Bachelor Boy

Album: Summer Holiday (1962)
Charted: 1
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Released in November 1962, "Bachelor Boy" was the B Side of "The Next Time", both of which appeared in the 1963 musical Summer Holiday - a vehicle for Cliff. Co-written by the man himself and Shadows guitarist Bruce Welch, it turned out to be prophetic: Cliff never married, although Bruce did twice - and divorced twice! >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England
  • This was listed as a double A-side with the chart topping "The Next Time" from January 1963, making it Cliff Richard's only self penned #1.
  • Bruce Welch recalled in 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh: "Cliff was becoming a family entertainer and I thought 'Bachelor Boy' would be a great title for him. I wrote most of it and when I got stuck on one of the verses I got Cliff to help me out."
  • The song was only added as an afterthought to Summer Holiday. Remembered Welch: "The producers decided to add it to the film and so we did it in a mock-up of a roadside in Greece, which was done in the Elstree studios. That awful little dance is almost as embarrassing to me as hearing 'a wife and a child' because we had the stress on the wrong syllable."

Comments: 1

  • Zabadak from London, EnglandThe version in the film has a different vocal take.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Daniel Lanois

Daniel LanoisSongwriter Interviews

Daniel Lanois on his album Heavy Sun, and the inside stories of songs he produced for U2, Peter Gabriel, and Bob Dylan.

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The Remasters

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The RemastersSong Writing

Brian has unearthed outtakes by Fleetwood Mac, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Costello and hundreds of other artists for reissues. Here's how he does it.

Kelly Keagy of Night Ranger

Kelly Keagy of Night RangerSongwriter Interviews

Kelly Keagy of Night Ranger tells the "Sister Christian" story and explains why he started sweating when he saw it in Boogie Nights.

Kiss

KissFact or Fiction

Kiss is the subject of many outlandish rumors - some of which happen to be true. See if you can spot the fakes.

Trucking Songs That Were #1 Hits

Trucking Songs That Were #1 HitsSong Writing

The stories behind the biggest hit songs about trucking.

Booker T. Jones

Booker T. JonesSongwriter Interviews

The Stax legend on how he cooked up "Green Onions," the first time he and Otis Redding saw hippies, and if he'll ever play a digital organ.