"Take Good Care of My Baby" is a song written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin. The song was made famous by American singer Bobby Vee, when it was released in 1961.

Bobby Vee versions While searching for material for Bobby Vee to record, Vee's producer Snuff Garrett heard a demo of Carole King singing "Take Good Care of My Baby". Garrett told publisher Don Kirshner that he wanted the song for Vee, but he believed the song needed an introductory verse. Garrett met with Carole King, and the introductory verse of Vee's version was written.

Among the musicians on the record were Barney Kessel, Tommy Allsup, and Howard Roberts on guitar, Clifford Hills on bass, Robert Florence on piano, and Earl Palmer on drums, while Sid Sharp did the string arrangements.September 18, 2016 at 7:57am post, The Wrecking Crew verified page, Facebook.com. September 18, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016. The Johnny Mann Singers sang backup.Vee, Bobby. "Take Good Care of My Baby." Liberty, F-55354, 1961.

Bobby Vee released "Take Good Care of My Baby" as a single on July 20, 1961, and it was reviewed by Billboard in its issue dated July 31, 1961."Spotlight Singles of the Week", Billboard, July 31, 1961. p. 27. Retrieved February 17, 2018. Vee's recording quickly became popular, spending 15 weeks on the US Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 1 on September 18, 1961,Hot 100 – Bobby Vee Take Good Care of My Baby Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved March 11, 2018. and spending three weeks in that position.Whitburn, Joel (1987). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, Billboard Publications, Inc. p. 315. The song became a major hit internationally as well, reaching No. 1 in Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

The song was ranked No. 12 on Billboards "Hot 100 for 1961 – Top Sides of the Year""Chart Toppers", Billboard, January 6, 1962. p. 33. Retrieved April 17, 2017. and No. 23 on Cash Boxs "Top 100 Chart Hits of 1961"."Top 100 Chart Hits of 1961", Cash Box, December 30, 1961. p. 11. Retrieved April 17, 2017.

The song was the lead track on Bobby Vee's album, Take Good Care of My Baby, which was released in 1962.

Vee re-recorded the song as a ballad in 1972.Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits, Billboard Books. p. 97. Retrieved October 11, 2016. He released under his real name, Robert Thomas Velline, on his 1972 album Ain't Nothing Like a Sunny Day, and as a single in 1973.Robert Thomas Velline – Take Good Care of My Baby, norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved October 11, 2016. However, it is his original version, along with Bobby Vinton's, that remain as staples of oldies radio stations.

Charts Chart (1961)PeakpositionAustralia (Music Maker)"Billboard Music Week Hits of the World", Billboard, October 30, 1961. p. 46. Accessed October 10, 2016.6Canada (CHUM Hit Parade)1Hong Kong"Billboard Music Week Hits of the World", Billboard, December 25, 1961. p. 14. Accessed October 10, 2016.2Ireland (Evening Herald)Kelly, Eddie (2009). Complete Guide to Ireland's Top Ten Hits 1954-79: The Definitive Listing of Ireland's Top Ten Hits 1954 – 1979Evening Herald, December 7, 1961.2New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade)"Lever Hit Parade" 02-Nov-1961, Flavour of New Zealand. Accessed October 12, 2016.1United Kingdom (Record Retailer)3United Kingdom (NME)"Billboard Music Week Hits of the World", Billboard, December 4, 1961. p. 19. Retrieved October 12, 2016.1United Kingdom (Record Mirror)1US Billboard Hot 1001US Cash Box Top 100"Cash Box Top 100", Cash Box, September 30, 1961. p. 4. Retrieved March 11, 2018.1US Records Disc Jockeys Played Most (Cash Box)"The Records Disc Jockeys Played Most", Cash Box, September 30, 1961. p. 25. Retrieved April 4, 2018.1US Top Ten Juke Box Tunes (Cash Box)"Top Ten Juke Box Tunes", Cash Box, September 30, 1961. p. 24. Retrieved April 4, 2018.1

