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Little Things (Bobby Goldsboro song)

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"Little Things"
Single by Bobby Goldsboro
from the album Little Things
B-side"I Can't Go On Pretending"
ReleasedJanuary 1965[A]
RecordedNovember 19, 1964[1]
StudioColumbia (Nashville, Tennessee)[1]
GenreCountry
Length2:25
LabelUnited Artists
Songwriter(s)Bobby Goldsboro
Producer(s)Jack Gold
Bobby Goldsboro singles chronology
"I Don't Know You Anymore"
(1964) 		"Little Things"
(1965) 		"Voodoo Woman"
(1965)

"Little Things" is a song written and sung by Bobby Goldsboro, which he recorded on November 19, 1964, and released in January 1965. The song reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100.[2]

Background

[edit]

Goldsboro wrote the up-tempo "Little Things" after his producer, Jack Gold, encouraged him to continue writing ballads[3] after the series of such songs Goldsboro had composed and recorded. Goldsboro cut this song, along with the other tracks on the album, in Nashville. Goldsboro had originally intended the song to be recorded in 2/4 time, but after hearing a copy of "Oh, Pretty Woman" that his friend Roy Orbison had sent him, he changed the beat of "Little Things" to 4/4.[4] The arrangement was done by Goldsboro and Bill Justis.[3] Ray Stevens sang the back-up vocals.[5] "Little Things" was recorded on November 19, 1964 at the Columbia Studio B in Nashville.[6]

Reviewed in Billboard, "Little Things" was described as a "gutsy rocker with loads of sales potential. Bobby delivers the well-worded message with plenty of authority".[7] Cash Box described it as "a real contagious, steady beat stomp'er".[8]

In 1965, the song spent 12 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 13.[2] In Canada, it reached number 4 on Canada's RPM Top 40 & 5,[9] and number 4 on RPM's Adult Contemporary chart.[10] It was ranked number 81 on Billboard's year-end chart of Top Singles of 1965.[11]

Chart performance

[edit]
Chart (1965) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[12] 12
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[13] 4
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[14] 4
US Billboard Hot 100[2] 13
US Cash Box Top 100 12

Dave Berry version

[edit]
"Little Things"
Single by Dave Berry
B-side"I've Got a Tiger By the Tail"
Released12 March 1965[15]
StudioDecca, London
GenreBeat
Length2:24
LabelDecca
Songwriter(s)Bobby Goldsboro
Producer(s)Mike Smith
Dave Berry singles chronology
"One Heart Between Two"
(1964) 		"Little Things"
(1965) 		"This Strange Effect"
(1965)

English singer Dave Berry released a cover of "Little Things" in March 1965. It became his second UK top-ten hit.[16]

Record Mirror described Berry's version as an "extremely commercial disc" and better than Goldsboro's.[17] However, Peter Aldersley for Pop Weekly described "Little Things" as "an average disc" and "an ordinary beater with little new to offer".[18]

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1965) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[19] 9
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[20] 26
UK Disc Top 30[21] 9
UK Melody Maker Top 50[22] 4
UK New Musical Express Top 30[23] 8
UK Record Retailer Top 50[16] 5

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The release sheet gives a date of November 24, which would appear to be an error, as that would have made the release only five days after the recording date. The catalog number and review dates in Billboard and Cash Box indicate a release date of early January 1965.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Songs of Bobby Goldsboro" (PDF). Billboard. 5 October 1974. p. BG-20. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Bobby Goldsboro Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  3. ^ a b Bickhart, Jim (October 5, 1974). "Watching Bobby Grows: A Decade of Hits". Billboard. p. BG-3, 4, 8.
  4. ^ Reynolds, Robert (2018). The Music of Bobby Goldsboro. p. 23. ISBN 9780359235711 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ "Television Appearances", Bobby Goldsboro. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  6. ^ "You've come a long way Bobby.", Billboard, October 5, 1974. p. BG-20. Accessed December 3, 2015.
  7. ^ "Singles Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. 16 January 1965. p. 40. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 9 January 1965. p. 14. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Top 40 & 5", RPM, Volume 3, No. 2, March 08, 1965. Accessed December 3, 2015.
  10. ^ "GMP Guide", RPM Weekly, Volume 3, No. 10, May 03, 1965. Accessed December 3, 2015.
  11. ^ "Top Singles of 1965", Billboard 1966 International Record & Talent Showcase. Section Two. December 25, 1965. p. 23-24. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  12. ^ Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book 1940–1969. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-44439-5.
  13. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5710." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  14. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 5630." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  15. ^ "Berry Disc" (PDF). Record Mirror. 27 February 1965. p. 4. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  16. ^ a b "DAVE BERRY | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  17. ^ "Singles" (PDF). Record Mirror. 13 March 1965. p. 9. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  18. ^ "Discussion" (PDF). Pop Weekly. 13 March 1965. p. 6. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  19. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Little Things". Irish Singles Chart.
  20. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Dave Berry" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  21. ^ "Top Thirty". Disc. 24 April 1965. p. 12.
  22. ^ "Pop 50". Melody Maker. 1 May 1965. p. 2.
  23. ^ "NME Top Thirty" (PDF). New Musical Express. 5 September 1965. p. 7. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
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