Ooo Baby Baby

"Ooh Baby Baby"
"Ooh Baby Baby"
Single by Linda Ronstadt
from the album Living in the USA
B-side	"Blowing Away"
Released	October 24, 1978
Genre	Rhythm and blues, soul
Length	3:18
Label	Asylum
Songwriter(s)	Smokey Robinson; Pete Moore
Producer(s)	Peter Asher
Linda Ronstadt singles chronology

"Ooo Baby Baby"
"Ooo Baby Baby"
Single by The Miracles
from the album Going to a Go-Go
B-side	"All That's Good"
Released	March 5, 1965
Recorded	Hitsville U.S.A. (Studio A); January 21, 1965
Genre	Soul, pop
Length	2:48
Label	Tamla / T 54113
Songwriter(s)	Smokey Robinson; Pete Moore
Producer(s)	Smokey Robinson
The Miracles singles chronology

"Ooo Baby Baby" is a song written by Smokey Robinson and Pete Moore. It is a classic 1965 hit single by The Miracles for the Tamla (Motown) label. The song has inspired numerous other cover versions by other artists over the years, including covers by Ella Fitzgerald, Todd Rundgren, The Escorts, The Five Stairsteps, Linda Ronstadt , and many others. The Miracles' original version of "Ooo Baby Baby", is listed as number 266 on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".

The Miracles original version[]

Background[]

Written by Robinson and fellow Miracle Pete Moore and produced by Robinson, "Ooo Baby Baby" was a number 4 hit on the Billboard R&B singles chart and reached number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[1]

A slow, remorseful number, "Ooo Baby Baby" features Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson lamenting the fact that he cheated on his woman, and begging for her to overlook his mistakes and please forgive him. The song's highly emotional feel is supported by the Miracles' tight background vocal harmonies, arranged by Miracles member and song co-author Pete Moore, and a lush orchestral string arrangement that accents The Funk Brothers band's instrumental track.

In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked the Miracles' original version of this song as #266 on their list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.^[2] The song is one of the Miracles' most-covered tunes.

On the 2006 Motown DVD The Miracles' Definitive Performances, Pete comments on the song's creation: "In the songs that Smokey and I wrote together, Smokey and Berry kinda left the background vocals to me. And this song "I'm On The Outside (Looking In)", which was one of The Imperials' bigger hits.... When I heard that song, as far as the background (harmonies) were concerned and how (they were structured), I wanted to get the same kind of feeling with Smokey's vocal. So I called Bobby, Ronnie, and Claudette over, and we did the backgrounds for it. I kinda had that particular song in mind...so I wanted to get the same kind of feeling with 'Ooo Baby Baby'."

Influence[]

John Lennon was a huge fan of Smokey Robinson; he borrowed the "I'm Crying" part in this song for The Beatles' song "I Am the Walrus".^{[citation needed]}

Chart performance[]

Weekly charts[]

Chart (1965)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100^[3]	16
US Billboard R&B	4
US Cash Box Top 100 ^[4]	18

Year-end charts[]

Chart (1965)	Rank
US Billboard Hot 100 ^[5]	93

Personnel[]

The Miracles[]

William "Smokey" Robinson – writer, producer, lead vocals
Pete Moore – writer, vocal arrangements, background vocals
Claudette Rogers Robinson – background vocals
Ronnie White – background vocals
Bobby Rogers – background vocals
Marv Tarplin – guitar

Other credits[]

Detroit Symphony Orchestra – strings
The Funk Brothers – other instruments, featuring Jack Ashford on vibraphone

Linda Ronstadt version[]

Background[]

In 1978, Linda Ronstadt recorded a cover version of "Ooh Baby Baby" and included it on her double-platinum album Living in the USA. Her version of the single reached number 2 on the Contemporary chart and peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979 (it also hit the R&B and Country singles charts).^[6] Her single was produced by Peter Asher and issued on Asylum Records. Ronstadt performed with Smokey Robinson both "The Tracks of My Tears" and "Ooh Baby Baby" on the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever special broadcast on May 16, 1983.

