"Don't Worry Baby" | ||||
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Single by The Beach Boys | ||||
from the album Shut Down Volume 2 | ||||
A-side | "I Get Around" | |||
Released | May 11, 1964 | |||
Format | Vinyl | |||
Recorded | January 7, 1964, United Western Recorders, Hollywood | |||
Genre | California Sound | |||
Length | 2:47 | |||
Label | Capitol | |||
Songwriter(s) | Brian Wilson, Roger Christian | |||
Producer(s) | Brian Wilson | |||
The Beach Boys singles chronology | ||||
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Endless Summer track listing | ||||
20 tracks
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"Don't Worry Baby" | ||||
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Single by B.J. Thomas | ||||
from the album B.J. Thomas | ||||
B-side | "My Love" | |||
Released | June 1977 | |||
Format | 7" | |||
Label | MCA | |||
Songwriter(s) | Brian Wilson, Roger Christian | |||
B.J. Thomas singles chronology | ||||
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"Don’t Worry Baby" is a song written by Brian Wilson and Roger Christian, produced by Wilson and first recorded by the American rock band The Beach Boys. The band's version, a tender ballad with falsetto lead vocal by Wilson, was first released on their 1964 album Shut Down Volume 2. It was also released as the B-side of The Beach Boys' first US number-one, "I Get Around", also reaching number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 in its own right.
The song "Don't Worry Baby" is part of the The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll list. It is ranked as the 176th greatest song of all time in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and Pitchfork Media placed it at number 14 on its list of "The 200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s".
The song, as originally performed by the Beach Boys, is sung from the point of view of a teenager who reluctantly agrees to a challenge to race a rival after rashly bragging about his car, and is reassured by his girlfriend's plea to take her love with him when he races.
David Howard wrote that "Don't Worry Baby" was a "subtle harbinger for the growing dichotomy within the California Sound. While 'I Get Around' symbolized the sunshine ideal in all its carefree splendor, 'Don't Worry Baby' suggested something entirely more pensive and even slightly dark underneath its pristine facade."
Recording took place on January 7, 1964 at United Western Recorders' Studio 3, Hollywood. Vocals and guitars were overdubbed one or two days later. Take 12 was used for the master. Brian Wilson cited the song as his attempt to capture the essence of his all-time favorite record, "Be My Baby" by the Ronettes. Wilson estimates he has listened to the song "more than 1,000 times."