Go, Jimmy, Go Explained

Go, Jimmy, Go
Type:single
Artist:Jimmy Clanton
Album:My Best to You
B-Side:I Trusted You
Genre:Rock and roll
Label:Ace
Prev Title:My Own True Love
Prev Year:1959
Next Title:Another Sleepless Night
Next Year:1960

"Go, Jimmy, Go" is a song written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman and performed by Jimmy Clanton. It reached #5 on the U.S. pop chart on July 12, 1959, #19 on the U.S. R&B chart, and #1 in Canada.[1] [2] It was featured on Clanton's 1961 album My Best to You.[3] The song ranked #33 on Billboard magazine's Top 100 singles of 1960.[4]

Production

Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman originally wrote a song titled "Go, Bobby, Go" for Bobby Rydell who sang it "half-heartedly" due to not being interested in singing a song with his name in it.[5] Rydell did record the song, but he did not release it.[6] Pomus later rode in a taxi to Fox Theater in Brooklyn where a rock and roll show with Alan Freed was happening, where he offered the song to Jimmy Clanton while he was backstage. Pomus changed the title to "Go, Jimmy, Go" and said that the song was written for Clanton.[5] Wayne Harada wrote in The Honolulu Advertiser that the song is "one of the few upbeat tunes in Jim's repertoire."[7]

Reception

A Billboard review said, "Go, Jimmy, Go" is a swinging side that that finds Clanton in fine form. The rocker has lots to attract teens, and the side appears a likely winner."[8] Charles J. Schreiber wrote a negative review in The Gazette stating, "Although Jimmy can do better, this will still be a big hit. His public doesn't care so long as Jimmy sings."[9]

In November 1959, Clanton told the Hawaii Tribune-Herald that "his most recent release, "Go, Jimmy, Go", has given indications on the Mainland of being a potential hit."[10] The title of the 1959 musical comedy film Go, Johnny, Go! was inspired by the song's title.[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jimmy Clanton, 'Go, Jimmy, Go' Chart Positions. musicvf.com. August 7, 2021.
  2. Web site: CHUM Hit Parade - January 25, 1960.
  3. My Best to You (1961) album cover
  4. Web site: Top 100 Hits of 1960/Top 100 Songs of 1960. Music Outfitters. August 7, 2021.
  5. Book: Halberstadt, Alex. Lonely Avenue: The Unlikely Life and Times of Doc Pomus. April 28, 2009. Hachette Books. 978-0-7867-3229-6. 106 . Google Books.
  6. Book: Emerson, Ken . Always Magic in the Air: The Bomp and Brilliance of the Brill Building Era. September 26, 2006. Penguin Publishing Group. 978-1-101-15692-6. 58 . Google Books.
  7. News: Wayne . Harada. November 29, 1959 . The Honolulu Advertiser . 110. August 7, 2021. Newspapers.com.
  8. Reviews of This Week's Singles. Billboard. 9 November 1959. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. 49.
  9. News: Schreiber . Charles J. . December 12, 1959 . New Sounds . The Gazette . Newspapers.com.
  10. News: Southward . Walt . November 29, 1959 . Let's Talk Music . Hawaii Tribune-Herald . August 7, 2021.
  11. Web site: Go, Johnny, Go (1959) . AFI.com. . August 7, 2021.