Betcha by Golly, Wow

"Betcha by Golly Wow!"
"Betcha by Golly Wow!"
	UK CD single
Single by Prince
from the album Emancipation
B-side	"Right Back Here in My Arms"
Released	November 13, 1996
Recorded	Paisley Park Studios, 1995
Genre	Soul
Length	3:30
Label	NPG/EMI
Songwriter(s)	Linda Creed, Thom Bell
Producer(s)	Prince
Prince singles chronology

"Betcha by Golly, Wow"
"Betcha by Golly, Wow"
	One of side-A labels of the US single
Single by The Stylistics
from the album The Stylistics
B-side	"Ebony Eyes"
Released	February 17, 1972
Genre	Soul, Philly soul
Length	3:48 (album version); 3:17 (single edit)
Label	Avco
Songwriter(s)	Thom Bell, Linda Creed
Producer(s)	Thom Bell
The Stylistics singles chronology
Alternative release
	Artwork for Spain single

"Keep Growing Strong" is a song written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed, originally recorded by Connie Stevens under the Bell Records label in 1970. Stevens's recording runs two minutes and thirty seconds. The composition later became a hit when it was released by the Philadelphia soul group The Stylistics in 1972 under its better known title, "Betcha By Golly, Wow".^[1]

The Stylistics version[]

A year after Stevens’ original version was released, the group The Stylistics recorded a more successful cover version as an R&B ballad under the name the song is best known today, "Betcha By Golly, Wow". It was the third track from The Stylistics' 1971 debut self-titled album;^[2] released as a single in 1972, it reached No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.^[1]^[3] Billboard ranked it as the No. 18 song for 1972. It also climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard R&B chart,^[3] and reached No. 13 on the UK Singles Chart in July 1972.^[4] The Stylistics' recording sold over one million copies globally, earning the band a gold disc^[1] The award was presented by the RIAA on April 17, 1972.^[1] It was the band's second gold disc.^[1] There are two mixes of the song; the 3:17 version released as a single is the one most familiar to listeners, while the 3:48 album version has an instrumental break prior to the song's finale.

Chart performance[]

Weekly charts[]

Chart (1972)	Peak position
Canada (RPM) Top Singles ^[5]	20
New Zealand (Listener)^[6]	5
UK^[4]	13
US Billboard Hot 100^[3]	3
US Billboard Adult Contemporary^[7]	7
US Billboard Soul Singles^[3]	2

Year-end charts[]

Chart (1972)	Position
Canada^[8]	48
US Billboard Hot 100^[9]	18

Prince version[]

Another version of the song was released by Prince (his stage name at that time being a symbol with no known pronunciation, see cover art) on his 1996 album Emancipation. Prince had stated that he always wanted to release his own version but his record company, Warner Bros. Records, had not permitted it. The CD single was released in two formats in the UK, one with a picture sleeve and one with an orange cardboard sleeve that included a picture disc and a mini-poster. The song was also issued on cassette. All versions of the single had "Right Back Here in My Arms" as the B-side. Both tracks were the album version. The track was released as a promotional single in the US, a music video was also produced.

The song was released on Mayte Garcia's (Prince's then-wife) 23rd birthday. Garcia also appeared in the video; she played herself in the doctor's office, confirming she is pregnant and revealing this to Prince when he walks into the room. One of the backgrounds of the video is Prince's own Paisley Park Studios. It charted fairly well in the US, based on airplay figures (in the US promotional singles were not allowed to chart until late 1998) and almost made the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart.^[10]

Chart (1996–97)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[11]	18
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)^[12]	5
Germany (Official German Charts)^[13]	62
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[14]	42
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[15]	27
UK Singles (OCC)^[16]	11
US Billboard Hot 100 Airplay	31
US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay	10
US Billboard Rhythmic Top 40	10
US Billboard Mainstream Top 40	23
US Billboard Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks	38

Other versions[]

