When Something Is Wrong with My Baby

"When Something Is Wrong with My Baby" is a soul ballad, written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter. It was first released in 1967 by Sam & Dave on their album Double Dynamite released on Stax Records.

Original Sam & Dave version

Personnel

Vocals by Sam Moore and Dave Prater
Instrumentation by Booker T. & the M.G.'s and Mar-Keys Horns
Mastering Engineer – Rick O'Neil

In popular culture

The song is featured in 2012 film Stand Up Guys, in a scene where Val (Al Pacino) asks a girl to dance with him.
The song is featured in 1995 film Dead Presidents.
The song is also featured in Edgar Wright's 2017 film, Baby Driver, in the scene where Bats Jefferson (Jamie Foxx) forces Baby (Ansel Elgort) and the heist crew to go eat at Bo's Diner, where Baby's love interest Debora (Lily James) is working.

Charts

Chart (1967)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100	42
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)	2

Johnny Gill version

"When Something Is Wrong with My Baby"

Single by Johnny Gill

from the album Johnny Gill

B-side

"Half Steppin'"

Released

1983 (1983)

Genre

R&B

Length

3:58

Label

Cotillion

Songwriter(s)

Isaac Hayes
David Porter

Producer(s)

Freddie Perren

Johnny Gill singles chronology

"Super Love"
(1983)

"When Something Is Wrong with My Baby"
(1983)

"Perfect Combination / Heartbreak Look"
(1984)

In 1983, American contemporary R&B singer Johnny Gill covered "When Something Is Wrong with My Baby" and included it on his first eponymous album. The song was issued as the second and final single from the album; and it peaked at #57 on the Billboard R&B chart.

Charts

Chart (1983)	Peak position
US R&B Singles (Billboard)	57

Jimmy Barnes and John Farnham version

"When Something Is Wrong with My Baby"

Single by Jimmy Barnes and John Farnham

from the album Soul Deep

B-side

"All I Got"

Released

October 1991

Studio

Freight Train Studios, Australia

Genre

R&B

Length

4:56

Label

Mushroom Records

Songwriter(s)

Isaac Hayes
David Porter

Producer(s)

Don Gehman

Jimmy Barnes singles chronology

"I Gotcha!"
(1991)

"When Something Is Wrong with My Baby"
(1991)

"Ain't No Mountain High Enough"
(1992)

John Farnham singles chronology

"In Days to Come"
(1991)

"When Something Is Wrong with My Baby"
(1991)

"Please Don't Ask Me"
(1991)

In 1991, Australian singers Jimmy Barnes and John Farnham recorded and released "When Something Is Wrong with My Baby" as the second single from Barnes' fifth studio album, Soul Deep. Released in October 1991, the song peaked at number three in Australia and number six in New Zealand, where it is certified Gold for sales of over 50,000.

Track listing

CD single (D11048)

"When Something Is Wrong With My Baby" – 4:56
"All I Got" (Jimmy Barnes) – 4:20

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1991–1992)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)	3
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)	6

Year-end charts

Chart (1991)	Position
Australia (ARIA)	77

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)	Platinum	70,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)	Gold	5,000
Sales figures based on certification alone. Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Other versions

The song was covered by:

