Go Away Little Girl

"Go Away Little Girl" is a popular song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. It was first recorded by Bobby Vee for Liberty Records on March 28, 1962. The lyrics consist of a young man asking a young attractive woman to stay away from him, so that he will not be tempted to betray his steady girlfriend by kissing her. The song is notable for making the American Top 20 three times: for Steve Lawrence in 1963 (US number 1), for The Happenings in 1966 (US number 12), and for Donny Osmond in 1971 (US number 1). It is also the first song, and one of only nine, to reach US number 1 by two different artists.[1]

"Go Away Little Girl"
Single by Steve Lawrence
B-side"If You Love Her Tell Her So"
ReleasedNovember 1962
GenrePop
Length2:12
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Gerry Goffin and Carole King
"Go Away Little Girl"
Single by Donny Osmond
from the album To You With Love, Donny
B-side"The Wild Rover (Time to Ride)"
ReleasedJuly 31, 1971
GenrePop, bubblegum pop, blue-eyed soul
Length2:42
LabelMGM
Songwriter(s)Gerry Goffin and Carole King
Donny Osmond singles chronology
"Sweet and Innocent"
(1971)		 "Go Away Little Girl"
(1971)		 "Hey Girl" / "I Knew You When"
(1971)

Steve Lawrence version

In late 1962, Steve Lawrence released the second recording of this song (Bobby Vee recorded it first in March 1962). The single reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1963 and remained in the top position for two weeks. This recording also spent six weeks atop the U.S. Easy Listening chart.[2] "Go Away Little Girl" went to number fourteen on the Hot R&B Singles chart.[3] Outside the US, "Go Away Little Girl" also went to number 1 on the New Zealand Lever chart and number 18 in Canada.

Mark Wynter version

Mark Wynter's 1962 cover of the song on the Pye Records label also made the UK Singles Chart, reaching number six in Britain.[4][5]

Donny Osmond version

Donny Osmond's cover version of "Go Away Little Girl" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on September 11, 1971. It remained in the top position for three weeks. Osmond's version also went to number 36 on the Australian Go-Set chart. It was certified Gold by the RIAA on October 13, 1971. The song almost did not get recorded, because according to the Mormon laws, one had to be 16 for double dating and 18 to date alone, however, as long as this was an innocent sing, the Mormon faith allowed the song to be sung and recorded. Donny was 13 at the time the song was recorded.

Chart performance
Chart (1971) Peak
position
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[6] 4
Canada RPM Top Singles[7] 1
US Billboard Hot 100 1
US Easy Listening 14
Australia (Kent Music Report) 52
South Africa (Springbok)[8] 14

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[9] Gold 1,000,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

Marlena Shaw version

Marlena Shaw does a version called "Yu-Ma/Go Away Little Boy" from her 1977 album Sweet Beginnings. This reached number twenty one on the Billboard R & B chart staying in the Top 100 for eleven weeks.[10] In the 1980s it became a popular UK record on the Rare Groove dance scene.

References
  1. "Cover Me: Same Songs to Hit No. 1 By Two Different Artists". Billboard. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 141.
  3. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 343.
  4. Mark Wynter singles discography on www.45rpm.org.uk, accessed 2009-05-06
  5. Mark Wynter biography on allmusic.com, accessed 2009-05-06
  6. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1971-09-18. Retrieved 2019-06-18.
  7. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1971-10-23. Retrieved 2019-06-18.
  8. "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  9. "American single certifications – Donny Osmond – Go Away Little Girl". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
  10. Joel Whitburn, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles, 1942-2004, Billboard, 2005


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