Go Away Little Girl - Misplaced Pages

"Go Away Little Girl" is a popular song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. It was first recorded by Bobby Vee for Liberty Records on March 28, 1962. The lyrics consist of a young man asking a young attractive woman to stay away from him, so that he will not be tempted to betray his steady girlfriend by kissing her. The song is notable for making the American Top 20 three times: for Steve Lawrence in 1963 (US number 1), for The Happenings in 1966 (US number 12; CAN number 10), and for Donny Osmond in 1971 (US number 1). It is also the first song, and one of only nine, to reach US number 1 by two different artists. Also notable in each of the solo versions is the similar double-tracked treatment of the singer's voice.

Steve Lawrence version

In late 1962, Steve Lawrence released the second recording of this song (Bobby Vee recorded it first in March 1962). The single reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1963 and remained in the top position for two weeks. This recording also spent six weeks atop the U.S. Easy Listening chart. "Go Away Little Girl" went to number 14 on the Hot R&B Singles chart. Outside the US, "Go Away Little Girl" also went to number 1 on the New Zealand Lever chart and number 18 in Canada.

Mark Wynter version

Mark Wynter's 1962 cover of the song on the Pye Records label also made the UK Singles Chart, reaching number 6 in the United Kingdom.

Donny Osmond version

Donny Osmond's cover version of "Go Away Little Girl" reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on September 11, 1971. It remained in the top position for three weeks. Osmond's version also went to number 36 on the Australian Go-Set chart. It was certified Gold by the RIAA on October 13, 1971. Osmond was 13 at the time the song was recorded.

Chart performance

Chart (1971)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)	52
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary	4
Canada RPM Top Singles	1
South Africa (Springbok)	14
US Billboard Hot 100	1
US Easy Listening	14

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)	Gold	1,000,000
Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Marlena Shaw version

Marlena Shaw does a version called "Yu-Ma/Go Away Little Boy" from her 1977 album Sweet Beginnings. This reached number 21 on the Billboard R&B chart staying in the Top 100 for 11 weeks. In the 1980s it became a popular UK record on the Rare Groove dance scene. Ms. Shaw also performed a 9:31 live version of her "Go Away Little Boy" recorded for her It Is Love album.

References

Breihan, Tom (May 10, 2018). "The Number Ones: Steve Lawrence's "Go Away Little Girl"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 10, 2023. ...which, to be fair, was pretty common in the pop songs of the era — makes "Go Away Little Girl"...
"RPM Top 100 Singles - November 14, 1966" (PDF).
"Cover Me: Same Songs to Hit No. 1 By Two Different Artists". Billboard. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 141.
Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 343.
"CHUM Hit Parade - December 10, 1962".
Mark Wynter singles discography on www.45rpm.org.uk, accessed 2009-05-06
Mark Wynter biography on allmusic.com, accessed 2009-05-06
"Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1971-09-18. Retrieved 2019-06-18.
"Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1971-10-23. Retrieved 2019-06-18.
"SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 5 September 2018.
"Donny Osmond Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
"Donny Osmond Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
"American single certifications – Donny Osmond – Go Away Little Girl". Recording Industry Association of America.
Joel Whitburn, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles, 1942-2004, Billboard, 2005

External links

v t e Bobby Vee
Albums	Bobby Vee Sings Your Favorites Bobby Vee Bobby Vee with Strings and Things Sings Hits of the Rockin' 50's Take Good Care of My Baby A Bobby Vee Recording Session Bobby Vee Meets the Crickets Merry Christmas from Bobby Vee The Night Has a Thousand Eyes Bobby Vee Meets the Ventures I Remember Buddy Holly The New Sound from England! 30 Big Hits of the 60's 30 Big Hits of the 60's, Volume 2 Look at Me Girl Come Back When You Grow Up Just Today Do What You Gotta Do Gates, Grills & Railings Down the Line
Compilations	Bobby Vee's Golden Greats
Soundtrack albums	C'mon, Let's Live a Little
EPs	Just for Fun
Singles	"Devil or Angel" "Rubber Ball" "More Than I Can Say" "How Many Tears" "Take Good Care of My Baby" "Run to Him" "Please Don't Ask About Barbara" "Sharing You" "Punish Her" "A Forever Kind of Love" "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" "Charms" "Come Back When You Grow Up" "Medley: My Girl/Hey Girl"
B-sides	"Everyday"
Related articles	Discography

v t e Steve Lawrence
Singles	"Close Your Eyes" "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)" "Party Doll" "Pretty Blue Eyes" "Footsteps" "Portrait of My Love" "Our Concerto" "Go Away Little Girl" "The End (At the End of a Rainbow)"
Related	Discography Steve and Eydie Eydie Gormé

v t e Donny Osmond
Solo discography Donny and Marie Osmond discography Discography with the Osmond Brothers
Solo albums	The Donny Osmond Album To You with Love, Donny Portrait of Donny Too Young Alone Together A Time for Us Donny Disco Train Donald Clark Osmond Donny Osmond Eyes Don't Lie The Soundtrack of My Life
Compilation albums	My Best to You
Songs	"Sweet and Innocent" "Go Away Little Girl" "Hey Girl" "Puppy Love" "Too Young" "Why" "The Twelfth of Never" "Young Love" "A Million to One" "When I Fall in Love" "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" "C'mon Marianne" "(You've Got Me) Dangling on a String" "Soldier of Love" "Sacred Emotion" "My Love Is a Fire" "I'll Make a Man Out of You" "Breeze On By"
Related articles	Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat The Osmonds Marie Osmond

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