hurricane smith oh babe what would you say

[socialworker1963]

This song takes me back, way back to a more innocent time

[stephenl181]

A solid song. Retro driven 30's style in the late 60's managed to hit top 40~~

[junkdeal]

@jasonwheel I posted to you once before about that, and you're so right! Hand-over-hand-over-hand to turn a corner, and then back, trails of rust after a couple years, tune-ups every couple thousand miles, and getting stuck in 1 inch of snow! That's really because of the advances in tires. A little-known fact, tires have come a million years since then! It's hard to see just by looking! (round and black!) I forgot what it's like to be stuck now! And I'm a wild dude in my travels! Not scared!

[jasonwheel]

those old cars were nice to look at but they got terrible gas mileage, no traction with the rear wheel drive and were as unreliable as hell. best thing about them is they're gone.

[centralparocker]

8 people didn't know what to say....heh heh....

[stevebeagle]

jeez i'm old.

[ronnied828]

this guy produced some of the Beatles albums also !

[shermanvermin76]

@crazeenydriver No it's 1972.

[imajeepster]

@crazeenydriver

i think 72 or 73...

[imajeepster]

I love classic cars...i remember seeing them on the streets when I was a kid! and combined with that song, it's perfect. I now have tears in my eyes.

[junkdeal]

@THECUB43 little late to answer this one, but late '72 was a tough winter, and I remember driving my pickup somewhere on Christmas eve with a lot of snow on the road, and I was kickin' it up and fishtailing around with this song on the radio. It didn't chart out probably until Jan. or Feb. of '73. My mother was fascinated with this song because it was said the singer was like 80 years old, and it was his first song, true or not...

[tmtmoormr]

i wanna go back to the 1970s ..oh wait i just did!!!!!!!!thank you sooooo much for posting this song

[edhauw]

got to love this song ( :

[Glamagal20091]

Fantastic. Superb. I loved all of Hurricane Smith's records.

[MatrixRefugee]

1972.. wow, it sounds like something out of a 1930's Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers movie. Never knew who sang this one! I thought it was a cover of something from the Jazz Age. Thanks for sharing!

[FIREBLADEONE]

Reached number 4 in the UK charts April 1972. Hurricane worked on many Beatles tracks in the 60's, very talented man, RIP.

[BUDDIESII]

NICE SONG BUT THE CARS ARE NO BIG SHAKE WHY IS THAT???/

[DaveWollenberg]

Norman hit #3 in Bilboard, 2-17-73. God bless ya, for postin' it. Thanx! RIP, Hurricane.

[apol77lo]

@crazeenydriver

It was 1972 and may have carried over into 73.

[Ezdduf4kuZ]

@apol77lo The fact that it was released & first heard in late dec 1972 didn't mean it was a big hit that year at all. Apparently here in Vancouver Canada, this top 10 hit by Hurricain made it to #3 in mid feb '73. It was at #3 for 2 wks & in the top 10 for 5 weeks in early 1972 & was the #31....that's right it was #31 on the top 100 hits of '73. By the way #1 on the C-FUN chart for '73 was Dawn & "Tie a Yellow Ribbon" & interesting enough #100 was "Hell On Wheels" by Paul McCartney.

[apol77lo]

@Ezdduf4kuZ

I appreciate receiving the detailed facts. Indeed, you are right, 73 deserves the credit. Already, cobwebs are forming of those years. But 72 and 73 were 2 of my favorite years for music. WLOB in Portland Maine did not always play the national best sellers. it sometimes promoted things that never saw the light of day across the country. for instance, Edward Bear's YOu, Me, and Mexico was played here like crazy and I liked it a lot. But outside of Portland, unheard of almost. Later!

