Lesley Gore was a major star back in the mid-60s, much bigger than one today might imagine. Today’s classic song of the day is one of her biggest hits, “Maybe I Know.” Released in July of 1964, this single went all the way to #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #10 on the Cash Box Top 100.
“Maybe I Know” was written by the Brill Building hitmaking team of Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich. Quincy Jones produced the recording, with an arrangement by Claus Ogerman. In addition to being released as a single, “Maybe I Know” was included on Ms. Gore’s 1964 album, Girl Talk, which also included another hit single, “Look of Love.”
Like I said, Lesley Gore was a major force in pop music back in the immediate pre- and post-Beatles days. Her first hit, “It’s My Party,” was a #1 smash hit right out of the gate, and she racked up a total of 11 top forty hits from 1963 to 1967: “It’s My Party,” “Judy’s Turn to Cry,” “She’s a Fool,” “You Don’t Own Me,” “That’s the Way Boys Are,” “I Don’t Wanna Be a Loser,” “Maybe I Know,” “Look of Love,” “Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows,” “My Town, My Guy and Me,” and “California Nights.” She kept recording through the 1970s and performing her entire life. She passed away in 2015 of lung cancer; she was 68 years old.
Lesley Gore was a dynamic performer, as witnessed by today’s daily bonus video of the day. It’s Lesley Gore singing “Maybe I Know” at the legendary T.A.M.I Show, recorded in late October of 1964 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. The audience went wild for her. And, yes, that’s the Wrecking Crew backing her up, with Jack Nitzsche on keyboards (and acting as musical director), Leon Russell on piano, Glen Campbell and Tommy Tedesco on guitars, Lyle Ritz on bass, and Hal Blaine on drums.
