Yeh, Yeh Explained

Yeh, Yeh
Cover:Yeh-yeh-georgie-fame.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames
B-Side:Preach and Teach
Released:4 December 1964
Recorded:1964
Length:2:43
Label:Columbia
Producer:Tony Palmer
Prev Title:I'm In Love With You
Prev Year:1964
Next Title:In the Meantime
Next Year:1965

"Yeh, Yeh" is a Latin soul song originally written as an instrumental by Rodgers Grant and Pat Patrick, and first recorded by Mongo Santamaría on his album Watermelon Man! in 1963. Lyrics were written for it shortly thereafter by Jon Hendricks of the vocalese group, Lambert, Hendricks & Bavan and this version appeared on the LP, At Newport '63

The vocal version of the song was recorded by Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames (b/w Preach and Teach, Columbia DB 7428) and released on December 4, 1964. UK demonstration records were titled Yeah, Yeh, Yeh and this eventually led to some countries: Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands, Switzerland and South Africa releasing the single using, Yeah, Yeh, Yeh and Greece using the title, Yeah, Yeh. Furthermore, some UK initial issues were also incorrectly titled as, Yeah, Yeah.

It was this version which rose to the top of the UK Singles Chart in January 1965, breaking the Beatles' five week hold on the number one spot with "I Feel Fine",[1] and a month later appeared on the US Billboard pop singles chart to peak at #21.[2] The saxophone solo was by Peter Coe,[3] but was edited out for the US single release. Interviewed after the 2003 Jools Holland Spring Hootennany, where he had played a "dynamite version" of the song, Fame explained that the arrangement had been written by Tubby Hayes.[4]

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Yeh Yeh"
Chart (1965)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[5] 19
Canadian Singles Chart (RPM)[6] 1
Irish Singles Chart (IRMA)[7] 3
UK Singles Chart (OCC)[8] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[9] 21

Matt Bianco version

Yeh Yeh
Type:single
Artist:Matt Bianco
Album:Matt Bianco
B-Side:Smooth
Released:September 1985
Genre:Sophisti-pop
Length:3:16
Label:WEA
Producer:Mark Reilly, Phil Harding
Prev Title:More Than I Can Bear
Prev Year:1985
Next Title:Just Can't Stand It
Next Year:1986

British band Matt Bianco covered the song in 1985. It was their first release after the departure of Danny White and Basia Trzetrzelewska. Their rendition reached number 13 on the UK Singles Chart, and the top 10 in Germany and Switzerland. The single version was then included in their second eponymous album in 1986, while the CD edition of the album only contained its 12" dance mix. Both versions featured on the MC edition of the album, depending upon the various countries.

The song's music video was directed by Pete Cornish.[10]

Track listings

A. "Yeh Yeh" – 3:16

B. "Smooth" – 4:37

A. "Yeh Yeh" (Dance Mix) – 5:23

B. "Smooth" (Extra Smooth) – 5:26

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Yeh Yeh"
Chart (1985–86)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[12] 64
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[13] 22
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[14] 23
France (SNEP)[15] 22
Germany (Media Control Charts)7
Irish Singles Chart (IRMA)[16] 15
Italy (Musica e dischi)[17] 17
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[18] 27
Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade)10
UK Singles Chart (OCC)[19] 13

Other cover versions

Notes and References

  1. Book: Roberts, David . 2006 . . 19th . Guinness World Records Limited . London . 1-904994-10-5 . 173–174.
  2. Web site: Official Singles Chart UK Top 100 – 5th April 2014 | The UK Charts | Top 40 . . 2014-04-05.
  3. News: 2024-02-22 . Peter Coe: saxophonist, bandleader and designer . 2024-02-22 . en . 0140-0460.
  4. Web site: John L Walters . Jools Holland's wild Spring Hootenanny . The Guardian . 2 May 2003 . 2014-04-05.
  5. Web site: Georgie Fame - Yeh Yeh. 2024-09-17. ultratop.be. French.
  6. 1 March 1965. Top 40&5. RPM. 3. 1. 2021-04-28. Library and Archives Canada.
  7. Web site: The Irish Charts - All there is to know. 2024-09-17. irishcharts.ie.
  8. Web site: GEORGIE FAME songs and albums. Official Charts Company. 2024-09-17.
  9. Web site: Georgie Fame – Hot 100. 2021-04-28. Billboard.
  10. Matt Bianco . 1988 . Matt Bianco . . VHS . 244111-3.
  11. Web site: Matt Bianco - discography . discog.info . 2024-09-07.
  12. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. 195.
  13. Web site: Matt Bianco - Yeh Yeh . austriancharts.at . 2024-09-17 . German.
  14. Web site: Matt Bianco - Yeh Yeh. 2024-09-17. ultratop.be. Dutch.
  15. Web site: Discographie Matt Bianco . lescharts.com . 2024-09-15 . French.
  16. Web site: The Irish Charts - All there is to know. 2021-05-05. irishcharts.ie.
  17. Web site: M&D: Classifiche . musicaedischi.it . 2024-09-15 . it. (Enter "Matt Bianco" in the "Artista" field and click "cerca".)
  18. Web site: Matt Bianco - Yeh Yeh . dutchcharts.nl . 2024-09-17 . Dutch.
  19. Web site: ChartArchive - Matt Bianco. chartstats.com. 26 June 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121022124730/http://www.chartstats.com/artistinfo.php?id=4032. 22 October 2012.
  20. Web site: Claude François - Alors salut! . ultratop.be . 2024-09-17 . French.