"Hey There Lonely Girl" by Robert John

Song#:  0261
Date:  07/19/1980
Debut:  85
Peak:  31
Weeks:  13
Genre:  Pop



Pop Bits:  Although known mostly for his falsetto delivery and his #1 hit "Sad Eyes" (1979), John actually first charted in 1958 under his real name Bobby Pedrick, Jr. with "White Bucks and Saddle Shoes" (#74). He basically floundered around from label to label for years sometimes grabbing a chart song along the way and finally landing his first Top 10, a remake of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" (#3) in 1972. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to follow-up "Sad Eyes" and this song was his last Top 40 entry. His chart career spanned a remarkable twenty-five years, but in that time he only managed ten chart songs.

ReduxReview:  John's falsetto was used to great effect on "Sad Eyes," basically coming at the end and pushing the song to the limit. It's pretty great. But this is all falsetto and it's not one of my favorite things to hear. There are very few all-falsetto singers/songs that are a hit with me. This one is okay and the slinky 70s arrangement is good, but at times the voice is more grating that endearing.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  John's remake of "Hey There Lonely Girl" would be the third time the song hit the chart. It was originally done as "Hey There Lonely Boy" by Ruby & the Romantics in 1963 (#27), but R&B singer Eddie Holman changed up the gender of the song and reached #2 in 1970.

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