Angela Bofill, Grant Green, Ramsey Lewis, Johnny Hartman, Freddie Hubbard, The Lovelites, Leah LaBelle, Tuck Andress, Cleveland Eaton, Errol Dunkley, Dionne Warwick, Johnny Mathis, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Aaron Neville, Tweet, Pat Metheny, Horace Andy, Stanley Jordan, After 7 and the Sugababes have also recorded the song.
Norman Connors recorded a version of this song with Phyllis Hyman on vocals. That recording introduced Hyman to audiences, and a full album followed.
Ramsey Lewis' version of the song was sampled on the Mariah Carey track "Stay The Night" from her 2005 The Emancipation of Mimi album.
The song also appears on the album For You, released in 2002 by the Hawaiian group .
The song was spoofed by Philippine Comedian, Beethoven Bunagan a.k.a. "Michael V." in 1996.
The song was also sampled on the Busta Rhymes track "Salute Da Gods!!" from his 2000 Anarchy album.
In 2005, South-African jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela included the song in his album Almost Like Being in Jazz.^[17]
In 2012, In 2012, Frenk DJ with Leee John, singer of the group Imagination, collaborated to produce two remixes.^[18]

References[]

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 351. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
^ Lytle, Craig. "The Stylistics". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "The Stylistics | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 537. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
^ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
^ Flavour of New Zealand, 14 August 1972
^ "Adult Contemporary Music Chart". Billboard. 1972-05-13. Archived from the original on 2015-11-28. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
^ [1] Archived September 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
^ Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1972
^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 439. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
^ "Australian-charts.com – The Symbol – Betcha by Golly Wow!". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
^ "Ultratop.be – The Symbol – Betcha by Golly Wow!" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
^ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Symbol – Betcha by Golly Wow!" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Symbol – Betcha by Golly Wow!" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
^ "Swisscharts.com – The Symbol – Betcha by Golly Wow!". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
^ "Prince: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
^ "Hugh Masekela – Almost Like Being In Jazz". Discogs. discogs.com. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
^ "Betcha By Golly, Wow on Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved March 23, 2018.

External links[]

Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
Stylistics - Betcha By Golly Wow on YouTube

[The_Book_of_Golden_Discs-1] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 351. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.

[2] Lytle, Craig. "The Stylistics". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 October 2011.

[AMG-3] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "The Stylistics | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-02-02.

[British_Hit_Singles_&_Albums-4] Jump up to: ^a ^b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 537. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

[5] "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2016-02-02.

[6] Flavour of New Zealand, 14 August 1972

[7] "Adult Contemporary Music Chart". Billboard. 1972-05-13. Archived from the original on 2015-11-28. Retrieved 2016-02-02.

[8] [1] Archived September 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine

[9] Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1972

[British_Hit_Singles_&_Albums_2-10] Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 439. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

[sc_Australia_The_Symbol-11] "Australian-charts.com – The Symbol – Betcha by Golly Wow!". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 2, 2016.

[sc_Flanders_Tip_The_Symbol-12] "Ultratop.be – The Symbol – Betcha by Golly Wow!" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved May 2, 2016.

[sc_Germany_The_Symbol-13] "Offiziellecharts.de – The Symbol – Betcha by Golly Wow!" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved May 2, 2016.

[sc_Dutch100_The_Symbol-14] "Dutchcharts.nl – The Symbol – Betcha by Golly Wow!" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 2, 2016.

[sc_Switzerland_The_Symbol-15] "Swisscharts.com – The Symbol – Betcha by Golly Wow!". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 2, 2016.

[sc_UKsinglesbyname_Prince-16] "Prince: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 2, 2016.

[17] "Hugh Masekela – Almost Like Being In Jazz". Discogs. discogs.com. Retrieved 24 October 2017.

[18] "Betcha By Golly, Wow on Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved March 23, 2018.

