I'm On The Outside (Looking In)
Encyclopedia
"I'm On The Outside" is a 1964
hit song by Little Anthony and the Imperials, issued on DCP Records. It was a Billboard
Top 20 Pop hit, peaking at #15. Written by Teddy Randazzo
and Bobby Weinstein, this was the group's comeback single, ending a long period of inactivity by the group. After the group's first hit-making period, with such hits as "Tears on My Pillow
","Two People In The World", and "Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko Bop", lead singer "Little Anthony" Gourdine left the group for a solo career. In an interview in the book, When Rock Was Young, Anthony admitted that he was told by a woman he knew at the time, that he would fare far better as a single artist. He took her advice and left The Imperials in 1961. Both he and the group released records separately, but none of them were hits. By 1963, both entities had faded from the charts, and out of the minds of the record buying public. In effect, while still young, they had become an "oldies act". In the interim, The Imperials had gone through some membership changes as well. While original members Ernest Wright and group founder Clarence Collins had remained with the group, the other original members, Tracy Lord and Nathanial Rogers followed Anthony's lead and left the group, eventually fading into obscurity. In the interim, other members came and left, but childhood friend Sammy Strain joined the group, and was still there when Anthony returned.
In late 1963, longtime friend, writer and producer Teddy Randazzo
got in touch with the group, and from that point on, things began to change for The Imperials. Randazzo, now a songwriter for Don Costa Productions called the group, saying that he had written a song that he wanted them to record. Anthony, Ernest, Clarence and Sammy went to the studio and recorded "I'm On The Outside (Looking In)". With the help of famed New York DJ Murray ("The K") Kaufman, the song became an immediate hit, and re-established The Imperials as a hitmaking force. This song was the first of a long string of hits by Randazzo for the group, that helped them transcend their status as a teen "Doo Wop" group, and established them as Adult Contemporary stars, virtually the only group of that era to do so.
This song is regarded as a standard today, and is one of The Imperials' best-loved and remembered tunes, having inspired cover versions by The Miracles
, Eddie Holland, Johnny Mathis
, Baby Washington, The Moments
, Amy Winehouse
, and others. Anthony, Ernest, Clarence, and Sammy reunited in 2003, and performed the song 39 years after they originally recorded it, on the PBS special: Soul Spectacular: 40 Years of R&B.
1964 in music
-Events:*January 1 – Top of the Pops is broadcast for the first time, on BBC television.*January 3 – Footage of the Beatles performing a concert in Bournemouth, England is shown on The Jack Paar Show....
hit song by Little Anthony and the Imperials, issued on DCP Records. It was a Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Top 20 Pop hit, peaking at #15. Written by Teddy Randazzo
Teddy Randazzo
Teddy Randazzo was a NYC born pop songwriter who composed 1960s hit songs such as "Goin' Out of My Head", "It's Gonna Take a Miracle", and "Hurt So Bad"...
and Bobby Weinstein, this was the group's comeback single, ending a long period of inactivity by the group. After the group's first hit-making period, with such hits as "Tears on My Pillow
Tears on My Pillow
"Tears on My Pillow" is a doo-wop song written by Sylvester Bradford and Al Lewis in 1958. The composition was first recorded by Little Anthony and the Imperials on End Records and was that group's debut recording under that name. Their original recording of the song became a Billboard Top 10 Pop...
","Two People In The World", and "Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko Bop", lead singer "Little Anthony" Gourdine left the group for a solo career. In an interview in the book, When Rock Was Young, Anthony admitted that he was told by a woman he knew at the time, that he would fare far better as a single artist. He took her advice and left The Imperials in 1961. Both he and the group released records separately, but none of them were hits. By 1963, both entities had faded from the charts, and out of the minds of the record buying public. In effect, while still young, they had become an "oldies act". In the interim, The Imperials had gone through some membership changes as well. While original members Ernest Wright and group founder Clarence Collins had remained with the group, the other original members, Tracy Lord and Nathanial Rogers followed Anthony's lead and left the group, eventually fading into obscurity. In the interim, other members came and left, but childhood friend Sammy Strain joined the group, and was still there when Anthony returned.
In late 1963, longtime friend, writer and producer Teddy Randazzo
Teddy Randazzo
Teddy Randazzo was a NYC born pop songwriter who composed 1960s hit songs such as "Goin' Out of My Head", "It's Gonna Take a Miracle", and "Hurt So Bad"...
got in touch with the group, and from that point on, things began to change for The Imperials. Randazzo, now a songwriter for Don Costa Productions called the group, saying that he had written a song that he wanted them to record. Anthony, Ernest, Clarence and Sammy went to the studio and recorded "I'm On The Outside (Looking In)". With the help of famed New York DJ Murray ("The K") Kaufman, the song became an immediate hit, and re-established The Imperials as a hitmaking force. This song was the first of a long string of hits by Randazzo for the group, that helped them transcend their status as a teen "Doo Wop" group, and established them as Adult Contemporary stars, virtually the only group of that era to do so.
This song is regarded as a standard today, and is one of The Imperials' best-loved and remembered tunes, having inspired cover versions by The Miracles
The Miracles
The Miracles are an American rhythm and blues group from Detroit, Michigan, notable as the first successful group act for Berry Gordy's Motown Record Corporation . Their single "Shop Around" was Motown's first million-selling hit record, and the group went on to become one of Motown's signature...
, Eddie Holland, Johnny Mathis
Johnny Mathis
John Royce "Johnny" Mathis is an American singer of popular music. Starting his career with singles of standards, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum status, and 73 making the Billboard charts...
, Baby Washington, The Moments
The Moments
The Moments may refer to:*The Moments, an American R&B vocal group later known as Ray, Goodman & Brown*The Moments , an English group of the early 1960s who featured Steve Marriott...
, Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse
Amy Jade Winehouse was an English singer-songwriter known for her powerful deep contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres including R&B, soul and jazz. Winehouse's 2003 debut album, Frank, was critically successful in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize...
, and others. Anthony, Ernest, Clarence, and Sammy reunited in 2003, and performed the song 39 years after they originally recorded it, on the PBS special: Soul Spectacular: 40 Years of R&B.
Credits: The Imperials
- "Little Anthony" Gourdine
- Clarence "Wah-hoo" Collins
- Sammy Strain
- Ernest Wright
- Producers: Teddy Randazzo and Don CostaDon CostaDon Costa was an American pop music arranger and record producer, best known for his work with Frank Sinatra.-Career:...