[Ezdduf4kuZ]

@apol77lo I appreciate feedback, and your's is definetly of a positive nature. I haven't played this video since my last comment, when I noticed yours. Yep, I'm from Vancouver Cda...it's interesting that theres also a Van.WA, a suburb of urs but in a different state. Interesting is the fact that many Canadian artists don't get played south of the line but Edward did with that song...but only in Portland hey? Terry Black & Bobby Curtola were early Cdn rockers(60/65)..know 'em? THX

[apol77lo]

@Ezdduf4kuZ

Don't know the names mentioned but Rick Snyder was probably running WLOB and he had a good knack in catering to Southern Maine tastes. Anne Murray had Snowbird in 1970 but it was not played in Portland till early 74, I think. So one never knows how the music industry will go. I know there were some stations in other parts of the USA that also catered to local tastes or even bribes. Hey, its all good. I know Nova Scotia CA well. My father was born there and we went there often.

[JohnnyDCalabria]

I just fired my shrink. Thank You Hurricane and RIP!

[pashaune]

It actually came out in 1972, but it's still good to hear it!

[puzleman1]

he had a terrible voice.....but his voice in this song earned him a platnium album

[ronnied828]

always loved this song......i remember hearing this when it first came out in the early seventies and thinking it sounded like an arrangement from the 1940s or something !

[VancouverTVGuy]

If Louis Armstrong had lived long enough to hear this song be released, I could imagine him doing a cover of it. It sounds just like the kind of tune he would've performed back in his heyday.

[THECUB43]

My daughter was only 2 years old if this came out in 1973, I guess that's why I don't remember it.. I was more into the oldies and mototwon ..but I love this song and am happy to know it now...I can now relate it to my beautiful DAUGHTER JACQUI...MOM LOVES YOU BABY...EVEN THO YOUR GOI G ON 40 YEARS OLD THIS YEAR..A MOTHER'S LOVE NEVER STOPS..ONLY GROWS STRONGER & STRONGER..YEAR AFGTER YEAR & THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME 3 BEAUTIFUL GRANDKIDS....THEY OWN MY HEART...AS DO YOU!!!!!!

[mratfauver]

@THECUB43 Maybe crazeenydriver can't confirm it, but I can. This song was released in 1973, and according to the Billboard Book of #1 Hits, it ranked number 52 for the year.

[ytooSolleH]

step grandads brother we miss you R.I.P

[Haroldscross63]

Thats a fucking horrible voice.

[THECUB43]

@Haroldscross63 Harold...a year ago I would have said the same thing, but after listening to his words & the melodey, I most admit that I fell in love with this song..don't care for any of his other songs..he looks awful & sounds awful ( God forgive me for speaking of the dead)...But only this song has a certain something that made me open my heart to it..I'm a Golden oldies & motwon Girl..all the way..Thanks for lostening to me..have a wonderful week............

[Gollum0786]

If a lover/ friend ever sang a song like this to me, I would not "politely turn away," I'd run from him as fast as my legs could carry me. He uses the worst pickup lines ever!!!! Gawd! Flowers every day?  HAHAHA Maybe I'm allergic

[jackierave]

@THECUB43  1972 :)

[JarheadPatriot0311]

This came out in early 1973. I was 14 at the time and remember having the Chicken pox and staying home from school and Los Angeles radio station AM93 KHJ would play it a lot. Funny how a song can take you back to a certain time and place.

[jasonwheel]

love those old cars. lousy mileage, unreliable, rear wheel drive...tires spinning in the snow...but that's the way it was.

[junkdeal]

@jasonwheel Haha! I agree! Compared to cars now, those things were junks! Nothing was angled right or was in correct reach (ergonomics), needed tune-ups often to run right, automatic chokes that didn't work right, steering that didn't feel responsive or felt like you really had to pay attention, and uncomfortable mostly to sit in. Today, cars last forever it seems. I buy rats to drive and use for tool wagons, mobile scaffolds, and battering rams, and go 100,000 miles with NO maintenance!

[Chimbo65]

@THECUB43

1974

[flibideegibbit]

@THECUB43 -- yes, early 73 if i remember correctly.

[joni2691]

Every time I hear this song it's feels like a cold, chilly day..in the winter. Maybe the song came out in the winter, I supposed?

[Mr1973ian]

@crazeenydriver 1972 actually. Pure quality nonetheless :-) Pax to all from 'SoulBoy'Smith.Xxx.

