Don't Worry Baby
Encyclopedia
"Don’t Worry Baby" is a song written by Brian Wilson
and Roger Christian, produced by Wilson and first recorded by the Beach Boys. The band's version, a tender ballad with falsetto lead vocal by Brian, was first released on their 1964 album Shut Down Volume 2
. It was also released as the B-side of The Beach Boys
' first U.S. number-one hit single, "I Get Around
", managing to reach number 24 on the U.S. Hot 100 in its own right. The single was released in the United States in May 1964 through Capitol Records
. It was released a month later, in June 1964, in the United Kingdom.
Brian Wilson cited the song as his attempt to capture the essence of his all-time favourite record, "Be My Baby
" by the Ronettes, who would later cover his song. At one time, Wilson listened to his 45 record of the song he "could never do" up to 100 times a day.
John Lennon
's 1980 hit, "(Just Like) Starting Over
", is considered by some to somewhat borrow from the chorus melody
of "Don't Worry Baby", while Garbage's 1998 hit, "Push It
", contains an interpolation of its chorus.
The song is featured prominently during the climax of the 1999 Drew Barrymore movie, "Never Been Kissed," with a slightly different arrangement, notably a swelling string section.
, and ranked as the 176th greatest song of all time in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Pitchfork Media
placed it at number 14 on its list of "The 200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s".
, drummer for The Who
, covered this song on his only solo album, Two Sides of the Moon
, with Dick Dale
on solo guitar. Bryan Ferry
, B.J. Thomas, the Everly Brothers, the Bay City Rollers
, the Fun & Games, and singer-songwriter Andy Pratt
have also offered cover versions of "Don't Worry Baby". New Zealand
band Zed
performed an uptempo rock
-oriented cover version in 2003 on their album This Little Empire
.
The song as originally performed by the Beach Boys, is possibly about a teenager who agrees to a challenge to race a rival in order to defend his honor after bragging about his car, and his girlfriend's plea to take her love with him when he races. The B.J. Thomas version has a more mature theme, as a man waking up to his partner every morning, thinking that her love for him is fading, but his spirits rise as she reminds him how much she believes in him and loves him.
Billy Joel
performed the cover version of this song at "An All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson (2001)". Before he sang, he mentioned that his daughter, Alexa Ray Joel
, adored the song from Never Been Kissed
and dedicated the song to her.
New York Rock and Soul Revue
, with Donald Fagen and Walter Becker of Steely Dan
, played this song live, with Boz Scaggs
, Michael McDonald
and Phoebe Snow
featured on lead vocals.
Ronnie Spector
covered the song on her She Talks to Rainbows
EP.
Weezer
frontman Rivers Cuomo
in 1992 recorded a cover of the song which appears on Alone II: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo
.
Devonté Hynes of Lightspeed Champion
covered the song in 2010 live on the BBC.
Lorrie Morgan
sang lead vocals on the Beach Boys' "Stars and Stripes Vol. 1
" album and was their only venture into the genre of country music to date.
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
and Roger Christian, produced by Wilson and first recorded by the Beach Boys. The band's version, a tender ballad with falsetto lead vocal by Brian, was first released on their 1964 album Shut Down Volume 2
Shut Down Volume 2
Shut Down Volume 2 is the fifth studio album by The Beach Boys, and the first of four they would release in 1964. The album's "Volume 2" refers to it being a follow-up to the 1963 hot rod compilation Shut Down, released by the band's label, Capitol Records, which included "409" and "Shut Down" but...
. It was also released as the B-side of The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
' first U.S. number-one hit single, "I Get Around
I Get Around
"I Get Around" is a song written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love for The Beach Boys. The song features Love on lead vocal for the verse, and Wilson for the chorus. It is noteworthy for its back-to-front structure - it starts with a chorus and has two short verses...
", managing to reach number 24 on the U.S. Hot 100 in its own right. The single was released in the United States in May 1964 through Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
. It was released a month later, in June 1964, in the United Kingdom.
Brian Wilson cited the song as his attempt to capture the essence of his all-time favourite record, "Be My Baby
Be My Baby
"Be My Baby" is a 1963 single written by Phil Spector, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich, performed by The Ronettes and produced by Spector. When released as a single, the song reached #2 on the U.S. Billboard Pop Singles Chart and #4 on the UK's Record Retailer...
" by the Ronettes, who would later cover his song. At one time, Wilson listened to his 45 record of the song he "could never do" up to 100 times a day.
