I am sure that Debbie Harry would have loved this song the moment she heard it! It has such a happy feel to it ! I love it too & almost 30 years later! But as they say, better late than never.
There are two songs titled 'Debbie" that are about Debbie Harry, this one and a later song by the B52s. Everyone makes covers into a competition about which version is "better", but they fail to appreciate that bands like to see their songs covered and brought to new audiences. This is a really cool example.
almost sounds like they're saying gabbi instead of debbie. lol but you can sing either one and it still sounds good. i got a crush on a girl named gabbi. lol maybe i'll play this for her and hope she doesn't find out the real title. lol long live randy and the rainbows
@Jovan14606 It was the times. Record labels and promoters wanted the next song of the artist or group to sound much like the first hit. That was the business in those days. If you hike around YouTube and play songs by groups especially, you will hear the spin-offs, recorded and produced in hopes they would attract the attention of the group's fans.
Thank you for the reply. The Blondie version of "Denise" slipped by me, though I've been a fan of the group since their beginnings. As I posted elsewhere,
"Denise" by Randy & the Rainbows was among the last of the great doo-wop songs, a genre essentially, and sadly, shattered by the emergence of the Beatles in early 1964...
The Blondie version was on "Plastic Letters," their second (and most overlooked) album...it too was a 45, heard occasionally in the US, but huge in the UK
I, also, have never heard this song before. It never charted in the Billboard top 100, so it may have been an album cut. In high school my girlfriend for three years was named Denise. My wife, the love of my life is named Debby.
The pen-ink-and-watercolour painting at 0:53 is *stunning* --- is this one of Warhol's portraits of her, also ? (I recognize the others that appear here.
This song had all the elements to be a great hit. Great lead, terriffic background harmony, very tight and a great arrangement. Song was on the Ambient album released in 1982.
Cool...used to have that LP...have the CD reissue (with the Mystics "Crazy For You" on one disc)...nice montage...does this old doo-wopper's heart good to see so many people keeping it alive...thanks for posting
Good post. Love The Mystics as well.. and Kudos to the YT Doo Wop "Resurrection" because it serves to educate and influence new generations. If you look hard enough, neo doo-wop is again being performed by young people and is happening in the underground right now. Try the Fabulous Harmonaires for starters.
Roberto,Debbie is a Jersey girl that was a CBGB sensation. Did you ever see the full picture of her at 0:57? These guys sound like The 4 Seasons. Great post.
Not the photo but I saw her in person in London many years ago; the band(from Queens) recorded this song to thank her for Blondie's cover of the great 1963 doo wop hit "Denise", and with this name I stop...lol..
Heheheheh . . . so, this really *was* a "thank-you" to Ms. Harry? The thought had crossed my mind, but didn't know the story for-sure. Thanks for a great song and slide-show, cogentcog --- "Oh, Debb-iee, doo- bee-doo, we're *still* in love with you :-) . . .", and with R&tR's harmonies!
@COGENTCOG Wow, this song really kicks! Randy & the Rainbows still got it! Whenever an early 60s rock group get back together years later, something almost always gets lost in time and the results are ususally disappointing at best. Not with Randy & the Rainbows. This song could pass as anything they did in 1963.
This is a real foot stomping, flag waiver.
johnnystaccata 3 months ago
I am sure that Debbie Harry would have loved this song the moment she heard it! It has such a happy feel to it ! I love it too & almost 30 years later! But as they say, better late than never.
longboarder771 4 months ago
That picture of her at the 1:09 to 1:15 mark (wearing the blue dress and holding her heard) is awesome!
coolsouthernrain75 5 months ago
@coolsouthernrain75 Totally agree!!
crazyromanian1 3 months ago
Abfanbloomintastic, never heard this version, love it
XJackaroo 9 months ago
ooo thats debbie harry
1954jer 10 months ago
When in 1982 was this released this song Debbie has a real 80s feel to it.
johnny10301968 11 months ago
Kind of too bad they sounded so much like the 4 Seasons because they might have skyrocketed.
MrDognapper 1 year ago
Oooh Deb-eee ooby-doo, I'm in love with you!
GordonMorrice 1 year ago
There are two songs titled 'Debbie" that are about Debbie Harry, this one and a later song by the B52s. Everyone makes covers into a competition about which version is "better", but they fail to appreciate that bands like to see their songs covered and brought to new audiences. This is a really cool example.
ihasch 1 year ago 3
awesome randy and the rainbows rocks
staticbear76 1 year ago 3
almost sounds like they're saying gabbi instead of debbie. lol but you can sing either one and it still sounds good. i got a crush on a girl named gabbi. lol maybe i'll play this for her and hope she doesn't find out the real title. lol long live randy and the rainbows
lostinthe50s81 1 year ago 2
this song is awsome so dose denise <3333
GreenBlossom45 1 year ago 2
Yes! Debbie, I really love you!
elvisguerra 2 years ago 3
Oh come on! "Denise", "Why Do Kids Grow Up" and "Debbie" sound the same! I understand why this is for Debbie, but come on!
Jovan14606 2 years ago
Let's be happy the group recorded this
having the same or similar sound. Even
though it is redundant, you got love it.
