| Cover | Yeh-yeh-georgie-fame.jpg |
|---|---|
| Artist | Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames |
| B-side | Preach and Teach |
| Released | 4 December 1964 |
| Recorded | 1964 |
| Genre | Latin soul[1] |
| Length | 2:43 |
| Label | Columbia |
| Writer | Rodgers Grant, Pat Patrick, Jon Hendricks[2] |
| Producer | Tony Palmer[2] |
| Prev year | 1964 |
| Next year | 1965 |
"Yeh, Yeh" is a Latin soul song originally written as an instrumental by Rodgers Grant and Pat Patrick, and first recorded by Mongo Santamaría on his album Watermelon Man! in 1963. Lyrics were written for it shortly thereafter by Jon Hendricks of the vocalese group, Lambert, Hendricks & Bavan and this version appeared on their 1963 album At Newport '63.
The vocal version of the song was recorded by Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames (b/w Preach and Teach, Columbia DB 7428) and released on December 4, 1964. UK demonstration records were titled "Yeah, Yeh, Yeh" and this eventually led to some countries: Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and South Africa releasing the single using "Yeah, Yeh, Yeh" and Greece using the title, "Yeah, Yeh". Furthermore, some UK initial issues were also incorrectly titled as "Yeah, Yeah".
It was this version which rose to the top of the UK Singles Chart in January 1965, breaking the Beatles' five week hold on the number one spot with "I Feel Fine",[3] and a month later appeared on the US Billboard pop singles chart to peak at #21.[4] In Canada it first appeared in February and peaked at #1 March 1, 1965. The saxophone solo was by Peter Coe,[5] but was edited out for the US single release. Interviewed after the 2003 Jools Holland Spring Hootennany, where he had played a "dynamite version" of the song, Fame explained that the arrangement had been written by Tubby Hayes.[6]
Charts
| Chart (1965) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[7] | 19 |
| Canadian Singles Chart (RPM)[8] | 1 |
| Irish Singles Chart (IRMA)[9] | 3 |
| UK Singles Chart (OCC)[10] | 1 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[11] | 21 |
Matt Bianco version
| Artist | Matt Bianco |
|---|---|
| Album | Matt Bianco |
| B-side | Smooth |
| Released | September 1985 |
| Genre | Sophisti-pop |
| Length | 3:16 |
| Label | WEA |
| Writer | Rodgers Grant, Pat Patrick, Jon Hendricks |
| Producer | Mark Reilly, Phil Harding |
| Prev year | 1985 |
| Next year | 1986 |
British band Matt Bianco covered the song in 1985. It was their first release after the departure of Danny White and Basia Trzetrzelewska. Their rendition reached number 13 on the UK Singles Chart, and the top 10 in Germany and Switzerland. The single version was then included in their second eponymous album in 1986, while the CD edition of the album only contained its 12" dance mix. Both versions featured on the MC edition of the album, depending upon the various countries.
The song's music video was directed by Pete Cornish.[12]
Track listings
- 7" single[13]
- A. "Yeh Yeh" – 3:16
- B. "Smooth" – 4:37
- 12" single[13]
- A. "Yeh Yeh" (Dance Mix) – 5:23
- B. "Smooth" (Extra Smooth) – 5:26
Charts
| Chart (1985–1986) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[14] | 64 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[15] | 22 |
| Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[16] | 23 |
| France (SNEP)[17] | 22 |
| Germany (Media Control Charts)[15] | 7 |
| Irish Singles Chart (IRMA)[18] | 15 |
| Italy (Musica e dischi)[19] | 17 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[20] | 27 |
| Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade)[20] | 10 |
| UK Singles Chart (OCC)[21] | 13 |
Other notable versions
- Claude François's French cover titled "Alors salut!" was a #4 hit in Belgium in 1965.[22]
References
- ^ Doggett, Peter (1 January 2015). "Revolution in Reverse". Electric Shock: From the Gramophone to the iPhone - 125 Years of Pop Music. London: The Bodley Head. p. 316. ISBN 978-1-847-92218-2. Retrieved 20 February 2025.
- ^ Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits. 1st ed. Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. pp. 86–87. ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums. 19th ed. London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 173–174. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart UK Top 100 – 5th April 2014 | The UK Charts | Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2014-04-05.
- ^ "Peter Coe: saxophonist, bandleader and designer". The Times. 2024-02-22. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
- ^ John L Walters (2 May 2003). "Jools Holland's wild Spring Hootenanny". The Guardian. Retrieved 2014-04-05.
- ^ "Georgie Fame - Yeh Yeh" (in French). ultratop.be. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
- ^ "Top 40&5". RPM. Vol. 3, no. 1. 1 March 1965. Retrieved 2021-04-28. – via Library and Archives Canada
- ^ "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
- ^ "GEORGIE FAME songs and albums". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
- ^ "Georgie Fame – Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
- ^ Matt Bianco (1988). Matt Bianco (VHS). WEA Records. 244111-3.
- ^ "Matt Bianco - discography". discog.info. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated ed. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 195. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Matt Bianco - Yeh Yeh" (in German). austriancharts.at. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
- ^ "Matt Bianco - Yeh Yeh" (in Dutch). ultratop.be. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
- ^ "Discographie Matt Bianco" (in French). lescharts.com. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
- ^ "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
- ^ "M&D: Classifiche" (in Italian). musicaedischi.it. Retrieved 2024-09-15. (Enter "Matt Bianco" in the "Artista" field and click "cerca".)
- ^ "Matt Bianco - Yeh Yeh" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
- ^ "ChartArchive - Matt Bianco". chartstats.com. Archived 22 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
- ^ "Claude François - Alors salut!" (in French). ultratop.be. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
