You Better Run

"You Better Run" is a song by The Young Rascals. Written by group members Eddie Brigati and Felix Cavaliere, it was released as the band's third single in 1966 and reached the top 20 in the United States.

For other uses, see You Better Run (disambiguation).
"You Better Run"
U.S. single picture sleeve
Single by The Young Rascals
from the album Groovin'
B-side"Love Is a Beautiful Thing"
ReleasedMay 30, 1966 (1966-05-30)
Genre
Length2:25
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
The Young Rascals singles chronology
"Good Lovin'"
(1965)		 "You Better Run"
(1966)		 "Come on Up"
(1966)

Critical reception

A review in a 1966 issue of Billboard magazine described the song as a "big-beat wailer" and a "strong follow-up to 'Good Lovin''".[1] In the book Pioneers of Rock and Roll, author Harry Sumrall wrote that the song represented the apex of the band's sound and complimented guitarist Gene Cornish's "slashing chords".[2] AllMusic's Matthew Greenwald called it "a classic garage rocker with a punkish energy [that] showcased the band's live chops to a great effect, as well as Felix Cavaliere's awesome soul-inflected vocals."[3]

Music journalist Fred Bronson noted that "You Better Run" was a commercial disappointment, having peaked at number 20 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 after their previous single, "Good Lovin'", had reached number one.[4] The Cavaliere and Gene Cornish composition "Love Is a Beautiful Thing" was included as the single's B-side.

Chart performance
Chart (1966) Peak
position
Canada RPM Magazine 22
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[4] 20
U.S. Cash Box Top 100 23

Cover versions

Pat Benatar version
"You Better Run"
German single picture sleeve
Single by Pat Benatar
from the album Crimes of Passion
B-side"Out-A-Touch"
ReleasedJuly 8, 1980 (1980-07-08)
GenreHard rock
Length3:04
LabelChrysalis
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Keith Olsen
Pat Benatar singles chronology
"Rated X"
(1980)		 "You Better Run"
(1980)		 "Hit Me with Your Best Shot"
(1980)

Pat Benatar recorded "You Better Run" for her second album, Crimes of Passion (1980). The song was released as the album's lead single, with "Out-A-Touch" as the B-side. It peaked at number 42 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 44 on the Cash Box Top 100.[5] The song appeared on the soundtrack to the 1980 film Roadie.[6]

On August 1, 1981, the music video for the song was the second video ever broadcast on MTV, after the network premiered with "Video Killed the Radio Star" by the Buggles.[7]

Chart performance
Chart (1980) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[8] 31
France (IFOP)[9] 55
New Zealand (RIANZ)[10] 42
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[5] 42

Other versions

In 1966, with the band Listen, Robert Plant made his recording debut singing lead vocals on a cover version of "You Better Run", which was released as a single by CBS Records.[11][12]

In 1966, the N' Betweens, who later became the British rock band Slade, covered the song, which was released as a single on Columbia. It was produced by Kim Fowley and reached number one on the local Midlands chart and remained there for six weeks.[13][14] The Listen and N' Betweens versions were released on the same day. Their respective vocalists, who were friends, had no idea of the competition until the records had become available.

In September 1980, former KISS drummer Peter Criss released a cover version of "You Better Run" on his first post-KISS solo album entitled Out of Control.

In 1981, Pub rock band Eddie and the Hot Rods covered the song on the group's album Fish 'n' Chips.[15]

On June 28, 2019, Mindi Abair And The Boneshakers released the album "No Good Deed" with their version of "You Better Run".

References
  1. "Spotlight Singles". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 78 (23): 18. 1966-06-04. ISSN 0006-2510.
  2. Sumrall, Harry (1994). Pioneers of Rock and Roll: 100 Artists Who Changed the Face of Rock. New York: Billboard Books. p. 295. ISBN 978-0-8230-7628-4.
  3. Greenwald, Matthew. ""You Better Run" – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
  4. Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits (5th ed.). New York City: Billboard Books. p. 224. ISBN 978-0-8230-7677-2.
  5. Warner, Jay (2008). Notable Moments of Women In Music. New York City: Hal Leonard. p. 225. ISBN 978-1-4234-2951-7.
  6. McCullaugh, Jim (1980-10-18). "Closeup". Billboard. 92 (42): 74. ISSN 0006-2510.
  7. Warner, Jay (2004). On This Day in Music History: Over 2,000 Popular Music Facts Covering Every Day of the Year. New York: Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 215. ISBN 978-0-634-06693-1.
  8. David Kent (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970 - 1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  9. "Toutes les Chansons N° 1 des Années 70" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  10. "New Zealand charts portal - Pat Benatar". charts.nz.
  11. Bream, Jon (2010). Whole Lotta Led Zeppelin: The Illustrated History of the Heaviest Band of All Time. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Voyageur Press. p. 38. ISBN 978-0-7603-3955-8.
  12. Williamson, Nigel (2007). The Rough Guide to Led Zeppelin. London: Rough Guides. p. 15. ISBN 978-1-4053-8421-6.
  13. It's Slade - 1999 BBC documentary
  14. Kutner, Jon; Leigh, Spencer (26 May 2010). 1,000 UK Number One Hits. Omnibus Press. ISBN 9780857123602. Retrieved 15 May 2018 – via Google Books.
  15. "Top Album Picks". Billboard. Vol. 92 no. 35. August 30, 1980. p. 84. ISSN 0006-2510.
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