Oh Babe What Would You Say by Hurricane Smith

Album: From Me To You (1972)

Charted: 4 3

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Songfacts®:

This recording was a demo of a song that Smith had written for a different artist to record. When he played it for Mickie Most, the record producer was impressed enough to tell him to release it as it was.
Smith said about this song: "The melody was happy and simple. It was the producer in me that designed the lyric to recapture the era I grew up in. It's almost a true story of my life. I would go to a ballroom, but I was so shy I couldn't even ask someone to dance. I'd walk home imagining a romance when I'd never even reached first base. 'Oh, Babe' was about those fantasies."
Born Norman Smith in northern England, he took up the "Hurricane Smith" moniker from a 1952 film. Smith worked as an engineer on all the Beatles' sessions between 1962 and 1965 when EMI promoted him to producer. The last Beatles album he recorded was Rubber Soul. In the late '60s Smith produced Pink Floyd's early albums and one of the first rock concept albums, The Pretty Things' S.F. Sorrow. Smith later appeared on albums by Teardrop Explodes and Julian Cope. He died on March 3, 2008.
When this knocked Elton John's "Crocodile Rock" off #1 on the Cashbox charts in the US, John Lennon sent a telegram to congratulate Smith.

Comments: 10

Barry from Sauquoit, NyConcerning the 2nd post below; on the same March 3rd, 1973 'Bandstand' show he also performed "Who Was It?"; and eight days later on March 11th, 1973 it entered the Top 100 at position #87, and six weeks later on April 22nd, 1973 it would peak at #49 {for 1 week} and spent 9 weeks on the Top 100...
And exactly thirty-five years after this appearance on "Bandstand", on March 3rd, 2008, Norman 'Hurricane' Smith passed away at the age of 85.
Ricky from Ohsweken, Ontario CanadaTakes me back to when I when I was WAY younger & I still like it now at 45. GREAT song!
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 3rd 1973, Hurrricane Smith performed "Oh, Babe, What Would You Say" on the ABC-TV program 'American Banstand'...
At the time it was at position #15 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart (See post below).
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 11th 1973, "Oh, Babe, What Would You Say" by Hurricane Smith peaked at #3 (for 1 week) on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; it had entered the chart on November 26th, 1972 at position #74 and spent 15 weeks on the Top 100 (and for 5 of those 15 weeks it was on the Top 10)...
He had one other Top 100 hit, "Who Was It?", it reached #49 and stayed on the chart for 9 weeks...
R.I.P Mr. Smith, born Norman Smith, (1923 - 2008).
James from Diamond Bar, CaBeautiful- just a time machine- for those who were there- I was 6 years old- hearing this playing in the Kitchen on my great grandma's 1944 radio - off of K.H.J - Los Angeles- Christmas Eve- 1972- Lotta memories, a lotta tears- Thanks Hurricane Smith
Esskayess from Dallas, TxThis song makes my ears bleed. Ohhh, the pain...
Steve from Whittier, Ca3/21/10
This was used a few years ago in the Drew Barrymore and Jommy Fallon movie, "Fever Pitch" [a baseball comedy].
Shirley from Beach Park, IlI woke up this morning and this song was in my head. I hadn't thought of it in years. It brings back bittersweet memories of my Dad. When my sister would play this song, Dad would get up and dance around the room :) I can still see him. He and my mom use to go dancing in the 40's and early 50's. They're both gone now, so remembering this song this morning sure put a smile on my face!
Rachel from North Jersey, NjMy neightbor has been talking about this song for months. I finally heard it today. it made me chuckle.
Brian from Boston, MaCheck out Hurricane's wonderful performance on the "Tonite Show" (Johnny Carson) via youtube. I like "Oh Babe" even more after seeing it.

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