John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
's 1980 hit, "(Just Like) Starting Over
(Just Like) Starting Over
" Starting Over" is a song written and performed by John Lennon for his album, Double Fantasy. The B-side was Yoko Ono's "Kiss Kiss Kiss". It was released as a single on 24 October 1980 and reached number one in both the USA and UK two weeks after he was murdered. It is his biggest solo American...
", is considered by some to somewhat borrow from the chorus melody
Melody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
of "Don't Worry Baby", while Garbage's 1998 hit, "Push It
Push It (Garbage song)
"Push It" is a 1998 song written, produced and performed by alternative rock group Garbage. "Push It" was the lead single released from their second album Version 2.0, in part to bridge the style evolution between the second album and their debut, and to start the campaign with a credible,...
", contains an interpolation of its chorus.
The song is featured prominently during the climax of the 1999 Drew Barrymore movie, "Never Been Kissed," with a slightly different arrangement, notably a swelling string section.
, and ranked as the 176th greatest song of all time in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
placed it at number 14 on its list of "The 200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s".
Released versions
The stereo mix of the song had been used on "Shut Down Volume 2" when it was released in 1990 and 2001. A single mono mix appeared on the "20 More Good Vibrations" compilation. On the 2008 Singles box set, a mono album version was used instead of the single mix. A big problem with the stereo mix was that on the left channel you could only hear Brian's lead vocal and on the right was the background vocals. Thanks to the discovery of the lost multi-track masters in 2009, a new stereo mix was created from the analog master. The track and Brian's lead vocal were placed in the middle while on the left and right channels you have the background vocals. This version fixed the previous stereo mix. The fixed stereo mix can be found on the 2009 compilation "Summer Love Songs".Cover versions
Keith MoonKeith Moon
Keith John Moon was an English musician, best known for being the drummer of the English rock group The Who. He gained acclaim for his exuberant and innovative drumming style, and notoriety for his eccentric and often self-destructive behaviour, earning him the nickname "Moon the Loon". Moon...
, drummer for The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
, covered this song on his only solo album, Two Sides of the Moon
Two Sides of the Moon
Two Sides of the Moon is the only solo album from the primary drummer from The Who, Keith Moon. Rather than using the album as a chance to showcase his legendary drumming skill, Moon chose to sing on all the songs, and play drums only on "Crazy Like a Fox", "The Kids Are Alright" and "Move Over Ms....
, with Dick Dale
Dick Dale
Dick Dale is an American surf rock guitarist, known as The King of the Surf Guitar. He experimented with reverberation and made use of custom made Fender amplifiers, including the first-ever 100-watt guitar amplifier.-Early life:Dale was born in South Boston, Massachusetts and lived in nearby...
on solo guitar. Bryan Ferry
Bryan Ferry
Bryan Ferry, CBE is an English singer, musician, and songwriter. Ferry came to public prominence in the early 1970s as lead vocalist and principal songwriter with the band Roxy Music, who enjoyed a highly successful career with three number one albums and ten singles entering the top ten charts in...
, B.J. Thomas, the Everly Brothers, the Bay City Rollers
Bay City Rollers
The Bay City Rollers were a Scottish pop band who were most popular in the 1970s. The British Hit Singles & Albums noted that they were "tartan teen sensations from Edinburgh", and were "the first of many acts heralded as the 'Biggest Group since The Beatles' and one of the most screamed-at...
, the Fun & Games, and singer-songwriter Andy Pratt
Andy Pratt (singer-songwriter)
Andy Pratt is an American rock music singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. In the 1970s, he made a number of experimental records that were appreciated by small audiences, and scored a commercial hit with "Avenging Annie"....
have also offered cover versions of "Don't Worry Baby". New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
band Zed
Zed (band)
Zed were a New Zealand pop/rock four-piece band formed in 1998.-History:Originally formed while still students at Christchurch's Cashmere High School, Zed is the dream child of Nathan King, Ben Campbell and Adrian Palmer, along with manager Ray Columbus.King felt the band needed a second guitarist...
performed an uptempo rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
-oriented cover version in 2003 on their album This Little Empire
This Little Empire
This Little Empire is an album released in 2003 by New Zealand rock band, Zed. Unlike the previous album, the production was aimed primarily at the American market.-Track listing:#"Downtown"#"Hard To Find Her"#"Don't Worry Baby"#"Better On Your Own"...
.
