Little Children

Album: The Definitive Collection (1964)
Charted: 1 7
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Songfacts®:

  • This was written by Mort Shuman and John Leslie McFarland. Shuman had written hits for Elvis Presley.
  • This is about a guy who tries to convince his girlfriend's younger siblings to keep quiet so he doesn't get in trouble.
  • Kramer was a British Rail fitter until Beatles manager Brian Epstein signed him in 1963. Epstein put him with the Manchester group The Dakotas and got them to record some songs written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. They immediately scored a #2 UK hit with "Do You Want To Know a Secret," the first ever cover of a Lennon and McCartney song to chart. The follow up "Bad To Me," which was written specifically by John Lennon for the group, became their first UK chart topper. After another Lennon and McCartney Top Five single, "I'll Keep You Satisfied," they recorded this, which became their second UK #1 hit and their first American hit.
  • Kramer's real name is William Ashton. John Lennon suggested adding the "J" so he would stand out from other singers with the same last name. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England, for all above

Comments: 8

  • Multi-purpose Biped from Spain@Jennifur Sun from Ramona I can't tell you the name of the player but that guitar is unmistakeably a Rickenbacker 12-string as later made famous by George Harrison and the Byrds. This could well be one of the first hits with that iconic guitar.
  • AnonymousBrings back good memories. Love it
  • Jennifur Sun from RamonaDoes anyone know who played on this song, especially the lead guitar part?
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn June 7th 1964, Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas performed "Little Children" on CBS-TV program 'The Ed Sullivan Show'...
    Two months earlier on April 12th it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #87; and on June 7th it peaked at #7 (for 1 week) and spent 15 weeks on the Top 100...
    The record's B-side, "Bad To Me", also made the Top 10, on July 28th it reached #9 (for 2 weeks) and stayed on the chart for 10 weeks...
    And on March 21st "Little Children" peaked at #1 (for 1 week) on the United Kingdom's Singles chart...
    "Bad To Me" also reached #1 in the U.K.; it peaked on August 24th, 1963 (for 2 weeks).
  • Steve Dotstar from Los Angeles, CaIn an era (British Invasion) when everone was wearing their hair long. here comes this good looking, clean cut guy with a pompador fronting a band of long haired musicians...Ironic, since he was so close to The Beatles And their management He made some cool records..
  • Phil from Palatine, IlThe "Buckingham" moniker came from their hometown - Chicago's famous Buckingham Fountain.
  • Alan from Sault Ste. Marie, OnAn American band wanted record buyers to think they were English to cash in on the British Invasion hence "The Buckinghams". An English band wanted people to think of them as American hence "The Nashville Teens". Go figure!!
  • Andrew from London, EnglandThis is thee very earliest song I remember at no1 in the charts. I think it knocked Cilla Black off the top spot. Funny how such an english band can sound so American (e.g. lines like "a quarter", names like Dakotas). I always thought they were americanos!
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