Rubber Ball

"Rubber Ball" was an early 1961 hit for Bobby Vee on Liberty Records. It was the record which made Vee an international star. The song was recorded on August 12, 1960, in a four-song, three-hour session at United in Hollywood. It was produced by Thomas "Snuff" Garrett, arranged by Ernie Freeman, and was co-written at the Brill Building in New York by Gene Pitney, using his mother's maiden name (Orlowski), and by Aaron Schroeder. Veteran session drummer Earl Palmer played drums at the session.[1] The record marked Vee's first use of overdubbing his second vocal.

For balls made of rubber, see bouncy ball.
Not to be confused with Red Rubber Ball.
"Rubber Ball"
Single by Bobby Vee
B-side"Everyday"
ReleasedLate 1960
RecordedAugust 12, 1960
GenrePop, rock and roll
Length2:17
LabelLiberty Records F-55287
Songwriter(s)Gene Pitney/Marty Wilde
Producer(s)Snuff Garrett
Bobby Vee singles chronology
"Devil or Angel"
(1960)		 "Rubber Ball"
(1960)		 "Stayin' In"
(1961)

Chart performance

The song was Vee's fifth single release in the US, where it made #6 on the Billboard charts.[2] Outside the US, "Rubber Ball" was a breakthrough hit for him in the UK, where it reached #4.[3] In Australia, it was Vee's only #1 record, where it stayed at the top for three weeks in early 1961.

Cover versions
  • The song was covered as a single by British singer Marty Wilde, who also had chart success when it went to No. 9 in 1961.[4]

References
  1. Scherman, Tony, Backbeat: The Earl Palmer Story, forward by Wynton Marsalis, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C., 1999 p. 175, ISBN 978-0306809804.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 658.
  3. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 584. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 602. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  5. "Gary Lewis & The Playboys - Hits Again". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2016-10-25.


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