Chart performance[]

Weekly charts[]

Chart (1978–79)	Peak position
Canada RPM Top Singles^[7]	6
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary	26
France^[8]	10
US Billboard Hot 100^[3]	7
US Billboard Adult Contemporary^[9]	2
US Billboard Country	85
US Billboard Hot Soul Singles^[10]	77
US Cash Box Top 100^[11]	7

Year-end charts[]

Chart (1978)	Rank
Canada RPM Top Singles^[12]	166

Chart (1979)	Rank
Canada RPM Top Singles^[12]	69
US Billboard Hot 100^[13]	77
US Cash Box^[14]	59

Other versions[]

The Five Stairsteps (1967)
Ella Fitzgerald (1969)
The Fuzz on The Fuzz (1970)
San Francisco T.K.O.'s on Herm b/w Oh Baby, Baby (1972)
Honey Cone on Love, Peace & Soul as "O-O-O Baby Baby" (1972)
Todd Rundgren on A Wizard, a True Star (1973)
Ralfi Pagan on I Can See (1975)
Gary Bartz on Music Is My Sanctuary (1977)
Shalamar on Uptown Festival (1977)
Aretha Franklin and Smokey Robinson performed the song on Soul Train on December 1, 1979.^[15]
Sylvester on Too Hot to Sleep (1981)
Zapp, titled "Ooh Baby Baby", on Zapp Vibe (1989), also released as a single
Hugh Masekela, Uptownship (1989)
Ray, Goodman & Brown, titled "Ooh Baby Baby", on (1992)
Janet Kay on For the Love of You (1994)
Laura Nyro (recorded 1994/95) released on Angel in the Dark in 2001
Yoko Takahashi (1996)
LaToya London (2004) on American Idol during Motown Week
Musiq on Luvanmusiq (2007, bonus track)
Human Nature on Get Ready (2007) featuring Smokey Robinson.
Anoop Desai (2009) on American Idol during Motown Week
Marianne Faithfull featuring Antony Hegarty (2009) released on Easy Come, Easy Go
Seal, titled "Ooh Baby Baby," on Soul 2 (2011)
Teena Marie, bonus digital track on her posthumous album Beautiful (2013)
Erich Cawalla on "Erich Cawalla-The Great American Songbook" (2019)

References[]

^ "The Miracles > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". AllMusic. Retrieved February 16, 2010.
^ "The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 25, 2006. Retrieved February 16, 2010.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
^ "Cash Box Top 100 5/15/65". tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 10 May 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
^ "Top 100 Hits of 1965/Top 100 Songs of 1965". www.musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
^ "Linda Ronstadt > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". AllMusic. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
^ Canada, Library and Archives (17 July 2013). "Image : RPM Weekly". bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
^ Tsort. "Song artist 423 - Linda Ronstadt". tsort.info. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
^ US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. December 9, 1978
^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 500.
^ "Cash Box Top 100 1/27/79". tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 14 February 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Canada, Library and Archives (17 July 2013). "Image : RPM Weekly". bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
^ "Top 100 Hits of 1979/Top 100 Songs of 1979". www.musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
^ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1979". tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
^ The Best of Soul Train Live (booklet). Time Life. 2011.

External links[]

List of cover versions of ”Ooo Baby Baby” at SecondHandSongs.com

[1] "The Miracles > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". AllMusic. Retrieved February 16, 2010.

[2] "The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 25, 2006. Retrieved February 16, 2010.

[auto-3] Jump up to: ^a ^b Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X

[4] "Cash Box Top 100 5/15/65". tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 10 May 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2018.

[5] "Top 100 Hits of 1965/Top 100 Songs of 1965". www.musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 18 April 2018.

[6] "Linda Ronstadt > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". AllMusic. Retrieved February 16, 2016.

