocal arrangement, but just like Johnson, negatively notes the song for being "too early."[18] All in all it was ranked four stars.[18]
The band members put the blame of the lack of chart success on producer Jones.[3] Without the band's consent, Jones dubbed over horns which in turn muddied out some of the vocals.[3] This was disliked by the band, even though they couldn't do anything against it.[3] As a result, some of the vocal harmonies on the record were also removed, which was another problem for some band members.[3] Argent stated that the demo version of the song they recorded weeks prior sounded better because the "harmonies were massive."[3] Decca's Tony Hall thought that Blunstone was low in the mix, which led to him forcefully having to overdub the vocals.[3] This, combined with the brass track, is largely the biggest contributor to the muddy vocals on the track.[3] Soon after the single, Decca dropped the act, which led to them signing CBS Records later on.[19]
Cover versions
- In 1966, American jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery pushed the song to No. 6 on the R&B chart.[20]
- In 1966, Brazilian group Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 released a version of the song on their debut album Herb Alpert Presents Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66.[21]
References
- ^ "Goin' out of My Head" song article from AllMusic"
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 372.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Zombie Heaven (liner notes pg. 48). Alec Palao. Zombies. Big Beat Records. 1997.
- ^ Johansen, Claes (2001). The Zombies: Hung Up on a Dream: a Biography. SAF Publishing. p. 93. ISBN 978-094-671-93-41.
- ^ a b c Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 618. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ a b Johansen, Claes (2001). The Zombies: Hung Up on a Dream: a Biography. SAF Publishing. p. 92. ISBN 978-094-671-93-41.
- ^ Greenwald, Matthew. "The Zombies – I Want You Back Again – Song Review by Matthew Greenwald". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c Zombie Heaven (liner notes pg. 47). Alec Palao. Zombies. Big Beat Records. 1997.
- ^ Johansen, Claes (2001). The Zombies: Hung Up on a Dream: a Biography. SAF Publishing. p. 128. ISBN 978-094-671-93-41.
- ^ a b c d Johansen, Claes (2001). The Zombies: Hung Up on a Dream: a Biography. SAF Publishing. p. 151. ISBN 978-094-671-93-41.
- ^ a b Johansen, Claes (2001). The Zombies: Hung Up on a Dream: a Biography. SAF Publishing. p. 152. ISBN 978-094-671-93-41.
- ^ a b Johansen, Claes (2001). The Zombies: Hung Up on a Dream: a Biography. SAF Publishing. p. 153. ISBN 978-094-671-93-41.
- ^ Johansen, Claes (2001). The Zombies: Hung Up on a Dream: a Biography. SAF Publishing. p. 154. ISBN 978-094-671-93-41.
- ^ a b Johansen, Claes (2001). The Zombies: Hung Up on a Dream: a Biography. SAF Publishing. p. 209. ISBN 978-094-671-93-41.
- ^ a b Valentine, Penny. "Quick Spins" (PDF). Disc & Music Echo (18 March 1967): 15.
- ^ Johansen, Claes (2001). The Zombies: Hung Up on a Dream: a Biography. SAF Publishing. p. 160. ISBN 978-094-671-93-41.
- ^ a b c d Johnson, Derek. "Singles Reviewed By Derek Johnson" (PDF). New Musical Express (18 March 1967): 6.
- ^ a b c Jones, Peter. "New Singles Reviewed by Peter Jones" (PDF). Record Mirror (18 March 1967): 9.
- ^ Johansen, Claes (2001). The Zombies: Hung Up on a Dream: a Biography. SAF Publishing. p. 136. ISBN 978-094-671-93-41.
- ^ https://www.billboard.com/music/wes-montgomery/chart-history/r-b-hip-hop-albums/song/887384
- ^ Herb Alpert Presents Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 - Sergio Mendes, Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2021-01-10