Maybe I Know

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"Maybe I Know"
File:Maybe I Know - Lesley Gore.jpg
Single by Lesley Gore
from the album Girl Talk
B-side"Wonder Boy"
ReleasedJuly 9, 1964
GenreBrill Building[1]
Length2:40
LabelMercury Records 72309
Songwriter(s)Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich
Producer(s)Quincy Jones
Lesley Gore singles chronology
"I Don't Wanna Be a Loser"
(1964)
"Maybe I Know"
(1964)
"Hey Now"
(1964)

"Maybe I Know" is an early 1960s pop song written by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich and performed by Lesley Gore. The song was one in a long line of successful "Brill Building Sound" hits[1] created by composers and arrangers working in New York City's Brill Building at 1619 Broadway. Pop songwriting stars Barry and Greenwich had previously scored hits with songs such as "Be My Baby" and "Baby, I Love You" performed by The Ronettes, as well as "Then He Kissed Me" and "Da Doo Ron Ron" by The Crystals.

"Maybe I Know" reached #14 on the Billboard Hot 100, #16 in Canada,[2] #20 in the United Kingdom, and #37 in Australia in 1964.[3] It was featured on her 1964 album, Girl Talk.[4] Billboard described the song as a "medium tempo rocker with fine dance beat."[5] Cash Box described it as "a handclappin' thumper geared for easy dancing and listening approval" and a "tuneful teen-angled vocal romp."[6]

The song was produced by Quincy Jones and arranged by Claus Ogerman.[7]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1964) Peak
position
Australia 37
Canada RPM Top Singles[8] 16
UK 20
US Billboard Hot 100 14
US Cash Box Top 100 10

Other versions

The Seashells released a version of the song as a single in 1972 that reached #32 in the UK. Greenwich herself released a version of the song as a single in 1973.[9] They Might Be Giants covered the song in many live performances, before a studio-recorded version was featured on their 1999 album, Long Tall Weekend. Alessi's Ark released a version of the song on her 2011 album, Time Travel.

In media

The song was featured in the musicals Leader of the Pack and The Marvelous Wonderettes.

References

  1. ^ a b Fontenot, Robert (November 1, 2015). "What is Brill Building Music?". About.
  2. ^ Lesley Gore, "Maybe I Know" Canadian Chart Position Retrieved January 14, 2015
  3. ^ Lesley Gore, "Maybe I Know" US and UK Chart Positions Retrieved January 14, 2015
  4. ^ Lesley Gore, Girl Talk Retrieved January 14, 2015
  5. ^ "Singles Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. July 18, 1964. p. 16. Retrieved 2021-05-01.
  6. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. July 18, 1964. p. 12. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
  7. ^ Lesley Gore, "Maybe I Know" single release Retrieved January 14, 2015
  8. ^ RPM Top 40-5s
  9. ^ Ellie Greenwich, "Maybe I Know" Chart Position Retrieved January 14, 2015