Charlie Rich who recorded it on October 16, 1966, but first time it was released was on the 1988 compilation album I'll Shed No Tears - The Best of the Hi Recordings.
Otis Redding & Carla Thomas on their 1967 album King & Queen.
Sonny James on his 1976 album Sonny James Sings When Something Is Wrong with My Baby.
Hall & Oates with David Ruffin and Eddie Kendrick of the Temptations at their Apollo Theatre concert in New York City1985 (appearing on their 1985 album Live at the Apollo).
Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville as a duet in from the 1990 triple platinum album Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind, which reached the top five on the Adult Contemporary chart.
Patti LaBelle and Travis Tritt on the 1994 various artists duets album Rhythm, Country and Blues.
Frankie Miller has two live versions of the song recorded:
- On 6 May 1979 at the Internationale Maifestspiele Wiesbaden, Wiesbaden, Germany (on the live album Live at Rockpalast, recorded at WDR Studio, Cologne, Germany on 3.6.1976, in Wiesbaden, Germany in 6.5.1979, and Rockpalast Open Air Festival, Loreley, Germany on 28.8.1982, released in 2013).
- On 21 March 1979 at the Paris Theatre, London (on the live album BBC Radio One Live in Concert, recorded at the Paris Theatre, London on 3.5.1977, the Golders Green Hippodrome, London on 16.3.1978, and at the Paris Theatre, London on 21.3.1979, released in 1994).
In 1985 it was covered live by Dutch band Herman Brood & His Wild Romance as "Something (Wrong)" on their album Bühnensucht / Herman Brood Live.
Cissy Houston on her 1970 album Cissy Houston.
In April 1993, Phish covered the song at three of their concerts. The band has not played it live since then.
Guy Sebastian sung the song in a duet with Jimmy Barnes and original Stax band Booker T. & the MG's in Sydney, Australia during the Memphis Tour Concert (Friday, 7 March 2008).
In 1985 a cover by American country music artist Joe Stampley from his album I'll Still Be Loving You peaked at number 67 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
American folk rock band Dawes (formed in 2009) has covered this song a multitude of times live, sung at some shows by Lenny Goldsmith, father of the band's drummer Griffin Goldsmith and vocalist/guitarist Taylor Goldsmith.

References

"Satellite & Stax singles (1959–1968)". staxrecords.free.fr. Retrieved 2008-05-28.
Hirshey, Gerri (1994). Nowhere to Run: The Story of Soul Music. New York: Da Capo Press. pp. 311–312. ISBN 0-306-80581-2.
"Sam Dave Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
"Sam Dave Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
"Johnny Gill - When Something Is Wrong With My Baby / Half Steppin' (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs. Zink Media. 1983. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
"Albums produced by Freddie Perren". Discogs. Zink Media. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
^ "Johnny Gill | Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
"Jimmy Barnes and John Farnham – When Something Is Wrong with My Baby". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
"Jimmy Barnes and John Farnham – When Something Is Wrong with My Baby". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
"ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1991 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
"New Zealand single certifications – Jimym Barnes & John Farnham – When Something Is Wrong with My Baby". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
Charlie Rich - I'll Shed No Tears - The Best of the Hi Recordings (1988) album releases & credits at Discogs
Sonny James - Sonny James Sings When Something Is Wrong with My Baby (1976) album releases & credits at Discogs
Frankie Miller - Live at Rockpalast (2013) album releases & credits at Discogs
Frankie Miller - BBC Radio One Live in Concert (rec. 1977-1979, rel. 1994) album releases & credits at Discogs
Herman Brood & His Wild Romance - Bühnensucht / Herman Brood Live (1985) album releases & credits at Discogs
Guy Sebastian & Jimmy Barnes - "When Something Is Wrong with My Baby" (2008) video on YouTube
Joe Stampley - I'll Still Be Loving You (1985) album releases & credits at Discogs
Whitburn, Joel (2013). Hot Country Songs 1944–2012. Record Research, Inc. p. 318. ISBN 978-0-89820-203-8.

External links

Sam & Dave - "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby" (1967) song review by Stewart Mason at AllMusic

v t e Sam & Dave
Sam Moore Dave Prater
Studio albums	Hold On, I'm Comin' Double Dynamite Soul Men I Thank You Back At Cha
Notable singles	"I Take What I Want" "Hold On, I'm Comin'" "When Something Is Wrong with My Baby" "Soul Man" "I Thank You"
Related articles	Discography Isaac Hayes David Porter Stax Records

