LIVE RHYTHM AND BLUES WORK-OUT FROM '65
BOBBY VEE – “Come Back When You Grow Up” / “Let The Four Winds Blow” (Liberty 15016) June 1967
The reflective, easy listening ballad “Come Back When You Grow Up” was first muted for release during April 1967 – promo copies were sent to radio stations, but for reasons unknown and now forgotten, the record was put back six weeks using an alternative B-side “Swahili Serenade.”
In 1967, Liberty Records received a copy of the record “Come Back When You Grow Up” by Shadden & the King Lears, a regional hit which had been sent to them by a DJ in Oklahoma. Liberty considered releasing it, but producer Dallas Smith decided to re-cut the song with Bobby Vee.
He called Bobby to the studio where a Vicki Carr session was in progress; Vee quickly learned the song and Vicki’s musicians were used while she took her session break.
This hastily arranged, low-budget recording session gave Bobby Vee the biggest selling record of his entire career and it eventually rose to No. 3 in the US charts. The single bombed in Britain though due to a lack of promotion and limited, if any radio airtime.
On the B-side of the British and European release was the Dave Bartholomew / Fats Domino penned “Let The Four Winds Blow.”
It appears that Liberty used a two year old live track of Bobby performing this storming rhythm and blues work-out. It was part of his “Live! On Tour” 1965 album.
My copy of the single is the West Germany release housed in a picture sleeve.
