Oh Girl
| "Oh Girl" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 One of side-A labels of the US single | ||||
| Single by the Chi-Lites | ||||
| from the album A Lonely Man | ||||
| B-side | "Being in Love" | |||
| Released | March 2, 1972 | |||
| Genre | R&B, soul | |||
| Length |
| |||
| Label | Brunswick | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Eugene Record | |||
| Producer(s) | Eugene Record | |||
| The Chi-Lites singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Oh Girl" is a song written by Eugene Record and recorded by the American soul vocal group the Chi-Lites, with Record on vocals and also producing. It was released as a single on Brunswick Records in 1972. Included on the group's 1972 album A Lonely Man, "Oh Girl" centers on a relationship on the verge of break-up.
"Oh Girl" was the Chi-Lites' first and only No. 1 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] Billboard ranked it as the No. 13 song for 1972.[2] In addition, it reached No. 14 on the UK Singles Chart in July 1972, and was a UK hit again in 1975 when reissued as a double A-side with "Have You Seen Her", this time reaching a new peak of No. 5.[3]
The song prominently features a harmonica.
Charts
Personnel
- Eugene Record – lead vocals, guitar, bass, composer, producer
- Robert "Squirrel" Lester – vocals
- Creadel "Red" Jones – vocals
- Marshall Thompson – vocals, harmonica, melodica
- Floyd Morris – piano
- Quinton Joseph – drums
- Tom Tom (Thomas Washington) – arranger[8]
Paul Young version
| "Oh Girl" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Standard non-North American artwork | ||||
| Single by Paul Young | ||||
| from the album Other Voices | ||||
| B-side | "Leaving Home" | |||
| Released | June 25, 1990[9] | |||
| Genre | Soft rock[10] | |||
| Length | 3:33 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Eugene Record | |||
| Producer(s) | Pete Wingfield | |||
| Paul Young singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
The track was most prominently covered in 1990 by Paul Young, from his album Other Voices. It became a top 10 hit in the U.S. (#8) and Canada (#4). It was also a major adult contemporary hit, reaching number one on both the US and Canadian[11] Adult Contemporary charts.
Charts
| Chart (1990) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA Charts)[12] | 111 |
| Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[13] | 1 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[14] | 4 |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[15] | 64 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[16] | 20 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 73 |
| New Zealand (RIANZ) | 41 |
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company) | 25 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[4] | 8 |
| US Billboard Adult Contemporary | 1 |
| US Cash Box Top 100[17] | 6 |
Other versions
- Country music singer Con Hunley took his version of the song to number 12 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1982 with the Oak Ridge Boys on background vocals.
- In 1987, Glenn Jones had a moderate hit with his version on the US Soul singles chart, at No. 38.
References
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 117.
- ^ a b "Musicoutfitters.com". Archived from the original on April 27, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
- ^ a b c Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 103. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ a b Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 – ISBN 0-89820-089-X
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, June 3, 1972". Tropicalglen.com. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
- ^ "Top Soul Singles". Billboard. Vol. 84, no. 53. December 30, 1972. sec. Talent in Action p. TA-22.
- ^ "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 30, 1972". Archived from the original on September 28, 2018. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
- ^ "Soulful Detroit: This is driving me nuts: What's the instrument on "Oh Girl"?". Faac.us. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
- ^ Smith, Robin (June 23, 1990). "This Week: The Next Seven Days in View – Releases". Record Mirror. p. 32. ISSN 0144-5804.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Best of Love: 16 Great Soft Rock Hits". AllMusic.
- ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. September 22, 1990. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
- ^ "Bubbling Down Under 17 September 1990". September 17, 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
- ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. September 29, 1990. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
- ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. October 13, 1990. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. August 4, 1990. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Oh Girl". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, October 6, 1990". Tropicalglen.com. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
- ^ "Top 100 Singles of 1990 in Canada". Musiccanada.wordpress.com. March 6, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
- ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1990/Top 100 Songs of 1990". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
