| "Patches" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Dickey Lee | ||||
| from the album The Tale of Patches | ||||
| B-side | "More or Less" | |||
| Released | 1961 | |||
| Studio | Gulf Coast (Beaumont, Texas) | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 2:54 | |||
| Label | Smash | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Barry Mann, Larry Kolber | |||
| Producer(s) | Bill Hall, Jack Clement | |||
| Dickey Lee singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Patches" is a song written by Barry Mann and Larry Kolber and performed by Dickey Lee. The song was produced by Bill Hall and Jack Clement. It was featured on his 1962 album The Tale of Patches. It reached No. 6 on the U.S. pop chart and No. 10 on the U.S. R&B chart in 1962. The song ranked No. 74 on Billboard magazine's Top 100 singles of 1962.
Background
It charted on Billboard Hot 100 in August 1962.
The song tells the story of teenage lovers of different social classes whose parents forbid their love. The girl drowns herself in the "dirty old river." The singer concludes: "It may not be right, but I'll join you tonight/ Patches I'm coming to you." Because of the teen suicide theme, it was banned by a number of radio stations. It sold more than one million copies and was awarded a gold disc.
Charts
| Chart (1962) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade) | 4 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 6 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) | 10 |
| US (Cash Box) | 4 |
Other versions
- Browning Bryant released a version of the song on his 1969 album Patches.
- Rein De Vries recorded a Dutch version titled "Patsy" which reached No. 15 on the Dutch Top 40.
References
- "Original versions of Patches written by Barry Mann, Larry Kolber | SecondHandSongs". SecondHandSongs.
- "Dickey Lee, "Patches" Single Release". Retrieved March 6, 2019.
- "Dickey Lee, The Tale of Patches". Discogs. 1962. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
- "Dickey Lee, "Patches" Chart Positions". Retrieved March 6, 2019.
- "Top 100 Singles of 1962", Billboard, Section II, December 29, 1962. p. 82. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
- "Page One Records". Billboard. August 25, 1962. p. 1.
- Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. pp. 147–148. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- "Lever hit parades: 18-Oct-1962". Flavour of New Zealand.
- "Dickey Lee Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- "Dickey Lee Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
- "Cash Box Top 100" (PDF). Cash Box. September 29, 1962. p. 3.
- "Browning Bryant, Patches". Discogs. 1969. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
- "Rein De Vries - Patsy". Top 40.