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show v t The Stylistics
Airrion Love Herb Murrell Jason Sharpe Barrington "Bo" Henderson Russell Thompkins, Jr. James Dunn James Smith Raymond Johnson Van Fields Harold Eban Brown Michael Muse
Studio albums	The Stylistics Round 2 Rockin' Roll Baby Let's Put It All Together
Compilation albums	The Best of the Stylistics The Best of the Stylistics Volume II
Singles	"Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)" "You Are Everything" "Betcha by Golly, Wow" "People Make the World Go Round" "I'm Stone in Love with You" "Break Up to Make Up" "You'll Never Get to Heaven (If You Break My Heart)" "Rockin' Roll Baby" "You Make Me Feel Brand New" "Can't Give You Anything (But My Love)" "Can't Help Falling in Love" "Only You (And You Alone)" "Satin Doll" "Shame and Scandal in the Family" "Always on My Mind"
Related articles	Discography Avco Records H&L Records

show v t Prince singles
1970s	"Soft and Wet" "Just as Long as We're Together" "I Wanna Be Your Lover"
1980s	"Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?" "Still Waiting" "Sexy Dancer" "Uptown" "Dirty Mind" "Do It All Night" "Gotta Stop (Messin' About)" "Controversy" "Let's Work" "Do Me, Baby" "1999" "Little Red Corvette" "Delirious" "Let's Pretend We're Married" "When Doves Cry" "Let's Go Crazy" "Purple Rain" "I Would Die 4 U" "Take Me with U" "Paisley Park" "Raspberry Beret" "Pop Life" "America" "Kiss" "Mountains" "Anotherloverholenyohead" "Girls & Boys" "Sign "O" the Times" "If I Was Your Girlfriend" "U Got the Look" "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man" "Alphabet St." "Glam Slam" "I Wish U Heaven" "Batdance" "Partyman" "The Arms of Orion" "Scandalous!"
1990s	"The Future" "Thieves in the Temple" "New Power Generation" "Gett Off" "Cream" "Diamonds and Pearls" "Money Don't Matter 2 Night" "Insatiable" "Thunder" "Sexy MF" "My Name Is Prince" "7" "Damn U" "The Morning Papers" "Pink Cashmere" "Nothing Compares 2 U" "Peach" "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" "Letitgo" "Space" "Purple Medley" "I Hate U" "Gold" "Dinner with Delores" "Betcha by Golly Wow!" "The Holy River" "Somebody's Somebody" "The Truth" "Extraordinary" "The Greatest Romance Ever Sold"
2000s	"U Make My Sun Shine" (with Angie Stone) "When Will We B Paid?" (with Audio Stepchild) "Supercute" "The Work, pt. 1" "Days of Wild" "Musicology" "Cinnamon Girl" "Controversy (Live in Hawaii)" "S.S.T." "Te Amo Corazón" "Black Sweat" "Fury" "Guitar" "F.U.N.K."
2010s	"Breakfast Can Wait"
Promotional singles	"When You Were Mine" "Erotic City" "Nothing Compares 2 U" "Love Sign" (with Nona Gaye) "Somebody's Somebody" "The Rest of My Life" "5 Women" "It's About That Walk" "Man'O'War" "Call My Name" "The Song of the Heart"
Airplay-only songs	"International Lover"
Internet downloads	"Guitar (original "demo" version)"
EPs	The Beautiful Experience NYC 1999: The New Master
Other songs	"I Feel for You" "Private Joy" "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?" "The Beautiful Ones" "Computer Blue" "Darling Nikki" "Baby I'm a Star" "Sometimes It Snows in April" "Adore" "Don't Talk 2 Strangers" "I Can't Make U Love Me" "La, La, La Means I Love U" "One of Us" "Everyday Is a Winding Road" "A Case of U"

show v t Phyllis Hyman
Studio albums	Phyllis Hyman (1977) Sing a Song (1978) Somewhere in My Lifetime (1979) You Know How to Love Me (1979) Can't We Fall in Love Again? (1981) Goddess of Love (1983) Living All Alone (1986) Prime of My Life (1991) I Refuse to Be Lonely (1995) Forever with You (1998)
Singles	"Betcha by Golly Wow" "You Know How to Love Me" "Don't Wanna Change the World"
Related	Discography