Oh Girl

"Oh Girl"
Single by The Chi-Lites
from the album A Lonely Man
B-side "Being in Love"
Released March 2, 1972
Format 7" single, 12" single
Genre R&B/Soul
Length 3:43 (album version)
3:16 (single edit)
Label Brunswick
Writer(s) Eugene Record
Producer Eugene Record
The Chi-Lites singles chronology
"Have You Seen Her"
(1971)
"Oh Girl"
(1972)
"The Coldest Days of My Life
(1972)

"Oh Girl" is a number-one single recorded by the soul vocal group, The Chi-Lites and released on Brunswick Records in 1972. Included on the group's 1972 album A Lonely Man, "Oh Girl" centers around a relationship on the verge of break-up. The narrator, portrayed by the song's author Eugene Record, expresses concern that the break-up may prove unbearable for him ("Oh girl/I'd be in trouble if you left me now/'Cause I don't know where to look for love/I just don't know how"), while knowing that staying will be no better ("I could save myself a lot of useless tears/Girl I've got to get away from here"; "Better be on my way, I can't stay here").

"Oh Girl" was the Chi-Lites' first and only number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at that position in May 1972 for one week. The single also reached the top position of the Billboard R&B Singles chart the following month, remaining in that position for two weeks.[1] In addition, it reached number fourteen on the UK Singles Chart in July 1972.[2]

Covers and uses in the media

References

  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 117. 
  2. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 103. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 
Preceded by
"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack
Billboard number-one single (The Chi-Lites version)
May 27, 1972
Succeeded by
"I'll Take You There" by The Staple Singers
Preceded by
"I'll Take You There" by The Staple Singers
Billboard Best Selling Soul Singles number-one single (The Chi-Lites version)
June 3 – 10, 1972
Succeeded by
"Woman's Gotta Have It" by Bobby Womack
Preceded by
"Release Me" by Wilson Phillips
Billboard Adult Contemporary number-one single (Paul Young version)
September 22 – 29, 1990
Succeeded by
"Unchained Melody" by The Righteous Brothers