v t e Jimmy Barnes
Studio albums	Bodyswerve For the Working Class Man/Jimmy Barnes Freight Train Heart Two Fires Soul Deep Heat Flesh and Wood Psyclone Love and Fear Soul Deeper... Songs from the Deep South Double Happiness Out in the Blue The Rhythm and the Blues Rage and Ruin 30:30 Hindsight Soul Searchin' Och Aye the G'nu My Criminal Record Flesh and Blood Blue Christmas
Live albums	Barnestorming Raw Modus Operandi
Compilations	Barnes Hits Anthology Best of the Soul Years
Memoirs	Working Class Boy Working Class Man
Films	Working Class Boy Working Class Boy (soundtrack)
Singles	"No Second Prize" "Promise Me You'll Call" "Daylight" "I'd Die to Be with You Tonight" "Working Class Man" "Ride the Night Away" "Good Times" "Too Much Ain't Enough Love" "Driving Wheels" "I'm Still on Your Side" "Waitin' for the Heartache" "When a Man Loves a Woman" "Last Frontier" "Lay Down Your Guns" "Let's Make It Last All Night" "Little Darling" "When Your Love is Gone" "I Gotcha" "When Something Is Wrong with My Baby" "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" "(Simply) The Best" "Sweat It Out" "Stand Up" "Stone Cold" "Right by Your Side" "The Weight" "Still Got a Long Way to Go" "Change of Heart" "Lover Lover" "Sit on My Knee" "Gonna Take Some Time" "Bird on the Wire" "Shutting Down Our Town"
Related articles	Discography Cold Chisel INXS Fraternity Living Loud (Living Loud) Jonathan Cain Swanee Diesel The Tin Lids

v t e John Farnham
Studio albums	Sadie Everybody Oughta Sing a Song Looking Through a Tear Christmas Is... Johnny Farnham Johnny Together Johnny Farnham Sings the Shows Hits Magic & Rock 'N Roll Johnny Farnham Sings Hits from the Movies J.P. Farnham Sings Uncovered Whispering Jack Age of Reason Chain Reaction Then Again... Romeo's Heart 33⅓ The Last Time I Remember When I Was Young: Songs from the Great Australian Songbook Jack Friends for Christmas
Live albums	Johnny Farnham Sings the Big Hits of '73 Live! Full House Live at the Regent Theatre Highlights from The Main Event John Farnham & Tom Jones – Together in Concert The Acoustic Chapel Sessions Two Strong Hearts Live
Compilation albums	The Best of Johnny Farnham Johnny Farnham's Greatest Hits Anthology 1: Greatest Hits 1986–1997 Anthology 2: Classic Hits 1967–1985 (Recorded Live) Anthology 3: Rarities Love Songs One Voice: The Greatest Hits The Essential The Essential 3.0
Videos and DVDs	The Main Event Anthology 1 - The Videos An Audience with John Farnham The Last Time One Voice: The Greatest Clips John Farnham & Tom Jones – Together in Concert Classic Jack Live! Chain Reaction Live in Concert With The Sydney Symphony Live at the Sydney Opera House Two Strong Hearts Live
Singles	"Sadie (The Cleaning Lady)" "Underneath the Arches" "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" "One" "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" "Corner of the Sky" "Help!" "You're the Voice" "Pressure Down" "A Touch of Paradise" "Reasons" "Age of Reason" "Two Strong Hearts" "Beyond the Call" "Communication" "Chain Reaction" "That's Freedom" "Burn for You" "When Something Is Wrong with My Baby" "Everything's Alright" "Have a Little Faith (In Us)" "Everytime You Cry" "Trying to Live My Life Without You "The Last Time" "We Will Rock You" "Downhearted" "Even When I'm Sleeping"
Other songs	"Chains Around the Heart"
Related articles	Discography Awards Little River Band Darryl Sambell Glenn Wheatley Finding the Voice (2023)

Johnny Gill

Discography

Albums

Studio	Johnny Gill (1983 album) Chemistry Johnny Gill (1990 album) Provocative Let's Get the Mood Right Still Winning Game Changer Game Changer II
Collaboration	Perfect Combination
Compilation	Favorites

Singles

"Super Love"
"When Something Is Wrong with My Baby"
"Perfect Combination" / "Heartbreak Look"
"Block Party"
"Baby It's You"
"Half Crazy"
"Can't Wait Til Tomorrow"
"Rub You the Right Way"
"My, My, My"
"Fairweather Friend"
"Wrap My Body Tight"
"The Floor"

