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Betcha by Golly, Wow

"Betcha by Golly, Wow" is a song written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed, originally titled "Keep Growing Strong" and recorded by American actress and singer Connie Stevens under the Bell label in 1970. Stevens' recording runs two minutes and thirty seconds. The composition later became a hit when it was released by the Philadelphia soul group the Stylistics in 1972 under its better known title, "Betcha by Golly, Wow".[4]

"Betcha by Golly, Wow"
One of side-A labels of the US single
Single by the Stylistics
from the album The Stylistics
B-side"Ebony Eyes"
ReleasedFebruary 17, 1972
StudioSigma Sound, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania[1]
Genre
Length
  • 3:48 (album version)
  • 3:17 (single edit)
LabelAvco
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Thom Bell
The Stylistics singles chronology
"You Are Everything"
(1971) 		"Betcha by Golly, Wow"
(1972) 		"People Make the World Go Round"
(1972)

The Stylistics version

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One year after Stevens' original version was released, the Stylistics recorded a more successful cover version as an R&B ballad under the name the song is best known, "Betcha by Golly, Wow". It was the third track from the Stylistics' 1971 debut self-titled album;[5] released as a single in 1972, it reached No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.[4][6] Billboard ranked it as the No. 18 song for 1972. It also climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard R&B chart,[6] and reached No. 13 on the UK Singles Chart in July 1972.[7] The single sold over one million copies globally, earning the band a gold disc[4] The award was presented by the RIAA on April 17, 1972.[4] It was the band's second gold disc.[4] There are two mixes of the song; the 3:17 version released as a single is the one most familiar to listeners, while the 3:48 album version has an instrumental break prior to the song's finale.

Charts

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Prince version

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"Betcha by Golly Wow!"
 
UK CD single
Single by Prince
from the album Emancipation
B-side"Right Back Here in My Arms"
ReleasedNovember 13, 1996
Recorded1995
StudioPaisley Park, Chanhassen, Minnesota, US
GenreSoul
Length3:30
LabelNPG/EMI
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Prince
Prince singles chronology
"Dinner with Delores"
(1996) 		"Betcha by Golly Wow!"
(1996) 		"The Holy River"
(1997)
Music video
"Betcha by Golly, Wow" on YouTube

Another version of "Betcha by Golly, Wow!" was released by American musician Prince (his stage name at that time being a symbol with no known pronunciation, see cover art) on his 20th album, Emancipation (1996). Prince had stated that he always wanted to release his own version but his record company, Warner Bros. Records, had not permitted it. The CD single was released in two formats in the UK, one with a picture sleeve and one with an orange cardboard sleeve that included a picture disc and a mini-poster. The song was also issued on cassette. All versions of the single had "Right Back Here in My Arms" as the B-side. Both tracks were the album versions. The track was released as a promotional single in the US; a music video was also produced.

The song was released on Mayte Garcia's (Prince's then-wife) 23rd birthday. Garcia also appeared in the video; she played herself in the doctor's office, confirming she is pregnant and revealing this to Prince when he walks into the room. One of the backgrounds of the video is Prince's own Paisley Park Studios.

It charted fairly well in the US, based on airplay figures (in the US promotional singles were not allowed to chart until late 1998) and almost made the top 10 of the UK Singles Chart.[13]

Critical reception

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Larry Flick of Billboard stated, "He follows the blueprint of the Stylistics' original recording almost to the letter, offering only the scant and fleeting hints of the offbeat brilliance on which he has built his career. That said, this is certainly a pleasant and hit-worthy effort, thanks in large part to a sweetly romantic falsetto vocal and the warm familiarity of the song."[14] Everett True from Melody Maker was negative, writing, "Insipid cover of Stylistics oldie. Breathy vocals and saccharine sentiments recall the worst of the Seventies. This is music punk set out to destroy."[15] A reviewer from Music Week gave the cover version four out of five, adding, "This smoothly-produced debut for The Artist's new label is a sleek and seamless cover of the Stylistics' seventies hit. A hit no doubt, but not one of his classics."[16]

Charts

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Weekly chart performance for Prince's cover
Chart (1996–97) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[17] 18
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[18] 5
Germany (GfK)[19] 62
Italy (Musica e dischi)[20] 20
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[21] 31
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[22] 42
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[23] 24
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[24] 27
Scotland (OCC)[25] 17
UK Singles (OCC)[26] 11
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[27] 2
US Hot 100 Airplay (Billboard) 31
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard) 10
US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard) 10
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard) 23
US Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks (Billboard) 38

References

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  1. ^ "Sigma Sound Studios: Singles 1968-1978". Billboard. September 16, 1978. p. SS-11. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  2. ^ Marsh, Dave (1989). The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. Plume. p. 322. ISBN 0-452-26305-0.
  3. ^ Billboard Staff (October 19, 2023). "The 500 Best Pop Songs: Staff List". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2024. ...an era of impossibly pretty R&B records in the early 1970s, including The Delfonics' "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" and The Stylistics' "Betcha By Golly Wow
  4. ^ a b c d e Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 351. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  5. ^ Lytle, Craig. "The Stylistics". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  6. ^ a b c d Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "The Stylistics | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  7. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 537. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  8. ^ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  9. ^ Flavour of New Zealand, 14 August 1972
  10. ^ "Adult Contemporary Music Chart". Billboard. 1972-05-13. Archived from the original on 2015-11-28. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  11. ^ [1] Archived September 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1972
  13. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 439. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  14. ^ Flick, Larry (November 23, 1996). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. p. 84. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  15. ^ True, Everett (December 7, 1996). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 38. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  16. ^ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. November 23, 1996. p. 24. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  17. ^ "The Symbol – Betcha by Golly Wow!". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  18. ^ "The Symbol – Betcha by Golly Wow!" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  19. ^ "The Symbol – Betcha by Golly Wow!" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  20. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved May 28, 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Prince".
  21. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Prince" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  22. ^ "The Symbol – Betcha by Golly Wow!" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  23. ^ "The Symbol – Betcha by Golly Wow!". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  24. ^ "The Symbol – Betcha by Golly Wow!". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  25. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  26. ^ "Prince: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  27. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
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