List of songs with lyrics by Gerry Goffin

This is a list of songs co-written by Gerry Goffin. Goffin (1939–2014) was an American lyricist, who formed a successful songwriting partnership with his wife, Carole King. Their first success was "Will You Love Me Tomorrow", recorded by the Shirelles and a hit in 1961. Goffin later wrote lyrics for songs with several other composers, most notably Michael Masser.

Hits, charted songs and notable album tracks by Goffin and King

Year Song[1] Original artist[1] U.S. Hot 100 UK Singles Chart[2] Other versions,[1] chart information (US unless otherwise stated) and album notes
1961 "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" The Shirelles 1 4 Carole King (in 1971), The Four Seasons (in 1968, #24), Tony Orlando (1961), Cher, Roberta Flack, Amy Winehouse, Melanie (UK #37, 1974), Jackie DeShannon, Len Barry, Bunny Sigler, Cissy Houston, The Platters, Neil Diamond (in 1993), Bryan Ferry (UK #23, 1993), Linda Ronstadt, Michael Stanley Band, Angus Tung (in Mandarin), Shirley Kwan and Alan Tam (in Cantonese), Dusty Springfield, Dave Mason and Debbie Gibson (both under the title "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow"), The Rocky Fellers, Lorrie Morgan, and Minnie Driver (performed in the film Beautiful), Françoise Hardy.
"How Many Tears" Bobby Vee 63 10
"Take Good Care of My Baby" Bobby Vee 1 3 Dion and the Belmonts (later in 1961), The Beatles (in 1962 for Decca auditions), Bobby Vinton (in 1968), Smokie (UK #34, 1981), Bobby Vee, Stephen Collins, Dick Brave
"Some Kind of Wonderful" The Drifters 32 - Tony Orlando - 1961. In album Bless You and Eleven other Great Hits, Epic LN 3808. Marvin Gaye (in 1968), Carole King (in 1971); not the same song as the Grand Funk Railroad hit
"Halfway to Paradise" Tony Orlando 39 - Billy Fury (UK #3, 1961), Bobby Vinton (1968), Tina Charles (1977), Dobby Dobson's reggae version recorded in the 1970s
"Every Breath I Take" Gene Pitney 42 - No relation to the Police's "Every Breath You Take"
"I'd Never Find Another You" Tony Orlando - - In album Bless You and Eleven other Great Hits, Epic LN 3808, 1961. Billy Fury (UK #5, 1961), Paul Anka (US #106, 1962)
"What A Sweet Thing That Was" The Shirelles 54 -
"Happy Times (Are Here To Stay)" Tony Orlando 82 -
"Walkin' with My Angel" Bobby Vee 53 - Herman's Hermits
"Don't Ever Change" The Crickets - 5 The Beatles (in 1963, unreleased until 1994), Brinsley Schwarz (1973), Bryan Ferry (in 1973), Mud (in 1982)
"Dear Mr. D.J. Play It Again" Tina Robin 95 - Written by Goffin and King with Howard Greenfield
1962 "Why'd You Wanna Make Me Cry" Connie Stevens 52 -
"He Knows I Love Him Too Much" The Paris Sisters 34 -
"I've Got Bonnie" Bobby Rydell 18 -
"When My Little Girl Is Smiling" The Drifters 28 31 Steve Alaimo #72 in 1971 Hot 100, Craig Douglas (UK #9), Jimmy Justice (UK #9)
"I Can't Say Goodbye" Bobby Vee 92 -
"Her Royal Majesty" James Darren 6 36
"Chains" The Cookies 17 50 The Beatles (in 1963), Carole King (in 1980), The Del Monas (in 1984)
"Sharing You" Bobby Vee 15 10
"Keep Your Hands off My Baby" Little Eva 12 30 The Beatles (in 1964, unreleased until 1994), Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders (1964), The Gore Gore Girls (in 2002), Kirsty MacColl (1981)
"Keep Your Love Locked (Deep In Your Heart)" Paul Petersen 58 - Russ Sainty
"The Loco-Motion" Little Eva 1 2
11 (1972)
 The Vernons Girls (UK #47, 1962), The Chiffons (in 1963), Emerson Lake & Powell (instrumental), Grand Funk Railroad (in 1974, #1), Carole King (in 1980), Dave Stewart with Barbara Gaskin (UK #70, 1986), Kylie Minogue (in 1988, #3, UK #2), Tina Turner, Dwight Yoakam. Originally published as "Loco Motion".
"He Hit Me (It Felt Like a Kiss)" The Crystals - - The Motels (in 1982), Hole (in 1994), Grizzly Bear (in 2007)
"Go Away Little Girl" Steve Lawrence 1 - Mark Wynter (UK #6, 1962), The Tams, Donny Osmond (in 1971, #1), The Happenings (in 1966, #12)
"Point Of No Return" Gene McDaniels 21 -
"It Might As Well Rain Until September" Carole King 22 3 Bobby Vee, Helen Shapiro
"Up on the Roof" The Drifters 5 - Kenny Lynch (UK #10, 1962), Julie Grant (UK #33, 1963), Carole King (in 1970), Laura Nyro (in 1970),Tony Orlando and Dawn (1970) in album Candida, James Taylor (in 1979, #28), Neil Diamond (in 1993), Robson and Jerome (UK #1, 1995), Billy Joe Royal, Peter Cincotti
1963 "Don't Say Nothin' Bad (About My Baby)" The Cookies 7 -
"Old Smokey Locomotion" Little Eva 48 -
"Let's Turkey Trot" Little Eva 20 -
"He's A Bad Boy" Carole King 94 -
"This Little Girl" Dion 21 -
"Poor Little Rich Girl" Steve Lawrence 27 -