Bobby Vinton version

In 1968, the song was released by American singer Bobby Vinton as a single and on his seventeenth album, Take Good Care of My Baby (1968). Vinton's version became a hit, spending 8 weeks on the US Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 33,Hot 100 – Bobby Vinton Take Good Care of My Baby Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved March 10, 2018. while reaching No. 14 on Billboards Easy Listening chart,Adult Contemporary – Bobby Vinton Take Good Care of My Baby Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved March 10, 2018."Billboard Top 40 Easy Listening", Billboard, May 4, 1968. p. 49. Accessed October 9, 2016. No. 19 on Record Worlds "100 Top Pops","100 Top Pops", Record World, May 4, 1968. Retrieved March 10, 2018. No. 12 on Record Worlds "Top Non-Rock" chart,"Record World's Top Non-Rock", Record World, May 11, 1968. p. 30. Retrieved March 10, 2018. No. 36 on Canada's "RPM 100","RPM 100", RPM Weekly, Volume 9, No. 11, May 11, 1968. Accessed October 10, 2016. and No. 16 on Canada's CHUM Hit Parade. Chart No. 585. Vinton's version omitted the introduction, plus the first two lines of the repeated refrain.

Charts Chart (1968)PeakpositionCanada Top 100 (RPM)36Canada (CHUM Hit Parade)16US Billboard Hot 10033US Easy Listening (Billboard)14US Cash Box Top 100Cash Box Top 100, Cash Box, May 4, 1968. p. 4. Retrieved March 10, 2018.26US Record World 100 Top Pops19US Top Non-Rock (Record World)12US Juke Box Top 25 (Record World)"Juke Box Top 25", Record World, May 4, 1968. p. 35. Retrieved March 10, 2018.4

Smokie version

In 1980, English rock band Smokie released a version of the song, which spent seven weeks on the UK Singles Chart, reaching No. 34,Smokie – Full Official Chart History, Official Charts Company. Accessed October 10, 2016. while reaching No. 10 on Austria's Ö3 Hit wähl mit chart,Smokie – Take Good Care of My Baby, austriancharts.at. Accessed October 10, 2016. No. 15 on the Irish Singles Chart,Song Title Search Results for "Take Good Care of My Baby", The Irish Charts. Accessed October 10, 2016. and No. 18 in West Germany.Smokie – Take Good Care of My Baby, norwegiancharts.com. Accessed October 10, 2016. It was later released on their 1981 album Solid Ground.

Charts Chart (1980)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report) 48

Other versions Dion recorded a version of the song, which was released on his November 1961 album Runaround Sue. Although Dion's version was released after Bobby Vee's version, Dion's was the first version to be recorded.

The song was performed by the Beatles during their audition at Decca Records on January 1, 1962, with George Harrison on lead vocals.Womack, Kenneth (June 30, 2014). The Beatles Encyclopedia: Everything Fab Four, ABC-CLIO. p. 885. Retrieved October 11, 2016. The version has never been released officially, but can be found easily through bootlegs.

Gary Lewis & the Playboys recorded the song for their 1966 album, She's Just My Style.

Donny Osmond released a version of the song on his 1972 album Too Young.

Shaun Cassidy included his rendition of the song on his 1977 debut self-titled album.

Neil Innes included an excerpt of the song in the Re-Cycled Vinyl Blues medley, the title track from his 1994 eponymous album.

As Dick Brave and the Backbeats, German pop star Sasha released a version in 2003, which reached No. 21 in Germany and No. 52 on the Ö3 Austria Top 40.Dick Brave and the Backbeats – Take Good Care of My Baby, norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved October 12, 2016.Dick Brave and the Backbeats – Take Good Care of My Baby, austriancharts.at. Accessed October 12, 2016.

In 2007, Frankie Valli sang the song on his album Romancing The 60's.

Answer songs An answer song, titled "I'll Take Good Care of Your Baby", was recorded by Ralph Emery. It was released as a single on Liberty F-55383, in 1961."Reviews of New Singles", Billboard, October 23, 1961. p. 41. Retrieved October 12, 2016. Another answer song, titled "You Should Know I'm Still Your Baby", was recorded by Sammi Lynn.Cooper, B. Lee; Haney, Wayne S. (1990). Response Recordings: An Answer Song Discography, 1950-1990, Scarecrow Press. p. 151. It was released as a single on Sue Records 45-752, in 1961.

See also Take Good Care of My Baby (Bobby Vee album)

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