[BBQFanNo1]

@THECUB43 February-March 1973

[Mr1973ian]

@BBQFanNo1 It was 1972 not 1973. Pax to all from 'SoulBoy'Smith.Xxx.

[BBQFanNo1]

@Mr1973ian The song peaked in February 1973. Please check Joel Whitborn's Billboard Hot 100 Book.

[Mr1973ian]

@BBQFanNo1 It was 1972 in England matey boy ! Pax to all from 'SoulBoy'Smith.Xxx.

[BBQFanNo1]

@Mr1973ian I will give you the website and address so you can check the record yourself. In the U.S. it peaked in February 1973 on the Billboard.

[Mr1973ian]

@BBQFanNo1 Yes,but not in Britain it was 1972 here!.Pax to all from'SoulBoy'Smith.Xxx.

[BBQFanNo1]

@Mr1973ian It definately was first charted in 1972 in Great Britain. I wonder why it was charted higher at #3 in the U.S. because I was surprised it did. I thought it would actually do just as well charted in the U.K. as in the U.S. being that the song writer Norman Smith wrote for the Beatles Rubber Soul Album.

[Mr1973ian]

@BBQFanNo1 Not sure why that was buddy, it's been nice chatting with you. What other stuff do you like? I like most 70's stuff. Especially 1970- 1975.Pax to all from 'SoulBoy'Smith.Xxx.

[BBQFanNo1]

@Mr1973ian Everything from Rock to Pop to Soul to Blues.

[Mr1973ian]

@BBQFanNo1 Have you heard of Clifford T. Ward? Pax to all from 'SoulBoy'Smith.Xxx.

[Mr1973ian]

@BBQFanNo1 Hi there again from Mr1973ian. I'm really enjoying our little chat across the 'pond' ! I really don't need your kind offer of the website address,as I'm only refering to the British chart history of this record, which is as follows.It first entered the British B.B.C.chart on 29th April1972 and stayed on the chart for sixteen weeks (halfway through August) of 1972. So in Britain this record never charted in 1973.Glad to have cleared this up for you! Pax to all from 'SoulBoy'Smith Xxx

[TheKIddrockz]

im sorry 4 whateva i did r u ever gonna 4give me

[THECUB43]

THANKS...

[jimmyhd1969]

@THECUB43 It was 1973. 

[Fiftiesflashback]

Although I always liked the melody of this song, at 19 I never fully appreciated how beautiful and expressive the lyrics really are. It's too bad youth is wasted on the young.

[YLGersdorf]

I have ALWAYS LOVED this song!!!!!!!!!!

[xevcosmo]

@THECUB43 Yes Early 1973 and did make it to the top 10 in February and March, great song.

[hidoll22]

Poor man died earler this year. R.I.P Hurricane:-)

[stevefraser123]

its so different never heard it before its great breath of wind a hurricane better than brinney spears stevey

[Jibjub80]

I cannot believe anyone actually enjoys this song. Smith's voice is so GRATING that it isn't even funny, and the lyrics are silly as well. If somebody sang this song to me, I'd greet that person, and CURTLY turn away.

[224clb22]

I NEVER get tired of listening to this one. My 45 os so worn and scratched. Thank you

[THECUB43]

I love the song & the cars only add to the time when the song came out these cars were old when this car came out--what a great combo!!

[anthonytorelli]

WABC MusicRadio 77 Survey for Week of 6 February 1973

3. Oh, Babe, What Would You Say? - Hurricane Smith (Capitol

[SICCMADEXIV]

i like dis when i was a small child my daddy use 2 sing dis 2 my mother when she got mad at him it always worked all three or us would dance together nice memories

[pernelldh]

I mean formerly named "Jukebox From Hell"

[pernelldh]

When Sirius and XM merged the 70's music channel has a new name called 70s on 7, this same song is still part of a new name called Jukebox of Forgotten 45s, formally named Jukebox from Hell.

[bluevin123]

he looks like jason king but norman had more talent a true pro.

