Red Rubber Ball

"Red Rubber Ball" is a pop song written by Paul Simon and Bruce Woodley of The Seekers and recorded by The Cyrkle, whose version reached No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100,[1] and in South Africa[2] and New Zealand.[3] In Canada, the song reached No. 1.[4]

This article is about the Paul Simon and Bruce Woodley song. For The Cyrkle album, see Red Rubber Ball (album).
"Red Rubber Ball"
Single by The Cyrkle
from the album Red Rubber Ball
B-side"How Can I Leave Her"
ReleasedApril 4, 1966
GenrePop
Length2:22
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Paul Simon, Bruce Woodley
Producer(s)John Simon
The Cyrkle singles chronology
"Parking in the Kokomo"
(1965)		 "Red Rubber Ball"
(1966)		 "Turn-Down Day"
(1966)

Synopsis

"Red Rubber Ball" is sung from the perspective of a man at the end of an unfulfilling relationship in which his significant other never gave him much attention or affection. He now looks forward to the future with a positive attitude.

Recordings

According to Cyrkle guitarist Tom Dawes, Simon offered "Red Rubber Ball" to the band when they were opening for Simon and Garfunkel on tour.[5][6] The song's tracks were recorded in stereo, with the bass, lead guitar, and percussion on the right track, acoustic guitar and electric organ on left, and the vocals on both.

The Columbia picture sleeve issued with the "Red Rubber Ball" single is a very rare and oft-sought item amongst record collectors; near-mint copies are said to fetch three figures.

The Seekers also recorded "Red Rubber Ball" for their 1966 album Come the Day (called Georgy Girl in the USA). It also appears on the CD box set The Seekers Complete.

In an interview on The Colbert Report, Paul Simon said he wrote "Red Rubber Ball" while living in England to get a £100 advance from The Seekers. This came in response to Colbert's request for Simon to name a song that was "on the cusp" when it came to being included in his songbook Lyrics 1964–2008.

In the US, "Red Rubber Ball" spent a single week at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart at the same time "Paperback Writer" by The Beatles was at No. 1, during the week ending July 9, 1966. It was the fifth week during 1966 in which songs written by Simon and by John Lennon and Paul McCartney were simultaneously at No. 1 and No. 2 on the chart.

Cover versions
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References
  1. The Cyrkle, "Red Rubber Ball" U.S. chart position Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  2. "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  3. "Flavour of New Zealand - search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-09-15. Retrieved 2011-10-10.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "Red Rubber Ball", Songfacts.com, Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  6. Productions, Pore-Lee-Dunn. "The Cyrkle". Classicbands.com. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
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