Sugar Daddy

Album: You Can Get Crazy (1980)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Written by David Bellamy, "Sugar Daddy" finds The Bellamy Brothers (David and Howard) playing the part of a rich guy offering financial incentives to a young lady who has a taste for the finer things but would like a guy to pay for them, otherwise known as a sugar daddy.

    David got the idea for the song when The Bellamy Brothers were in the parking lot of a Howard Johnson's restaurant in Knoxville, Tennessee, and they spotted a couple who were having car trouble. The hood was up and the guy was trying to fix it without much luck. They started arguing, and the guy said, "You know, what you need is a new car." She replied, "No, what I need is a sugar daddy."
  • The Bellamy Brothers are most famous for their sunshiny 1976 hit "Let Your Love Flow." After that, they had a conflict with their record label an went in a country direction, landing a #1 Country hit with "If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body (Would You Hold It Against Me)" in 1979. "Sugar Daddy" was their second chart-topper on that tally. They remained a top draw through the '80s, notching eight more Country #1 hits.
  • By this time, the duo had their own band - the Dizzy Rambler Band - that they used both live and on their recordings. Most music coming out of Nashville at the time was backed by session pros. The Dizzy Rambler Band, which included the brothers Jesse (bass) and Carl (guitar) Chambers, started out as a cover band called Ron & The Starfires.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty

Rob Thomas of Matchbox TwentySongwriter Interviews

Rob Thomas on his Social Distance Sessions, co-starring with a camel, and his friendship with Carlos Santana.

Joe Jackson

Joe JacksonSongwriter Interviews

Joe talks about the challenges of of making a Duke Ellington tribute album, and tells the stories behind some of his hits.

Gary Louris of The Jayhawks

Gary Louris of The JayhawksSongwriter Interviews

The Jayhawks' song "Big Star" has special meaning to Gary, who explains how longevity and inspiration have trumped adulation.

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)Song Writing

How a gym teacher, a janitor, and a junkie became part of some very famous band names.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s EditionMusic Quiz

You know the scenes - Tom Cruise in his own pants-off dance off, Molly Ringwald celebrating her birthday - but do you remember what song is playing?

The Evolution of "Ophelia"

The Evolution of "Ophelia"Song Writing

How five songs portray Shakespeare's character Ophelia.