Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)

"Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)" is a 1967 song that was a No. 1 hit for the Louisiana-based John Fred & His Playboy Band in early 1968. It was jointly composed by Fred and bandmate Andrew Bernard. Billboard magazine noted that it was recorded not in New York, Los Angeles, or Nashville, but "in a small studio in Tyler, Texas."Gross, Mike. "'Backyard Studios'—New Sound Frontier." Billboard, 27 April 1968, 1. (Robin Hood Studios, which is still going and is credited with some other notable historic recordings)

Arrangements and content The song features strings, brass, a sitar, piano, bass, guitar, drums, breathing sounds, and dissonant string sounds. Its title is a play on, and a mondegreen of, the Beatles song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," which Fred believed was "Lucy in disguise with diamonds" upon first hearing the song.

The other members of the Playboy Band did not like the unusual and abrupt ending with Fred intoning the final line, "I guess I'll just take your glasses."

Chart performance In January 1968, the song reached No. 1 in the US and became a gold record. It also hit No. 1 in Germany, Switzerland, and Australia, and No. 3 in both Canada and the United Kingdom.

Weekly charts Chart (1967–1968) PeakpositionAustralia (Go-Set)1Australia (Kent Music Report)1Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)32France (IFOP)31Italy (FIMI) 44Japan (All Japan Pop 20)6New Zealand (Listener)10South Africa (Springbok)1Spain (PROMUSICAE)3US Billboard Hot 1001US Cash Box Top 1001

Year-end charts Chart (1968) RankAustralia (Kent Music Report)14Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)26Canada Top Singles (RPM)24South Africa (Springbok)15Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)2UK Singles49US Billboard Hot 10025US Cash Box13

Anthony Swete version

Anthony Swete recorded a version that was a hit in Argentina in 1968. It stayed on the charts for more than two months.

Background Anthony Swete's version of "Judy in Disguise" was released as "Judy Disfrazada." Backed with "Doblame, Modelame" ("Bend Me, Shape Me"), written by Scott English and Larry Weiss, it was released on Groove GS-8005 in 1968.Second Hand Songs - Doblame, Moldeame by Anthony Swete45Cat - Anthony Swete - Discography, Argentina

Chart As shown by Cash Box in the March 16 issue, Swete's version debuted at No. 10 on the Argentina's Best Sellers chart.Cash Box, March 16, 1968 - Page 80 Cash Box Argentina, Argentina's Best Sellers, This Week 10, Last Week _ It peaked at No. 5 on April 20.Cash Box, April 20, 1968 - Page 77 Cash Box Argentina, Argentina's Best Sellers, This Week 5, Last Week 6Cash Box, April 27, 1968 - Page 61 Cash Box Argentina, Argentina's Best Sellers, This Week 6, Last Week 5 It was still in the chart at No. 17 on May 25.Cash Box, May 25, 1968 - Page 55 Cash Box Argentina, Argentina's Best Sellers, This Week 17, Last Week 11 If there was any further chart action for the single in the following week, it could not be shown as Cash Box replaced Argentina's Best Sellers chart with the Brazil's Best Sellers (Rio de Janeiro) chart.Cash Box, June 1, 1968 - Page 58 On June 8, the Argentina's Best Sellers chart was back. There was no further chart action shown for the single in the top 20 range.Cash Box, June 8, 1968 - Page 69 Cash Box Argentina, Argentina's Best Sellers

With Billboard, the chart progress of "Judy Disfrazada" showed a debut at No. 4 in the Buenos Aires Top Ten on the week of April 6, 1968.Billboard, April 6, 1968 - Page 45 Billboard HITS OF THE WORLD, BUENOS AIRES, This Week 4, Last Week _ There was another version of "Judy Disfrazada" by Bárbara y Dick in the same chart. It was at No. 7.Billboard, April 6, 1968 - Page 45 Billboard HITS OF THE WORLD, BUENOS AIRES, This Week 7, Last Week 8 From April 13 to May 4, there was no Buenos Aires Top Ten category in Billboard Hits of the World section so further progress isn't shown.Billboard, April 13, 1968 - Page 55 Billboard HITS OF THE WORLDBillboard, April 20, 1968 - Page 51 Billboard HITS OF THE WORLDBillboard, April 27, 1968 - Page 53 Billboard HITS OF THE WORLDBillboard, May 4, 1968 - Page 53 Billboard HITS OF THE WORLD The Argentina section was now included in the May 11 issue. There was no charting of Swete's single in the top ten range.Billboard, May 11, 1968 - Page 51 Billboard HITS OF THE WORLD, Argentina

Appearances "Judy in Disguise" was included on Anthony Swete's self-titled album, released on Clan Celentano BF ES LP 7021 in 1970.Popsike - LP 33 Anthony Swete ?– Anthony Swete Italy 1970 Clan Celentano Funk / Soul

Other versions Gary Lewis and the Playboys recorded a version which was released on their Now! album, released on Liberty LST-7568 in 1968. Reviewed in the June 1 issue of Cash Box, "Judy in Disguise" and "Young Girl" were noted as the album's highlights.Cash Box, June 1, 1968 - Page 40 Cash Box Album Reviews, Pop Best Bets

Punk band Frank Xerox and the Copy Cats a.k.a. the Speedometors recorded a version of "Judy in Disguise". It was backed with "Rock Show" and released on Arista ARIST 160 in 1980.My Life's a Jigsaw, Wednesday 27 April 2011 - Frank Xerox And The Copy Cats - Judy In Disguise (1978)Offizielle Deutsche Charts - FRANK XEROX AND THE COPY CATS, JUDY IN DISGUISE SINGLE

Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)

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