"Come Go With Me" is a song written by C. E. Quick (a.k.a. Clarence Quick), an original member (bass vocalist) of the American

doo-wop Doo-wop (also spelled doowop and doo wop) is a genre of rhythm and blues music that originated in African-American communities during the 1940s, mainly in the large cities of the United States, including New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chica ...

vocal group the Del-Vikings. The song was originally recorded by The Del-Vikings (leadsinger Norman Wright) in 1956 but not released until July 1957 on the Luniverse LP "Come Go With The Del Vikings". When Joe Averbach, the owner of Fee Bee Records couldn't handle the demand, he signed with

Dot Records Dot Records was an American record label founded by Randy Wood (record producer), Randy Wood and Gene Nobles that was active between 1950 and 1978. The original headquarters of Dot Records were in Gallatin, Tennessee. In 1956, the company moved ...

in late January 1957; the song became a hit, peaking at No. 5 on the US ''Billboard'' Top 100. It also reached #2 on the R&B chart. "Come Go with Me" and another 8 songs were recorded in the basement of

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...

disc jockey Barry Kaye. These recordings were released in 1992 as "1956 Audition Tapes". The song was later featured in the films ''

American Graffiti ''American Graffiti'' is a 1973 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film directed by George Lucas, produced by Francis Ford Coppola, written by Willard Huyck, Gloria Katz and Lucas, and starring Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard (billed as Ronn ...

'' (1973), ''

Diner A diner is a small, inexpensive restaurant found across the United States, as well as in Canada and parts of Western Europe. Diners offer a wide range of foods, mostly American cuisine, a casual atmosphere, and, characteristically, a co ...

'' (1982), '' Stand by Me'' (1986), ''

Joe Versus the Volcano ''Joe Versus the Volcano'' is a 1990 American romantic comedy film written and directed by John Patrick Shanley and starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Hanks plays a man who, after being told he is dying of a rare disease, accepts a financial offe ...

'' (1990), and '' Set It Up'' (2018). It was included in

Robert Christgau Robert Thomas Christgau ( ; born April 18, 1942) is an American music journalist and essayist. Among the most well-known and influential music critics, he began his career in the late 1960s as one of the earliest professional rock critics and ...

's "Basic Record Library" of 1950s and 1960s recordings, published in '' Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies'' (1981). It sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc. ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its co ...

'' magazine ranked the song No. 449 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

The Beach Boys version

"Come Go With Me" was later

covered Cover or covers may refer to: Packaging * Another name for a lid * Cover (philately), generic term for envelope or package * Album cover, the front of the packaging * Book cover or magazine cover ** Book design ** Back cover copy, part of ...

by American rock band

the Beach Boys The Beach Boys are an American Rock music, rock band that formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The group's original lineup consisted of brothers Brian Wilson, Brian, Dennis Wilson, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and frie ...

and was included on their 1978 album, '' M.I.U. Album''. Although not released as a single at the time, the song was included on a Beach Boys compilation album, '' Ten Years of Harmony'', in 1981. After being released as a single to promote the compilation, it rose to No. 18 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart in January 1982. According to Al Jardine, he requested bandmate

Brian Wilson Brian Douglas Wilson (born June 20, 1942) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who co-founded the Beach Boys. Often called a genius for his novel approaches to pop composition, extraordinary musical aptitude, and m ...

to contribute the horn arrangement; Wilson devised it on the spot at

Sunset Sound Recorders Sunset Sound Recorders is a recording studio in Hollywood, California, United States located at 6650 Sunset Boulevard. Background The Sunset Sound Recorders complex was created by Walt Disney's Director of Recording, Tutti Camarata, from a coll ...

while dressed in a bathrobe.

Personnel

Partial credits from 2000 liner notes. The Beach Boys *

- horn arrangement * Mike Love - backing vocals * Al Jardine - lead vocals, electric rhythm guitar, bass guitar *

Carl Wilson Carl Dean Wilson (December 21, 1946 – February 6, 1998) was an American musician, singer, and songwriter who co-founded the Beach Boys. He was their lead guitarist, the youngest sibling of bandmates Brian and Dennis, and the group's ''de ...

- backing vocals, electric lead guitar * Dennis Wilson – drums Additional musicians *Michael Andreas – saxophone, horn arrangements * Charles Lloyd – saxophone *Lance Buller – trumpet *John Foss – trumpet *Rod Novak – saxophone *Charlie McCarthy – saxophone *Bob Williams – saxophone * Matt Jardine, Michael Sherry – handclaps, finger snaps

Chart history

Other versions

Dion covered a version of the song on his 1962 album, ''Lovers Who Wander.'' Released as a single (Laurie 3121), it reached No. 48 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in 1963. The Quarrymen, a precursor to

the Beatles The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the developm ...

, played "Come Go with Me" at the fete at

St Peter's Church, Woolton, Liverpool St Peter's Church is in Church Road, Woolton, Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Liverpool South Childwall, the archdeaconry of Liverpool, and the diocese of Liverpool. The church is recorde ...

, on July 6, 1957. This was the first time

Paul McCartney Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained worldwide fame with the Beatles, for whom he played bass guitar and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John Lennon. On ...

heard

John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer, songwriter, musician and peace activist who achieved worldwide fame as founder, co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of ...

performing. McCartney noticed how Lennon did not seem to know all the words, so he was ad-libbing instead, with phrases like "come and go with me... down to the penitentiary" which he thought was clever. After the set, McCartney impressed Lennon with his guitar and piano skills, and Lennon invited McCartney to join the band. In 2000, several ex-Quarrymen performed a version of the song for the film ''Two of Us''."The Beatles Anthology" DVD (2003) (Episode 1 – 0:21:56) Lennon talking about meeting McCartney.

References

{{authority control 1956 singles 1957 singles 1981 singles 1982 singles The Del-Vikings songs Dion DiMucci songs The Beach Boys songs The Fleetwoods songs The Coral songs Kenny Loggins songs 1956 songs Dot Records singles The Quarrymen songs