Younger Girl
| "Younger Girl" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Danish picture sleeve | ||||
| Single by the Critters | ||||
| from the album Younger Girl | ||||
| B-side | "Gone for Awhile" | |||
| Released | April 1966[1] | |||
| Genre | Sunshine pop[2] | |||
| Length | 2:27 | |||
| Label | Kapp | |||
| Songwriter | John Sebastian | |||
| Producer | Artie Ripp | |||
| The Critters singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Alternative release | ||||
 Side A of the US single | ||||
"Younger Girl" is a song written by John Sebastian and originally recorded by his band, the Lovin' Spoonful, for their 1965 debut album Do You Believe in Magic.[3] The tune and lyric are based upon "Prison Wall Blues" (1930) by Cannon's Jug Stompers.[4]
Two versions charted in the U.S., both released in 1966. The American pop group the Critters' version (Kapp 752), the title track from their debut LP, reached number 42 on Billboard's Hot 100 and number 21 on the Cash Box Top 100,[5] peaking on both charts on July 9. On the UK Singles Chart, it reached number 38.[6] The song was also covered by the West Coast studio group and surf act The Hondells (Mercury 72563), peaking July 2, at number 52 Billboard and number 38 Cash Box.[7]
Swedish pop group the Jackpots released "Younger Girl" as their debut single in 1966.[8] Backed by "Dancing In the Street", this version competed with the Critters rendition on the Swedish record charts in December 1966.[8] The Jackpots version was outperformed, and peaked at number 13 on Tio i Topp.[9]
Chart performance
- The Critters version
| Chart (1966) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report) | 18 |
| Sweden (Tio i Topp)[10] | 10 |
| UK[6] | 38 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[11] | 42 |
| U.S. Cash Box Top 100[5] | 21 |
- The Hondells version
| Chart (1966) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada RPM 100[12] | 11 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[11] | 52 |
| U.S. Cash Box Top 100 | 38 |
The Jackpots version
| Chart (1966) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Sweden (Tio i Topp)[9] | 13 |
References
- ^ Harada, Wayne (April 19, 1966). "On the Record". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. p. C-7 – via Newspapers.com.
Singles check-list of what's hot: The Critters' 'Younger Girl' (Knapp) ...
- ^ Deming, Mark. Various Artists - Chartbusters USA: Sunshine Pop (2009) Review at AllMusic. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
- ^ Allmusic album info
- ^ "Younger Girl by The Lovin' Spoonful". Songfacts. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
- ^ a b Cash Box Top 100 Singles, July 9, 1966
- ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 127. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, July 9, 1966[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b Olofsson 1995, p. 86.
- ^ a b Hallberg & Henningsson 2012, p. 188.
- ^ Hallberg & Henningsson 2012, p. 100.
- ^ a b Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-2002
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - July 11, 1966" (PDF).
Sources
- Hallberg, Eric; Henningsson, Ulf (2012). Tio i Topp - med de utslagna "på försök" 1961–74 [Tio I Topp With The Eliminated On Try 1961–1974] (in Swedish) (2nd ed.). Stockholm: Premium. ISBN 978-91-89136-89-2.
- Olofsson, Hans (1995). Stora Popboken - Svensk Rock & Pop 1954 - 1969 [The Big Pop Book - Swedish Rock & Pop 1954 - 1969] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Premium. ISBN 919-71-894-48. OCLC 940840927.