Thanks guys.
Persian1Cat 2 years ago 2
Lol Yeah, it is a good song tho!
Jovan14606 2 years ago
@Jovan14606 LOL! You're absolutely right!
sabinoson 2 years ago
@Jovan14606 It was the times. Record labels and promoters wanted the next song of the artist or group to sound much like the first hit. That was the business in those days. If you hike around YouTube and play songs by groups especially, you will hear the spin-offs, recorded and produced in hopes they would attract the attention of the group's fans.
Azishome 1 year ago
This is a great song! When was it released? It's similar to Randy & the Rainbows' 1963 beauty, "Denise." Never heard this one before!
50Emerald 2 years ago 3
In 1982. The close remembrance was intentional : they wanted to thank Debbie Harry for Blondie's successful cover of Denise (an hit again) in 1977.
COGENTCOG 2 years ago 3
Thank you for the reply. The Blondie version of "Denise" slipped by me, though I've been a fan of the group since their beginnings. As I posted elsewhere,
"Denise" by Randy & the Rainbows was among the last of the great doo-wop songs, a genre essentially, and sadly, shattered by the emergence of the Beatles in early 1964...
50Emerald 2 years ago 3
The Blondie version was on "Plastic Letters," their second (and most overlooked) album...it too was a 45, heard occasionally in the US, but huge in the UK
thecountofbasie 2 years ago
realeased as 'Denis' by Blondie, as in Dennis in french hench the french translation in the middle
wakinunu 2 years ago
debbie harry is russian
dasuit15 2 years ago
Check out the best of Acapella albums
1964-1966 from Relic.This was truly the last hurrah, before the revival. Darn those
british groups that stole our R & B
Persian1Cat 2 years ago
Actually that's just a rumor, I talked to Dominick "Randy" Safuto the other day and he told me it was just a coincidence.
bkm250 2 years ago
That's a very cool thing!
Fluffets 1 year ago 2
I, also, have never heard this song before. It never charted in the Billboard top 100, so it may have been an album cut. In high school my girlfriend for three years was named Denise. My wife, the love of my life is named Debby.
68enxy 2 years ago 2
It never charted, but this was released as a 45...I bought it long before I had the album...wish I still had my vinyl...sob...
thecountofbasie 2 years ago
The pen-ink-and-watercolour painting at 0:53 is *stunning* --- is this one of Warhol's portraits of her, also ? (I recognize the others that appear here.
sdingeswho 2 years ago
The photo of her at 1:27 is one of my all time favorites of her.
Soujurn 2 years ago
This song had all the elements to be a great hit. Great lead, terriffic background harmony, very tight and a great arrangement. Song was on the Ambient album released in 1982.
Howieshet 2 years ago 2
Cool...used to have that LP...have the CD reissue (with the Mystics "Crazy For You" on one disc)...nice montage...does this old doo-wopper's heart good to see so many people keeping it alive...thanks for posting
thecountofbasie 2 years ago 5
Good post. Love The Mystics as well.. and Kudos to the YT Doo Wop "Resurrection" because it serves to educate and influence new generations. If you look hard enough, neo doo-wop is again being performed by young people and is happening in the underground right now. Try the Fabulous Harmonaires for starters.
novapup2001 2 years ago 2
Interesting song. Sort of a cross between "Denise" and "Sherry". Me likey!
FastGMC364 3 years ago 4
I know the song Denise by Blondie but i always thought Debbie wrote it. Now i have to listen to the original.
JoeZChannel 3 years ago 2
check here on the right the one posted by 'soundofthecityboxset': it's great and has an incredible location!
COGENTCOG 3 years ago
Actually, Blondie's version was called "Denis" ... which I guess is the French for "Dennis" since part of her version is sung in French.
mkrobinson95 2 years ago 2
@JoeZChannel randy and the rainbows, the entire melody of this song IS Denise by randy and rainbows. :-)
vetb882 8 months ago
@JoeZChannel No, that was originally Randy and the Rainbows. Blondie did a decent cover.
Iknewb4udid 2 months ago
Roberto,Debbie is a Jersey girl that was a CBGB sensation. Did you ever see the full picture of her at 0:57? These guys sound like The 4 Seasons. Great post.
JoeZChannel 3 years ago 4
Not the photo but I saw her in person in London many years ago; the band(from Queens) recorded this song to thank her for Blondie's cover of the great 1963 doo wop hit "Denise", and with this name I stop...lol..
COGENTCOG 3 years ago
Heheheheh . . . so, this really *was* a "thank-you" to Ms. Harry? The thought had crossed my mind, but didn't know the story for-sure. Thanks for a great song and slide-show, cogentcog --- "Oh, Debb-iee, doo- bee-doo, we're *still* in love with you :-) . . .", and with R&tR's harmonies!
sdingeswho 2 years ago 2
@COGENTCOG Wow, this song really kicks! Randy & the Rainbows still got it! Whenever an early 60s rock group get back together years later, something almost always gets lost in time and the results are ususally disappointing at best. Not with Randy & the Rainbows. This song could pass as anything they did in 1963.
littlemikey1954 5 months ago