Rubber Ball Explained

Rubber Ball should not be confused with Red Rubber Ball.

Rubber Ball
Type:single
Artist:Bobby Vee
Album:Bobby Vee
B-Side:Everyday
Released:Late 1960
Recorded:August 12, 1960
Genre:Brill Building pop
Label:Liberty Records F-55287
Producer:Snuff Garrett
Prev Title:Devil or Angel
Prev Year:1960
Next Title:Stayin' In
Next Year:1961

"Rubber Ball" was an early 1961 hit for Bobby Vee on Liberty Records. It was the record which made Vee an international star. The song was recorded on August 12, 1960, in a four-song, three-hour session at United in Hollywood. It was produced by Thomas "Snuff" Garrett, arranged by Ernie Freeman, and was co-written at the Brill Building in New York by Gene Pitney, using his mother's maiden name (Orlowski), and by Aaron Schroeder. Veteran session drummer Earl Palmer played drums at the session.[1] The record marked Vee's first use of overdubbing his second vocal.

Chart performance

The song was Vee's fifth US single release making #6 on the Billboard charts.[2] Outside the US, "Rubber Ball" was a breakthrough hit for him in the UK, where it reached #4.[3] It also reached #4 in Canada.[4] In Australia, it was Vee's only #1 record; it stayed at the top for three weeks in early 1961.

Cover versions

Notes and References

  1. Scherman, Tony, Backbeat: The Earl Palmer Story, foreword by Wynton Marsalis, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C., 1999 p. 175, .
  2. Book: Whitburn, Joel . The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition . Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research . 658.
  3. Book: Roberts , David . 2006. British Hit Singles & Albums. 19th. Guinness World Records Limited . London. 1-904994-10-5. 584.
  4. Web site: CHUM Hit Parade - January 16, 1961.
  5. Book: Roberts , David . 2006. British Hit Singles & Albums. 19th. Guinness World Records Limited . London. 1-904994-10-5. 602.