"I Can't Stay Mad at You" Skeeter Davis 7 -
"Will Power" The Cookies 72 -
"Hey Girl" Freddie Scott 10 - Duffy Power (1963), Donny Osmond (in 1972, #9), George Benson (1977), Carole King (in 1980), Billy Joel (Greatest Hits Volume III in 1997), Bob James & David Sanborn, Ray Charles & Michael McDonald (duet, from Charles' album Genius Loves Company), Bobby Vee (as part of a medley with The Temptations' hit "My Girl" in 1968, #35), The Righteous Brothers (1966, on their album Soul & Inspiration)
"I Want To Stay Here" Steve and Eydie 28 3 Miki & Griff (UK #23, 1963), Cristóbal Briceño (duet with Natalia Molina, 2020)
"One Fine Day" The Chiffons 5 29 The Carpenters (in 1973), Rita Coolidge (in 1979, #66), Carole King (in 1980, #12), Aaron Neville (in 1993), Natalie Merchant (in 1996)
"Walking Proud" Steve Lawrence 26 -
"Everybody Go Home" Eydie Gormé 80 -
"I Can't Stop Talking About You" Steve and Eydie 35 -
1964 "I Can't Hear You No More" Betty Everett 66 - Dusty Springfield (in 1965), King (in 1970), Helen Reddy (in 1976, #29)
"I'm into Something Good" Earl-Jean 38 - Herman's Hermits (later in 1964, #13, UK #1)
"He's in Town" The Tokens 43 - The Rockin' Berries (UK #3)
"Where Does Love Go" Freddie Scott 82 -
"I Just Can't Say Goodbye" Bobby Rydell 94 -
"Oh No Not My Baby" Maxine Brown 24 - The Shirelles (original recording, not released until later), Manfred Mann (UK #11, 1965), Dusty Springfield (in 1965), Aretha Franklin (in 1970), Rod Stewart (#59, UK #6, 1973), The Partridge Family (Bulletin Board in 1973), Merry Clayton (US #72) in 1973, King (in 1980 and 2001), Cher (in 1992, #33 in the U.K.), Linda Ronstadt (in 1994)
"Show Me Girl" Herman's Hermits - 19
1965 "At The Club" The Drifters 43 35
"Just Once in My Life" The Righteous Brothers 9 - Written by Goffin and King with Phil Spector
"Hung on You" The Righteous Brothers 47 - Written by Goffin and King with Phil Spector
"Is This What I Get For Loving You" The Ronettes - - Written by Goffin and King with Phil Spector. Marianne Faithfull (UK #43, 1967)
"Some of Your Lovin'" Dusty Springfield - 8 Phil Collins (in 2010)
"It's Gonna Be Alright" Maxine Brown 56 -
"I Need You" Chuck Jackson 75 - The Walker Brothers (UK #1 EP, 1966)
"Don't Forget About Me" Barbara Lewis 91 - Dusty Springfield (US #64)
1966 "Don't Bring Me Down" The Animals 12 6 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (in 1986)
"I Happen to Love You" The Myddle Class[3] - - The Electric Prunes on the 1967 album Underground
"Road to Nowhere" Carole King - - (No relation to the Talking Heads song) White Trash (1969)
"So Much Love" Ben E. King 96 - Steve Alaimo (#92, 1966)
"Take a Giant Step" The Monkees - - From the 1966 US/UK #1 LP The Monkees, plus Taj Mahal (1969)
"Sweet Young Thing" The Monkees - - Written by Goffin and King with Michael Nesmith. From the LP The Monkees
"Sometime in the Morning" The Monkees - - From the 1967 US/UK #1 LP More of The Monkees
"Goin' Back" Dusty Springfield - 10 Goldie (recorded in 1966 but unreleased), The Byrds (in 1968, #89), King (in 1970 and in 1980), Larry Lurex (1973) Nils Lofgren, Elkie Brooks, Johnny Logan, Diana Ross, Glen Shorrock & Renee Geyer (Aust. 1983), Phil Collins (2010)
"I Can't Make It Alone" P.J. Proby - 37 Dusty Springfield, Maria McKee (UK #74, 1993)
"Yours Until Tomorrow" Dee Dee Warwick - - Gene Pitney (UK #34, 1968)
"On This Side of Goodbye" The Righteous Brothers 47 -
1967 "Pleasant Valley Sunday" The Monkees 3 11 The Weisstronauts (in 2008)
"Star Collector" The Monkees - - From the 1967 US #1 LP Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.
"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" Aretha Franklin 8 - King (in 1971), Laura Nyro (in 1971), Rod Stewart (in 1974), Bonnie Tyler (in 1978), Mary J. Blige (in 1995, #95), Celine Dion (in 1995)
1968 "Porpoise Song" The Monkees 62 - Bongwater (in 1988), The Wondermints (in 1996), Trouble (in 1996), The Church (in 1999)
"I Can't Make It Alone" Bill Medley 95 - Lou Rawls #63 Hot 100 in 1969
"I Wasn't Born to Follow" The Byrds - - The City (Now That Everything's Been Said in 1968) King (in 1980), Tracy Grammer (in 2004), Beth Orton (in 2012). Byrds' single released as "Wasn't Born to Follow".
1970 "That Old Sweet Roll (Hi-de-Ho)" The City - - Leslie Uggams, Blood, Sweat & Tears (as "Hi-De-Ho (That Old Sweet Roll)", #14), Dusty Springfield (non-LP B-side in 1969), King (in 1980).
"Sweet Sweetheart" Bobby Vee 88 -
1971 "Smackwater Jack" Carole King 14 - Quincy Jones, The Manhattan Transfer, Buffy Sainte-Marie
1984 "Time Don't Run Out on Me" Anne Murray - - #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart

Songs by Gerry Goffin with other songwriters

In addition to King, Goffin also collaborated with other songwriters, notably Barry Mann, Jack Keller, Russ Titelman, Wes Farrell, Barry Goldberg and Michael Masser.[1]

Year Song Songwriters Performer[1] U.S. Hot 100 UK Singles Chart[2] Cover versions[1] and notes
1959 "Oh Neil" Greenfield, Sedaka & Goffin Carole King - -
1960 "The Lovin' Touch" Goffin & Keller Mark Dinning 84 -
1961 "Who Put the Bomp (in the Bomp, Bomp, Bomp)" Goffin & Mann Barry Mann 7 - The Viscounts (UK #21, 1961), Showaddywaddy (UK #37, 1982)
"I Could Have Loved You So Well" Goffin & Mann Ray Peterson 57 - Produced by Phil Spector
"Run to Him" Goffin & Keller Bobby Vee 2 3 Donny Osmond (in 1972)
1962 "A Forever Kind of Love" Goffin & Keller Bobby Vee - 13 Cliff Richard
"How Can I Meet Her?" Goffin & Keller The Everly Brothers 75 12
"It Started All Over Again" Goffin & Keller Brenda Lee 29 15
"Don't Ask Me to Be Friends" Goffin & Keller The Everly Brothers 48 -
1963 "Let's Turkey Trot" Goffin & Keller Little Eva 20 13 Note: Early copies credit the song incorrectly to Goffin and King, rather than Goffin and Keller. The writing credit was later changed to add George Goldner and Herbie Cox, who had written the melodically similar "Little Girl of Mine" for The Cleftones in 1956.[4][5]
"Don't Try To Fight It, Baby" Goffin & Keller Eydie Gormé 53 -
"Girls Grow Up Faster Than Boys" Goffin & Keller The Cookies 33 -
1965 "Yes I Will" Goffin & Titelman The Hollies - 9 The Monkees (as "I'll Be True To You" in 1966)
1971 "I'll Meet You Halfway" Goffin & Farrell The Partridge Family 9 -
1973 "I've Got to Use My Imagination" Goffin & Goldberg Gladys Knight & the Pips 4 -
1975 "It's Not the Spotlight" Goffin & Goldberg Rod Stewart - - Beth Orton (in 1996)
"Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)" Goffin & Masser Diana Ross 1 5
1976 "So Sad The Song" Goffin & Masser Gladys Knight & The Pips 47 20
1978 "Saving All My Love for You" Goffin & Masser Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. - - Whitney Houston (US #1 in 1985, UK #1 in 1985)
1980 "Someone That I Used to Love" Goffin & Masser Natalie Cole 21 -
1983 "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love" Goffin & Masser Roberta Flack & Peabo Bryson 16 2
1984 "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You" Goffin & Masser George Benson - - Glenn Medeiros (US #12 in 1987, UK #1 in 1988)
1985 "A Long and Lasting Love" Goffin & Masser Crystal Gayle - - #5 Country. Covered by Glenn Medeiros, Billy Preston, Jane Olivor, and Syreeta
1989 "Miss You Like Crazy" Goffin, Masser and Glass Natalie Cole 7 2
1994 "No More Blue Christmas'" Goffin, Masser Natalie Cole - -

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Songs written by Gerry Goffin, Secondhand Songs. Retrieved 20 June 2014
  2. ^ a b Betts, Graham (2004). Complete UK Hit Singles 1952-2004 (1st ed.). London: Collins. ISBN 0-00-717931-6.
  3. ^ Unterberger, Richie (13 February 2001). "I Happen to Love You - The Electric Prunes | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  4. ^ Jack Keller, Black Cat Rockabilly. Retrieved 24 June 2014
  5. ^ "Let's Turkey Trot", Discogs.com