Featured singles

v t e Isaac Hayes
Discography Songs Albums
Studio albums	Presenting Isaac Hayes (1968) Hot Buttered Soul (1969) The Isaac Hayes Movement (1970) ...To Be Continued (1970) Black Moses (1971) Joy (1973) Chocolate Chip (1975) Disco Connection (1975) Groove-A-Thon (1976) Juicy Fruit (Disco Freak) (1976) New Horizon (1977) For the Sake of Love (1978) Don't Let Go (1979) And Once Again (1980) Lifetime Thing (1981) U-Turn (1986) Love Attack (1988) Raw & Refined (1995) Branded (1995)
Live albums	Live at the Sahara Tahoe (1972) A Man and a Woman (1977)
Soundtracks	Shaft (1971) Three Tough Guys (1974) Truck Turner (1974) Chef Aid: The South Park Album (1998)
Singles (US/UK Top Thirty singles)	"Walk On By" "Never Can Say Goodbye" "Theme from Shaft" "Let's Stay Together" "Chocolate Salty Balls"
Other songs	"By the Time I Get to Phoenix"
Related articles	David Porter Al Bell Booker T. & the M.G.'s Stax Records List of songs written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter Chef (South Park)

v t e Linda Ronstadt
Albums Singles Performances
Stone Poneys albums	The Stone Poneys featuring Linda Ronstadt Evergreen, Volume 2 Linda Ronstadt, Stone Poneys and Friends, Vol. III
Studio albums	Hand Sown ... Home Grown Silk Purse Linda Ronstadt Don't Cry Now Heart Like a Wheel Prisoner in Disguise Hasten Down the Wind Simple Dreams Living in the USA Mad Love Get Closer What's New Lush Life For Sentimental Reasons Canciones de Mi Padre Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind Mas Canciones Frenesí Winter Light Feels Like Home Dedicated to the One I Love We Ran A Merry Little Christmas Hummin' to Myself
Collaborations	Trio Santiago Trio II Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions Adieu False Heart The Complete Trio Collection
Compilations	Different Drum Greatest Hits Greatest Hits, Volume 2 The Very Best of Linda Ronstadt Mi Jardin Azul: Las Canciones Favoritas Duets
Live Albums	Live in Hollywood
Hit singles	"Different Drum" "Long, Long Time" "Silver Threads and Golden Needles" "You're No Good"/"I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You)" "When Will I Be Loved"/"It Doesn't Matter Anymore" "Heat Wave"/"Love Is a Rose" "The Tracks of My Tears" "That'll Be the Day" "Someone to Lay Down Beside Me" "Lose Again" "Crazy" "Blue Bayou" "It's So Easy" "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" "Tumbling Dice" "Back in the U.S.A." "Ooo Baby Baby" "Just One Look" "Love Me Tender" "Alison" "How Do I Make You" "Hurt So Bad" "I Can't Let Go" "I Knew You When" "What's New?" "Somewhere Out There" "Don't Know Much" "All My Life" "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby" "Close Your Eyes" "Walk On"
Other songs	"Carmelita" "Desperado" "Mr. Sandman"
Related topics	"Mr. Plow" FM (film) The Pirates of Penzance (1983 film) An American Tail (soundtrack)
Category

v t e Aaron Neville
Studio albums	Warm Your Heart The Tattooed Heart Christmas Prayer Bring It On Home... The Soul Classics
Singles	"Tell It Like It Is" "Everybody Plays the Fool" "Don't Know Much" "All My Life" "When Something Is Wrong with My Baby" "Close Your Eyes" "The Grand Tour" "That's What My Love Is For"
Family	Art Neville (brother) Charles Neville (brother) Cyril Neville (brother) Ivan Neville (son)

v t e Carla Thomas
Albums	King & Queen
Singles	"Night Time Is the Right Time" "Tramp" "Knock on Wood" "Lovey Dovey"
Songs	"Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes)" "Tell It Like It Is" "When Something Is Wrong with My Baby" "It Takes Two" "Bring It On Home to Me" "Looking Back"
Related articles	Rufus and Carla Rufus Thomas Marvell Thomas Otis Redding Stax Records

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