My Boyfriend's Back (song)
| "My Boyfriend's Back" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| B-side | "(Love Me) Now" |
"My Boyfriend's Back" was a hit song in 1963 for the Angels, an American girl group. It was written by the songwriting team of Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein and Richard Gottehrer (a.k.a. FGG Productions who later formed the group the Strangeloves).[1] The recording, employing the services of drummer Gary Chester,[2] was originally intended as a demo for the Shirelles, but ended up being released as recorded.[3] The single spent three weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and reached number two on the R&B Billboard.
The song is a word of warning to a would-be suitor who, after the narrator of the song rebuffed his advances, went on to spread nasty rumors accusing the narrator of romantic indiscretions. Now, the narrator declares, her boyfriend is back in town and ready to settle the score, and she tells the rebuffed would-be suitor to watch his back.
Other musicians on the record included Herbie Lovelle on drums, Billy Butler, Bobby Comstock, and Al Gorgoni on guitar, and Bob Bushnell overdubbing on an electric and an upright bass. This song also features a brass section as well.
The song begins with a spoken recitation from the lead singer that goes: "He went away, and you hung around, and bothered me every night. And when I wouldn't go out with you, you said things that weren't very nice."
The album version, which has appeared on a few compilations in stereo, features the line: "Hey. I can see him comin'/ Now you better start a runnin'". before the instrumental repeat of the bridge section and a repeat of one stanza from the refrain, before the coda section, when the song fades.
The inspiration for the song was when co-writer Bob Feldman overheard a conversation between a high school girl and the boy she was rebuffing.[4]
Billboard named the song #24 on their list of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time.[5]
Covers, parodies and references
"My Boyfriend's Back" has been the subject of several notable cover versions.
Rival girl groups the Chiffons and Martha and the Vandellas recorded covers shortly after the Angels' original release. In 1983, Melissa Manchester released a faithful cover version as a single that reached number 33 on the Adult Contemporary chart.[6] The song was also covered by former American Idol contestant Paris Bennett on her 2007 album Princess P.
Later in 1963, Bobby Comstock and the Counts issued an answer record titled "Your Boyfriend's Back" which peaked at #98 in the U.S.[7]
Bette Bright and the Illuminations released a cover in 1978 as their debut single.
The song is featured in the 2006 Tony Award-winning musical Jersey Boys. It was also featured on the U.S. television show "American Dreams," where it was sung by Christian Pop singer Stacie Orrico, backed by series stars Brittany Snow and Vanessa Lengies.
A cover by Australian band the Chantoozies featured in the film "The Crossing" (1990).
The song was parodied by Bob Ricci on his debut album Get a Life as "My Girlfriend's Back".
Sarah Brightman released a cover version of the song on a single in 1981.
The song figured prominently in the 1989 made for television film My Boyfriend's Back, which featured Jill Eikenberry, Sandy Duncan and Judith Light as former members of a fictitious girl group the Bouffants.
References
- ^ Ankeny, Jason. "Song overview". AllMusic. RhythmOne. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
- ^ "The Official Gary Chester Website – Discography". Angelfire.com. Retrieved 2014-06-05.
- ^ "Biography: The Angels". AllMusic. Retrieved 2009-04-08.
- ^ [1] Archived August 16, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 147.
- ^ "Billboard Hot 100 Chart History for Your Boyfriend's Back by Bobby Comstock & The Counts". Song-database.com. Retrieved 2014-06-05.