Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy

"Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy" is a soul song. It was first recorded in 1967 by the Sensational Epics[1][2] and was originally released on Warner Bros. Records. The song has also been recorded by the Tams, Sonia, and others.

"Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy"
Single by the Tams
from the album A Little More Soul
B-side"That Same Old Song"
Released1968
Recorded1968
GenreR&B
Length2:06
LabelABC
Songwriter(s)Ray Whitley, J.R. Cobb
Producer(s)Joe South
The Tams singles chronology
"All My Hard Times"
(1967)		 "Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy"
(1968)		 "Trouble Maker"
(1968)

The Tams version

The Tams' version was released as a single in 1968, in the US, and was a moderate success, peaking at No. 26 on the R&B singles chart and No. 61 on the Hot 100.[3] Sometime later, in March 1970, it peaked at No. 32 on the UK Singles Chart. It has since become one of the most popular beach music songs, especially in the American South, where the song and the group enjoy continued popularity and recognizability, as do all of the hits by the group. The song is also still popular in the United Kingdom amongst fans of Northern soul. [4] Noddy Holder, lead singer with 70s British Glam rock band Slade, claimed in a newspaper interview that his band was playing the song live long before its Northern Soul success.[5]

Charts
Chart (1968) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 61
U.S. Billboard Best Selling Rhythm & Blues Singles 26
Chart (1970) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[4] 32

Sonia version
"Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy"
Single by Sonia
from the album Sonia
B-side"Used to Be My Love"
ReleasedAugust 19, 1991 (1991-08-19)[6]
Length2:56
LabelIQ
Songwriter(s)Ray Robert Whitley, J.R. Cobb
Producer(s)Nigel Wright
Sonia singles chronology
"Only Fools (Never Fall in Love)"
(1991)		 "Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy"
(1991)		 "You to Me Are Everything"
(1991)

Sonia's version of the song was produced by Nigel Wright for her second, self-titled studio album. The song was released in August 1991 as the album's second single, with another album track "Used to Be My Love" on the B-side. The song reached No. 22 on the UK Singles Chart.[7]

In 1992, the track was released as the lead single off the album in the US, with a different single mix than in the UK. It peaked at No. 13 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.[8]

Formats and track listings

CD single

  1. "Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy" – 2:55
  2. "Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy" (extended mix) – 4:54
  3. "Used to Be My Love" – 3:47

7-inch single

  1. "Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy" – 2:55
  2. "Used to Be My Love" – 3:47

US 7-inch single

  1. "Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy" (Beach mix) – 3:18
  2. "Used to Be My Love" – 3:47

12-inch single

  1. "Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy" (extended mix) – 4:54
  2. "Used to Be My Love" – 3:47

Charts
Chart (1991–1992) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[7] 22
Irish Singles Chart 23
US Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart 13
Canadian Singles Chart 98

References
  1. Sensationalepics.com
  2. Sotherngaragebands.com
  3. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 586.
  4. Roberts 2006, p. 549.
  5. Manchester Evening News interview
  6. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. August 17, 1991. p. 19.
  7. Roberts 2006, p. 514.
  8. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 227.

Sources
  • Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
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