Maybe (The Chantels song)

"Maybe" is a song with words and music originally credited to End Records owner George Goldner and "Casey". The co-writing credit was later transferred to Richard Barrett. Arlene Smith, lead singer of the Chantels, is believed to be an uncredited co-writer.[1] It was first recorded by the Chantels on October 16, 1957, in a doo-wop style with Barrett playing piano, and released in December 1957. It climbed the charts in January 1958, reaching No. 15 in the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 in the Billboard R&B chart. It was subsequently described as "arguably, the first true glimmering of the girl group sound".[2] Rolling Stone ranked it No. 199 on its list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[1] It was also included in Robert Christgau's "Basic Record Library" of 1950s and 1960s recordings, published in Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981).[3]

"Maybe"
Single by The Chantels
from the album We Are the Chantels
B-side	"Come My Little Baby"
Released	December 1957
Recorded	October 16, 1957
Venue	a church in Midtown Manhattan
Length	2:54
Label	End
Songwriter(s)	George Goldner, Casey (credited) Richard Barrett (later credited)
The Chantels singles chronology
"He's Gone" (1957) "Maybe" (1957) "Every Night (I Pray)" (1958)

The song has been covered by many artists, including Janis Joplin, The Three Degrees (whose 1970 version became a top thirty hit) and The Shangri-Las. John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers has performed the song in concert, as seen on Live at Slane Castle. Most recently, it has been covered by the Korean girl trio, The Barberettes.[4]

The song made an appearance in the 2010 video game Mafia II, even though the game takes place in 1951 and the song was recorded in 1957.

Billboard named the song No. 60 on its list of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time.[5]