[7] Canada, Library and Archives (17 July 2013). "Image : RPM Weekly". bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 18 April 2018.

[8] Tsort. "Song artist 423 - Linda Ronstadt". tsort.info. Retrieved 18 April 2018.

[9] US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. December 9, 1978

[10] Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 500.

[11] "Cash Box Top 100 1/27/79". tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 14 February 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2018.

[auto1-12] Jump up to: ^a ^b Canada, Library and Archives (17 July 2013). "Image : RPM Weekly". bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 18 April 2018.

[13] "Top 100 Hits of 1979/Top 100 Songs of 1979". www.musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 18 April 2018.

[14] "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1979". tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2018.

[15] The Best of Soul Train Live (booklet). Time Life. 2011.

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show v t The Miracles (1955–1964) / Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (1965–1972) / The Miracles (1973–2011)
Smokey Robinson Ronnie White Pete Moore Bobby Rogers Claudette Robinson Marv Tarplin Billy Griffin Donald Griffin Carl Cotton Mark Scott Dave Finley Sydney Justin Alphonse Franklin Tee Turner
Studio albums	Hi... We're the Miracles (1961) Cookin' with the Miracles (1961) I'll Try Something New (1962) The Fabulous Miracles (1963) Christmas with The Miracles (1963) The Miracles Doin' Mickey's Monkey (1963) I Like It Like That (1964) Going to a Go-Go (1965) Away We a Go-Go (1966) Make It Happen (The Tears of a Clown) (1967) Special Occasion (1968) Time Out for Smokey Robinson & the Miracles (1969) Four in Blue (1969) What Love Has Joined Together (1970) A Pocket Full of Miracles (1970) (1970) One Dozen Roses (1971) Flying High Together (1972) Renaissance (1973) Do It Baby (1974) (1975) City of Angels (1975) (1976) (1977) (1978)
Live albums	The Miracles Recorded Live on Stage (1963) Smokey Robinson & the Miracles LIVE! (1969) Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: 1957–1972 (1972)
Compilations	Greatest Hits: From the Beginning (1965) Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 (1968) Anthology (1974) Anthology '86 (1986) Anthology: The Best of Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (1995) The Ultimate Collection (1998) Ooo Baby Baby: The Anthology (2002) Depend On Me: The Early Albums (2009)
Singles	"Bad Girl" "Way Over There" "Shop Around" "Everybody's Gotta Pay Some Dues" "What's So Good About Goodbye" "I've Been Good to You" "I'll Try Something New" "You've Really Got a Hold on Me"/"Happy Landing" "A Love She Can Count On" "Mickey's Monkey" "I Gotta Dance to Keep From Crying" "(You Can't Let the Boy Overpower) The Man in You" "I Like It Like That" "That's What Love Is Made Of" "Come On Do the Jerk" "Ooo Baby Baby" "The Tracks of My Tears" "A Fork in the Road" "My Girl Has Gone" "Going to a Go-Go" "Choosey Beggar" "Whole Lot of Shakin' in My Heart (Since I Met You)" "(Come 'Round Here) I'm the One You Need" "The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage" "More Love" "I Second That Emotion" "If You Can Want" "Yester Love" "Special Occasion" "Baby, Baby Don't Cry" "Here I Go Again" "Doggone Right" "Abraham, Martin and John" "Point It Out" "The Tears of a Clown" "I Don't Blame You at All" "We've Come Too Far to End It Now" "Give Me Just Another Day" "Do It Baby" "Love Machine"
Videography	The Definitive Performances (1963–1987) (2006)
Related	Discography Cover versions of Miracles songs Awards and achievements The Miracles Sing Modern

