Betcha by Golly, Wow
"Betcha by Golly, Wow" | ||||
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Single by The Stylistics | ||||
from the album The Stylistics | ||||
B-side | "Ebony Eyes" | |||
Released | February 17, 1972 | |||
Format | 7" | |||
Genre | Soul, Philly soul | |||
Length |
3:48 (album version) 3:17 (single edit) | |||
Label | Avco | |||
Writer(s) | Thom Bell, Linda Creed | |||
Producer(s) | Thom Bell | |||
Certification | Gold | |||
The Stylistics singles chronology | ||||
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"Betcha By Golly, Wow" is a song written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed that was originally recorded by Connie Stevens as "Keep Growing Strong" on the Bell Records label in 1970. But the composition scored a hit when it was released by the Philadelphia soul group The Stylistics in 1972.[1]
The Stylistics version
An R&B ballad, it was the third track from their 1971 debut self-titled album[2] and was released as a single in 1972 and reached #3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.[1][3] In addition, it also climbed to #2 in the Billboard R&B chart[3] and reached number #13 in the UK Singles Chart in July 1972.[4] The Stylistics' recording sold over one million copies globally, earning the band a gold disc[1] The award was presented by the RIAA on April 17, 1972.[1] It was the band's second gold disc.[1] There are two mixes of the song—the 3:17 version released as a single is the one most familiar to listeners, while the 3:48 album version has an instrumental break prior to the song's finale.
Chart (1972) | Peak position |
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U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 3[3] |
U.S. Billboard Soul Singles | 2[3] |
UK Singles Chart | 13[4] |
Prince version
"Betcha by Golly Wow!" | ||||
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UK CD single | ||||
Single by Prince | ||||
from the album Emancipation | ||||
B-side | "Right Back Here In My Arms" | |||
Released | November 13, 1996 | |||
Format |
Cassette single CD single | |||
Recorded | Paisley Park Studios, 1995 | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 3:30 | |||
Label | NPG/EMI | |||
Writer(s) | Linda Creed, Thom Bell | |||
Producer(s) | Prince | |||
Prince singles chronology | ||||
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Another cover version was released by Prince (his stage name at that time being a symbol with no known pronunciation, see cover art) on his 1996 album Emancipation. Prince had stated that he always wanted to release a cover version but his record company, Warner Bros. Records, had not permitted it. The CD single was released in two formats in the UK, one with a picture sleeve and one with an orange cardboard sleeve that included a picture disc and a mini-poster. The song was also issued on cassette. All versions of the single had "Right Back Here In My Arms" as the B-side. Both tracks were the album version. The track was released as a promotional single in the U.S., a music video was also produced.
The song was released on Mayte Garcia's (Prince's then-wife) 23rd birthday. Garcia also appeared in the video playing herself, in the doctor's office, later to reveal Prince walking into the room revealing she is pregnant with their first child. One of the backgrounds of the video is Prince's own Paisley Park Studios. It charted fairly well in the U.S., based on airplay figures (in the U.S. promotional singles were not allowed to chart until late 1998) and almost made the Top 10 in the UK Singles Chart.[5]
Chart (1997) | Peak position |
---|---|
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Airplay | 31 |
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay | 10 |
U.S. Billboard Rhythmic Top 40 | 10 |
U.S. Billboard Mainstream Top 40 | 23 |
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks | 38 |
UK Singles Chart | 11[5] |
Other cover versions
Angela Bofill, Norman Connors, Grant Green, Ramsey Lewis, Freddie Hubbard, Leah LaBelle, Tuck Andress, Cleveland Eaton, Errol Dunkley, Dionne Warwick, Johnny Mathis, Phyllis Hyman, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Aaron Neville, Tweet, Pat Metheny, Horace Andy and the Sugababes have also covered the song.
The song was also sampled on the Mariah Carey track "Stay The Night" from her 2005 The Emancipation of Mimi album.
The song also appears on the album For You, released in 2002 by the Hawaiian group Three Plus.
The song was spoofed by Philippine Comedian, Beethoven Bunagan in 1996.
The song was also sampled on the Busta Rhymes track "Salute Da Gods!!" from his 2000 Anarchy album.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 351. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- ↑ Lytle, Craig. "The Stylistics". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Allmusic - Charts & Awards
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 537. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 439. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
External links
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