[Aerosmith20008]

R.I.P Norman "Hurricane" Smith, beuatiful song, Beautiful man

[cherrialbum]

Thanks for sharing!!

R.I.P Norman "Hurricane" Smith!!

[Aerosmith20008]

your welcome

[primeralives]

It came out early in 1973

[Bolts4Nuts]

I dig it dude. Always a Fine song. Nice video.

[clearcoat2000]

Great song. Recorded in 1972 by Norman Smith who worked as producer with The Beatles and Pink Floyd. When this song went number one John Lennon and Yoko Ono sent him a congratulatory telegram.

[cadebra1961]

This song kicks ASS!! I remember it when I was a little kid, when Rock music was huge, yet this song made me swoon and sway. Thanks for posting!

[THECUB43]

I just can't styop listening to this song. I love it--& the man who sent it to me, you know who you are baby.

[we0905]

quinn8357...I too was 15....but i don't miss it. I do, however, miss these great tunes! Thank you crazeenydriver <--love the name (lol) for the upload! Great tune!

[Mrveendam]

My first car ever was a 1971 Cougar.Boy i miss those day!!

[bluestreakbuck]

Thanks very much, c'mon you can't help but to feel good

[quinn8357]

I miss being 15 in 1972.

[clarky00000]

ur a rat

[BabyGirlKs]

Thank you!

[connies419]

@BabyGirlKs

Thanks from me, too! I remember that when this came out and I was 23 or so, even my FATHER liked it! LOL A new hit song in the early 70s that my FATHER liked ..... now that was an event. :-)

[zillabob]

Yep. SOng is available on several of those "Have a Nice Day-hits of the 70's" CD sets. What's weird is that I ALWAYS thought of "New York City"(66 WNNNBC AM)etc and here someone is kind if thinking kind of the same thing!One hit wonder but whatta hit!!!

[224clb22]

My 45 of this great oldie is scratched and worn. Thank you YouTube and thank you for posting this. He had a great hit of his own without the Beatles. Rip Hurricane Smith =)

[girlswithcurlsrock]

Soooo romantic...transports me to another time...always liked this song!!!

[THECUB43]

--OH MY GOD HOW VERY MUCH I'M ADDICTED TO THIS SONG!!--ANYONE KNOW WHERE i CAN BUY IT??

[Beejjjjjj]

There's a CD called "Hard to Find 45s on CD, Volume 8: Seventies Pop Classics" that contains this song, as well as 19 other equally great (and somewhat forgotten) tunes. The website cduniverse sells it.

[clarky00000]

ur a bitch

[rockyp1960]

fuckin tits dude

[darrelincanada]

I loved this song when it 1st came out I was 15 and it brings a smile to my face, now that the numbers of my age are transposed 3 dozen years later

[mackemlad888]

Simply wonderful. Rest in peace, Norman "Hurricane" Smith.

[rebbaniml]

It's 1972.

[GRAZIERS77]

Brilliant.

[THECUB43]

Great song with fabulous music in background, Love those horns and volins!!!!!

[doctersheeba101]

Thanks so much I can see my Daddy dancing with my Momma

[THECUB43]

Ok thank you crazeenydriver. Great Song! I LOVE the Cars in the back! reminds me of when I was in my early 20's.

[THECUB43]

LOVE THIS SONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[224clb22]

Something of Hurricane's...seperate from the Beattles and what a great song it is. Huge hit way back when. Always a favorite. :D

[PJCoan]

What na happy, great song! I remember listening to this on AM radio while my mom drove me to school in the station wagon. She would sing it. A happier, simpler time- now gone.

[relmz441]

ya a time i wish i was living in again

[mrzbomb]

I found his lp in a record store a couple of years ago and bought it for a dollar. I couldn't quite place the name or face but there was a vague association with high school days and it was only a dollar so, what the hell. Yesterday I was brousing my collection of old lp's ( I still haven't bought a turntable) and I decided, just for fun, to google Smith. I found this video and suddenly it all came back to me. Thank you for your poignant comment, PJ. Yes, they were happier, simpler times.