show v t The Miracles singles discography
1950s	"Got a Job" (1958) "Your Love (Is All I Need)" (1958) "I Cry" (1958) "I Need a Change" (1959) "It" (1959) " Bad Girl" (1959) "The Feeling Is So Fine" (1959) / "(You Can) Depend on Me" (1959)
1960s	"Way Over There" (1960) "Shop Around" (1960) / "Who's Lovin' You" (1960) "Ain't It Baby" (1961) "Mighty Good Lovin'" (1961) / Broken Hearted" (1961) "Everybody's Gotta Pay Some Dues" (1961) "What's So Good About Goodbye" (1961) / "I've Been Good to You" (1961) "I'll Try Something New" (1962) "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" (1962) / "Happy Landing" (1962) "A Love She Can Count On" (1963) / "I Can Take a Hint" (1963) " Mickey's Monkey" (1963) "I Gotta Dance to Keep From Crying" (1963) "The Christmas Song" (1963) "(You Can't Let the Boy Overpower) The Man in You" (1964) "I Like It Like That" (1964) "That's What Love Is Made Of" (1964) "Come On Do the Jerk" (1964) "Ooo Baby Baby" (1965) "The Tracks of My Tears" (1965) / "A Fork in the Road" (1965) "My Girl Has Gone" (1965) "Going to a Go-Go" (1965) / "Choosey Beggar" (1965) "Whole Lot of Shakin' in My Heart (Since I Met You)" (1966) "(Come 'Round Here) I'm the One You Need" (1966) "The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage" (1967) "More Love" (1967) "I Second That Emotion" (1967) "If You Can Want" (1968) "Yester Love" (1968) "Special Occasion" (1968) "Baby, Baby Don't Cry" (1969) "Here I Go Again" (1969) / "Doggone Right" (1969) "Abraham, Martin and John" (1969) "Point It Out" (1969) / "Darling Dear" (1969)
1970s	"Who's Gonna Take the Blame" (1970) "The Tears of a Clown" (1970) "I Don't Blame You at All" (1970) "Crazy About the La La" (1971) "Satisfaction" (1971) "We've Come Too Far to End It Now" (1972) "I Can't Stand to See You Cry" (1972) "Don't Let It End ('Til You Let It Begin)" (1973) "Give Me Just Another Day" (1973) "Do It Baby" (1974) "Don't Cha Love It" (1974) "Gemini" (1975) "Love Machine" (1975) "Night Life" (1976) "Spy for Brotherhood" (1977) "I Can Touch the Sky" (1977) "Mean Machine" (1978)

show v t Linda Ronstadt
Discography
Stone Poneys albums	The Stone Poneys featuring Linda Ronstadt Evergreen, Volume 2 Linda Ronstadt, Stone Poneys and Friends, Vol. III
Studio albums	Hand Sown ... Home Grown Silk Purse Linda Ronstadt Don't Cry Now Heart Like a Wheel Prisoner in Disguise Hasten Down the Wind Simple Dreams Living in the USA Mad Love Get Closer What's New Lush Life For Sentimental Reasons Canciones de Mi Padre Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind Mas Canciones Frenesí Winter Light Feels Like Home Dedicated to the One I Love We Ran A Merry Little Christmas Hummin' to Myself
Collaborations	Trio Santiago Trio II Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions Adieu False Heart The Complete Trio Collection
Compilations	Different Drum Greatest Hits Greatest Hits, Volume 2 The Very Best of Linda Ronstadt Mi Jardin Azul: Las Canciones Favoritas Duets
Hit singles	"Different Drum" "Long, Long Time" "You're No Good" "When Will I Be Loved" "Heat Wave" "Love Is a Rose" "The Tracks of My Tears" "That'll Be the Day" "Blue Bayou" "It's So Easy" "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" "Tumbling Dice" "Back in the U.S.A." "Ooo Baby Baby" "Just One Look" "Alison" "How Do I Make You" "Hurt So Bad" "I Can't Let Go" "I Knew You When" "What's New?" "Somewhere Out There" "Don't Know Much" "All My Life" "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby" "Close Your Eyes" "Walk On"
Related topics	Mr. Plow FM (film) The Pirates of Penzance (1983 film)
Category