"Oh Girl" is a song written by Eugene Record and recorded by the American soul vocal group the Chi-Lites, with Record on vocals and also producing. It was released as a single on Brunswick Records in 1972. Included on the group's 1972 album A Lonely Man, "Oh Girl" centers on a relationship on the verge of break-up.
"Oh Girl" was the Chi-Lites' first and only No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at that position in May 1972 for one week. The single also reached the top position of the Billboard R&B Singles chart the following month, remaining in that position for two weeks. Billboard ranked it as the No. 13 song for 1972. In addition, it reached No. 14 on the UK Singles Chart in July 1972, and was a UK hit again in 1975 when reissued as a double A-side with "Have You Seen Her", this time reaching a new peak of No. 5.
The song prominently features a harmonica.
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1972)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)58Canada RPM Top Singles9UK14U.S. Billboard Hot 100Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 – 1U.S. Billboard R&B1U.S. Cash Box Top 1001 Chart (1975)PeakpositionUK5
Year-end charts Chart (1972)RankCanada 11US Billboard Hot 10013US Billboard R&B5US Cash Box 33
Personnel Eugene Record – lead vocals, guitar, bass, composer, producer Robert "Squirrel" Lester – vocals Creadel "Red" Jones – vocals Marshall Thompson – vocals, harmonica, melodica Floyd Morris – piano Quinton Joseph – drums Tom Tom (Thomas Washington) – arranger
Paul Young version
The track was most prominently covered in 1990 by Paul Young, from his album Other Voices. It became a top 10 hit in the U.S. (#8) and Canada (#4). It was also a major adult contemporary hit, reaching number one on both the US and Canadian Adult Contemporary charts.
Charts
Chart (1990)PeakpositionAustralia (ARIA Charts)111Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)1Canada Top Singles (RPM)4Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 64Netherlands (Single Top 100) 73New Zealand (RIANZ)41UK Singles (Official Charts Company) 25US Billboard Hot 1008US Billboard Adult Contemporary1US Cash Box Top 1006
Chart (1990)RankCanada Top Singles (RPM)27US Billboard Hot 10084
Other versions
Country music singer Con Hunley took his version of the song to number 12 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1982 with the Oak Ridge Boys on background vocals. In 1987, Glenn Jones had a moderate hit with his version on the US Soul singles chart, at No. 38.
References
External links