[martdelcat]

Damn, I remembr that song.......Thanks for posting it.

[captdavid100]

Great sax. And than one two beat. Combined with special lyrics, a unique voice and those magical sweeping violins playing counterpoint. What a beautiful song. And all of those great memories it stirs. RIP.

[brougham89]

Listening to that sax and those violins really take you away from reality. Im in my own world when listening to Norman Smith.

[magan427]

I remember this song as a child. Ironically it was my Uncle Georges favorite sond.

Thank You for posting this song!

[crazyjosiah]

Hurricane Smith has a cartoonish voice

[primeralives]

Sweet memories of Jr High school in 1973. God how I miss those days and the music.

[shauna60]

¡Beautiful song, and great times!!

[dwhealy0724]

Great video.

Unfortunately, Norman (Hurricane) Smith passed away in March of 2008

Dan Healy - Pensacola, Florida

[stixmix2375]

Sorry, lots of spelling mistakes - oops

[stixmix2375]

Haven't long discovered the delights of you tube and have been collecting songs like these from my memories. This is such a beutiful song, it may not be technically or lrrically the best but it captures something others can't and it never fails to raise goosepimples. So sad to hear of his death but his music lives on and that's something to celebrate in itself.

[FionaSeinfeld]

Saxophone players.  Sorry.

[FionaSeinfeld]

Should be taught to all Middle School and High School saxaphone players. A tour de force.

[sophiesmom7]

I first heard this song just a couple of years ago. Absolutely love it. Play it over and over. Reminds me of the old Busby Berkey (1930's)films. Anyone else remember them?

[sophiesmom7]

I first heard this song just a couple of years ago. I love it, play it over and over. It reminds me of something from an old Busby Berkley film (1930's). Anyone else remember them?

[closedcircle1]

Does anyone have the other side of this....called 'getting to know you.'

[Jibjub80]

Looks like somebody rated my comments at -1.

I heard that his girlfriend was about to dump him, and he wrote this song. If he sang this to me, I would not politely turn away. I'd call 911.

This is NOT the best music ever, and to write, "the best music ever" is a fragment, not a complete sentence.

[sarahknight07]

i cant believe hes died! how old was he!!omg going to heaven seems so much easier now i can find him to serenade me!!!!!hurricaine wait for me!!!!!!dnt find sum floozy in heaven im yr greatest fan!!

[Jibjub80]

Man, is this guy's voice grating! He's worse than Fran Drescher, and the lyrics are incredibly corny. How could you "walk with somebody along the milky way?" Answer me that.

[sarahknight07]

why ya listening then?????the best music ever!!

[marym2222]

am so sorry to the family for the loss of such a magnificent and beautiful musician, Norman, that passed this March 3, 08. I was amazed to discover his age and that he had performed as recently as last year in NJ, truly marvelous!!! I thank him for writing such inspirational songs with awesome memories...you will be missed. God bless you in heave...

[clisaj]

Why, why why do I remember this song? Was it a big hit? It jogged my memory last night when I was watching a repeat of Frasier. He was singing it to some chick???

[224clb22]

LOL I saw that last night too. It's a difficult song to sing but he did a good job and yes this was a big hit way back when. Hurricane Smith was the sound man for the Beattles and he just died this year. RIP I never get tired of hearing it!!!!

[tigersan22]

I saw that too... that's what brought me here

[KaiseRex42]

Its like swimming in chocolate! Simply . . Wonderful!

[gusgorilla76]

Wow! All those memories, all those cars! One of my great delights would be driving along in an Iso Grifo with this classic song and others like it on the radio.

[Suki40330]

Hurricaine Smith is a talented musician who is very underrated. Have you all heard his song "Take Suki Home"?

[pernelldh]

Love that song. This song is featured on SIRIUS Satellite Radio's Totally 70s in a segment called "Jukebox From Hell".

[lnmyownwrite]

Guess you need to go watch porn then and not music videos.

