Girl Watcher

{{Infobox song | name = Girl Watcher | cover = | alt = | type = single | artist = The O'Kaysions | album = Girl Watcher | B-side = Deal Me In | released = March 1968 (Original US release) June 1968 (Second US release) | format = | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre = Blue-eyed soul | length = {{Duration|m=2|s=35}} | label = ABC | writer = Ronald B. Killette, Wayne Pittman | producer = North State Music | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = Love Machine | next_year = 1968 }}

"'''Girl Watcher'''" is a song written by Ronald B. Killette and Wayne Pittman and performed by The O'Kaysions. It was produced by North State Music.<ref>{{cite web|title=The O'Kaysions, "Girl Watcher" Second Single Release|website=Discogs |date=June 1968 |url=https://www.discogs.com/The-OKaysions-Girl-Watcher/release/1110520|accessdate=November 20, 2016}}</ref> The single was first released in March 1968 on North State Records, but it did not become a hit until re-released in June 1968 on ABC Records.<ref>{{cite web|title=The O'Kaysions, "Girl Watcher" Original Single Release|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/nc331161us|accessdate=November 20, 2016}}</ref>

"Girl Watcher" received gold record status for a million sales from the R.I.A.A. in December 1968.<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs">{{cite book | first= Joseph | last= MurrellI | year= 1978 | title= The Book of Golden Discs | edition= 2nd | publisher= Barrie and Jenkins Ltd | location= London | page= [https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/245 245] | isbn= 0-214-20512-6 | url-access= registration | url= https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/245 }}</ref>

==Chart performance== It reached No.5 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and #6 on the ''Billboard'' Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart in 1968<ref>{{cite web|title=The O'Kaysions, "Girl Watcher" Chart Positions|url=http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=Girl+Watcher+by+The+O%27Kaysions&id=31116|accessdate=November 20, 2016}}</ref> and was featured on the group's 1968 album, ''Girl Watcher''.<ref>{{cite web|title=The O'Kaysions, ''Girl Watcher''|website=Discogs |year=1968 |url=https://www.discogs.com/The-OKaysions-Girl-Watcher/release/1089797|accessdate=November 20, 2016}}</ref>

The single ranked No.45 on the ''Billboard'' Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1968.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts/1968.php |title=Billboard Top 100 - 1968 |accessdate=November 20, 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125102556/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts/1968.php |archivedate=November 25, 2010 }}</ref> ==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Girl Watcher"}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Kaysions|title=Girl Watcher|award=Gold|relyear=1968|certyear=1968|access-date=July 1, 2024}} {{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

==Other versions== *Tam White, as a single in 1968 in the UK.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tam White, "Girl Watcher" Single Release|website=Discogs |year=1968 |url=https://www.discogs.com/Tam-White-Girl-Watcher-Waiting-Till-The-Night-Comes-Round-Again/release/5033776|accessdate=November 20, 2016}}</ref> *In the '80s, the long-running syndicated game show ''Wheel of Fortune'' commissioned a promotional version with adapted lyrics titled "I'm a Wheel Watcher" and was also used on the show itself when Vanna White was introduced.<ref>{{cite web|title=Wheel Watcher Wheel Of Fortune Promo| website=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ2CgQ8FQjg|accessdate=June 24, 2020}}</ref> The Italian version titled ''La Ruota Della Fortuna'' ("The Wheel of Fortune") has a theme song called "Gira la Ruota" ("Spin the Wheel") that sounds very similar to "I'm a Wheel Watcher", which could've been the inspiration for it. *Spontaneous Combustion, on their 2004 album ''Strike Anywhere''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Spontaneous Combustion, ''Strike Anywhere''|website=Discogs |url=https://www.discogs.com/Spontaneous-Combustion-Strike-Anywhere/release/3486676|accessdate=November 20, 2016}}</ref> *Beau Jocque and the Zydeco Hi-Rollers, with the title "I'm a Girl Watcher", on the 1999 album ''Zydeco Giant''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Beau Jocque And The Zydeco Hi-Rollers* – Zydeco Giant|website=Discogs |year=1999 |url=https://www.discogs.com/Beau-Jocque-And-The-Zydeco-Hi-Rollers-Zydeco-Giant/release/8776724|accessdate=May 31, 2020}}</ref> * In the ''Nickelodeon'' show ''Zoey 101'' episode "Dance Contest", the song is remade to "I'm a Contender" by Scott Bennett in 2007.

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Girl Watcher}} Category:1968 songs Category:1968 singles Category:The O'Kaysions songs Category:ABC Records singles Category:Decca Records singles