Patches (Dickey Lee song)

"Patches"
Single by Dickey Lee
from the album The Tale of Patches
B-side"More or Less"
Released1961
StudioGulf Coast (Beaumont, Texas)
GenrePop
Length2:54
LabelSmash
Songwriter(s)Barry Mann, Larry Kolber
Producer(s)Bill Hall, Jack Clement
Dickey Lee singles chronology
"Life in a Teenage World"
(1960) 		"Patches"
(1961) 		"Walkin' Through a Cemetery"
(1962)

"Patches" is a song written by Barry Mann and Larry Kolber[1] and performed by Dickey Lee. The song was produced by Bill Hall and Jack Clement.[2] It was featured on his 1962 album The Tale of Patches.[3] It reached No. 6 on the U.S. pop chart and No. 10 on the U.S. R&B chart in 1962.[4] The song ranked No. 74 on Billboard magazine's Top 100 singles of 1962.[5]

Background

It charted on Billboard Hot 100 in August 1962.[6]

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.[7]

Charts

Chart (1962) Peak
position
New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade)[8] 4
US Billboard Hot 100[9] 6
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[10] 10
US (Cash Box)[11] 4

Other versions

  • Browning Bryant released a version of the song on his 1969 album Patches.[12]
  • Rein De Vries recorded a Dutch version titled "Patsy" which reached No. 15 on the Dutch Top 40.[13]

References

  1. ^ "Original versions of Patches written by Barry Mann, Larry Kolber | SecondHandSongs". SecondHandSongs.
  2. ^ "Dickey Lee, "Patches" Single Release". Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  3. ^ "Dickey Lee, The Tale of Patches". Discogs. 1962. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  4. ^ "Dickey Lee, "Patches" Chart Positions". Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  5. ^ "Top 100 Singles of 1962", Billboard, Section II, December 29, 1962. p. 82. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  6. ^ "Page One Records". Billboard. August 25, 1962. p. 1.
  7. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. pp. 147–148. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  8. ^ "Lever hit parades: 18-Oct-1962". Flavour of New Zealand.
  9. ^ "Dickey Lee Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  10. ^ "Dickey Lee Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  11. ^ "Cash Box Top 100" (PDF). Cash Box. September 29, 1962. p. 3.
  12. ^ "Browning Bryant, Patches". Discogs. 1969. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  13. ^ "Rein De Vries - Patsy". Top 40.