[lnmyownwrite]

This is so great! I was just talking about this song with a friend of mine. He didn't know that Hurricane Smith had even made a record, never mind had a hit record. I have this song on 45. The Beatles connection certainly didn't hurt him. Love this song, thanks for posting. :)

[ffairlane57]

I remember this. It's like Randy Newman playing with a bunch of helium balloons.

[jmgtv18]

Wonderful Memories the minute you hear a song you love you remember exactly what you were doing when you first heard it one of my favorites ever. I said EVER DAMIT!!

[GRAZIERS77]

What a lovely voice this man has. Excellent 70s record.

[psychoweird]

I love the song and I love the

killer SAX BREAK in the middle

of the song. When life is hard

and terrible for me, songs like

this give me the courage to

FIGHT ON !! psy ch o we ird

[rocsthedog]

Just seen Hurricane had died. RIP Norman, your songs are still among my favs from a youngster and are still great today and Dont let it Die should be the anthem for the planet

[MutantLarva]

great ...r.i.p. norman smith...rubber soul wouldn't sound as good without you at the recording desk and oh those great mic placements...my fave on this clip is the "j.d. tippet" dallas police cruiser...i can just see lee harvey running from it...great sax solo on the song...

[MutantLarva]

great ...r.i.p. norman smith...rubber soul wouldn't sound as good without you at the recording desk and oh those great mic placements...my fave on this clip is the "j.d. tippet" dallas police cruiser...i can just see lee harvey running from it...great sax solo on the song...

[theshaggg]

Thank you, Normal. Respectfully, J. Lennon

[curlycreature]

It is better than pictures of gurning babies .. but not much.

[mal334455]

A Classic song that will last forever....RIP Hurricane..

[captainmidnight1967]

RIP Norman. Beautiful song.

[scottrollinstube]

man i feel like a wuss cause this song and Normans passing just makes me feel like crying

[dixielander27]

wicked video and wicked song, love it - memories!!

[flibideegibbit]

When i first heard this, back in 1973, I pictured someone like Fats Domino. And what do we get? A white guy who looks like he's on welfare.

Talent has many faces, many of which go unseen.

[labambawatusi]

that was so funny, (but mean) (but funny)

[margatelad]

take your comments and shove them sideways up your stinking fucking arse, you cocksucking wanker

[flibideegibbit]

same  2 u

[purpendicular69]

margatelad..I wish people like you would say what you think, and not sit on the fence.

[flibideegibbit]

i was in 9th grade when this came out, it was so unusual, a big band arrangement on the Top 40. Did'nt know he passed, RIP.

[fjbutch]

great music Hurricane, may you Rest in peace.

[rogertrew]

This song goes way back to my childhood. Hurricane is a legend who will always be remembered. RIP

[leeinalbox]

We knew Norman as a friend and neighbour in Newdigate some years ago. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Eilean and all the family. Jacque and family.

[crazeenydriver]

hi to everyone who has commented on the passing of this great man. He will never be duplicated, just imitated! peace all

[barchardy]

i will never forget you hurricane. bought all the singles and have the rae dont let it die lp.any fans of hurricane please post , i would love to chat. the b side of this is amazing

[badgersbits]

Great Sax, unique voice. Good one Norman. RIP. Condolences to his family.

[57highland]

You're right on the mark. The sax and voice were perfect together. The violins too.

[charlesmannering]

Fantastic song, I've loved it since I was a kid - and what a great voice. Up to reading teletext yesterday I never connected "Hurricane" with "Norman" and ever realised how significant he was in the development of pop music.

[romanyman]

GREAT SONG ! My mum got me this after I had 3 teeth out as a litttle kid to cheer me up.Lovely stuff ,great memories

[exprez100]

A beautiful piece of music.

Rest In Peace Normal Norman.

You were a genius.

Much Love.

[57highland]

It's quite possible that Mr. Smith was the 5th Beatle!

[payitforwardeddie]

He was about 50 when he recorded this.

RIP Norman.

[224clb22]

Rest in peace Norman. We loved your talent. Condolances to his family.