Soldier Boy (The Shirelles song)

"Soldier Boy" is a song written by Luther Dixon and Florence Greenberg and made famous by the girl group the Shirelles.

Not to be confused with Crank That (Soulja Boy).
"Soldier Boy"
Single by The Shirelles
from the album Baby It's You
B-side"Love Is a Swingin' Thing"
ReleasedMarch 1962
RecordedBell Sound Studios, New York
GenreR&B
Length2:42
LabelScepter (Florence Greenberg-Owner)
Songwriter(s)Luther Dixon, Florence Greenberg
Producer(s)Luther Dixon
The Shirelles singles chronology
"Baby It's You"
(1962)		 "Soldier Boy"
(1962)		 "Welcome Home, Baby"
(1962)

Background

Record executive Florence Greenberg, founder of Scepter Records (the Shirelles' record label), wrote the song and was originally titled "I'll Be True To You". The main frame of the song's lyrics make no mention of a soldier. It was only in the studio that the Shirelles gave the song a much better title to reflect its narrative, the profession of someone's love for the titular soldier boy in which she promises to remain true to him while he's away.[1] The song was released as a single by The Shirelles in 1962 and met with great success, topping the US Billboard Hot 100.[2]

Charts
Chart (1962) Peak
position
New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade)[3] 1
US Billboard Hot 100 1
US R&B 3
UK Singles Chart 23

Cover versions
  • "Soldier Boy" was covered by American country music artist Donna Fargo in 1991. Her version peaked at number 71 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.[4]
  • It was covered by Diane Renay in 1964.
  • "Soldier Boy" was covered too by the Mexican children's group La Onda Vaselina in 1989, titled "Yo te esperaré" and adapted by the composer and Mexican singer Julissa.
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References
  1. The History of Rock and Roll Radio series, Bill Drake, 1978, Westwood One.
  2. "The Hot 100 - 1962 Archive | Billboard Charts Archive". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-04-14.
  3. Flavour of New Zealand, 14 June 1962
  4. Whitburn, Joel (2013). Hot Country Songs 1944–2012. Record Research, Inc. p. 115. ISBN 978-0-89820-203-8.


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