The song as originally performed by the Beach Boys, is possibly about a teenager who agrees to a challenge to race a rival in order to defend his honor after bragging about his car, and his girlfriend's plea to take her love with him when he races. The B.J. Thomas version has a more mature theme, as a man waking up to his partner every morning, thinking that her love for him is fading, but his spirits rise as she reminds him how much she believes in him and loves him.
Billy Joel
Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
performed the cover version of this song at "An All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson (2001)". Before he sang, he mentioned that his daughter, Alexa Ray Joel
Alexa Ray Joel
Alexa Ray Joel is an American singer, songwriter and pianist. She is the daughter and only child of singer-songwriter Billy Joel and supermodel Christie Brinkley....
, adored the song from Never Been Kissed
Never Been Kissed
Never Been Kissed is a 1999 comedy film directed by Raja Gosnell and starring Drew Barrymore, David Arquette, Michael Vartan, Molly Shannon, Leelee Sobieski, John C. Reilly, Jessica Alba, Marley Shelton, James Franco , Giuseppe Andrews, Jeremy Jordan and Garry Marshall...
and dedicated the song to her.
New York Rock and Soul Revue
New York Rock and Soul Revue
The New York Rock and Soul Revue was a musical project which evolved from a series of concerts and musical shows produced by Libby Titus that lasted from 1989 to 1993...
, with Donald Fagen and Walter Becker of Steely Dan
Steely Dan
Steely Dan is an American rock band; its core members are Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The band's popularity peaked in the late 1970s, with the release of seven albums blending elements of jazz, rock, funk, R&B, and pop...
, played this song live, with Boz Scaggs
Boz Scaggs
William Royce "Boz" Scaggs is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He gained fame in the 1970s with several Top 20 hit singles in the United States, along with the #2 album, Silk Degrees. Scaggs continues to write, record music and tour.-Early life and career:Scaggs was born in Canton,...
, Michael McDonald
Michael McDonald (singer)
Michael McDonald is a five-time Grammy Award winning American singer and songwriter. McDonald is known for a soulful baritone singing style and a multi-octave range. He began his career singing back-up vocals with Steely Dan...
and Phoebe Snow
Phoebe Snow
Phoebe Snow was a fictional character created by Earnest Elmo Calkins to promote the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad. The advertising campaign, based on a live model, using impressionistic techniques and a fictional character, was one of the first of its kind.-The advertising...
featured on lead vocals.
Ronnie Spector
Ronnie Spector
Veronica Yvette "Ronnie" Spector is an American rock and roll and popular music vocalist, and was the lead singer of the 1960s hit-making girl group, The Ronettes, who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. She is known as the "original bad girl of rock and roll."-Personal...
covered the song on her She Talks to Rainbows
She Talks to Rainbows
She Talks to Rainbows is the 1999 EP album released by Ronnie Spector. It was critically acclaimed, but did not perform too well with the public and went virtually unnoticed...
EP.
Weezer
Weezer
Weezer is an American alternative rock band. The band currently consists of Rivers Cuomo , Patrick Wilson , Brian Bell , and Scott Shriner . The band has changed lineups three times since its formation in 1992...
frontman Rivers Cuomo
Rivers Cuomo
Rivers Cuomo is an American musician, best known as the lead singer, lead guitarist, and principal songwriter of the alternative rock band Weezer. Raised in an Ashram in Connecticut, Cuomo moved to Los Angeles at age 19, where he participated in a number of rock bands before founding Weezer in 1992...
in 1992 recorded a cover of the song which appears on Alone II: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo
Alone II: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo
Alone II: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo is a compilation album by Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo. It is a sequel to Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo...
.
Devonté Hynes of Lightspeed Champion
Lightspeed Champion
Devonté Hynes , better known as Lightspeed Champion or Blood Orange, is a British composer, songwriter, producer and author, who has written for artists such as Florence and the Machine, Diana Vickers and The Chemical Brothers on their 2007 Grammy award winning album We Are The Night...
covered the song in 2010 live on the BBC.
Lorrie Morgan
Lorrie Morgan
In 1996 Morgan married Jon Randall, a singer/songwriter now credited with writing the 2004 Brad Paisley/Alison Krauss hit "Whiskey Lullaby"; they divorced three years later in 1999....
sang lead vocals on the Beach Boys' "Stars and Stripes Vol. 1
Stars and Stripes Vol. 1
Stars and Stripes Vol. 1 is an album by The Beach Boys. Released in 1996, it is, despite its 'Volume 1' sub-title, their only venture into the genre of country pop music....
" album and was their only venture into the genre of country music to date.