Mr. Lee (song)

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"Mr. Lee"
Rhythm & blues, Rock and roll
Length2:14
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)
  • Emma Ruth Pought
  • Helen Gathers
  • Jannie Pought
  • Laura E. Webb
  • Reather E. Dixon

"Mr. Lee" is a 1957 single by The Bobbettes. The song peaked at #1 on the CHUM Chart[1] in Canada and on national R&B charts in the United States in 1957. It was included in Robert Christgau's "Basic Record Library" of 1950s and 1960s recordings, published in Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981).[2]

Background

"Mr. Lee" was written about a schoolteacher members of the group had. Contrary to popular belief, the song was originally written not to ridicule but to describe their former teacher factually. Upon meeting executives from Atlantic Records, Atlantic had the lyrics of "Mr. Lee" changed to create a love song.[3] Atlantic demanded the original lyric "ugliest teacher" to be changed to "handsomest teacher".[4]

Recording

The Bobbettes recorded "Mr. Lee" during a recording session with Atlantic Records in 1957. Emma Pought and Reather Dixon shared the lead vocals on the recording. Emma Pought and Helen Gathers wrote three other songs during the session.[5]

Composition

The music of "Mr. Lee" was built around a blues sequence and had Jesse Powell on tenor saxophone alongside boogie-woogie music.[6]

Chart performance

"Mr. Lee" was the first to simultaneously become a Top Ten hit single—peaking at #6 on pop charts from Billboard, Cashbox and Music Vendor[7]—and reach #1 on the R&B charts in the United States.[8]

Diana Ross's cover peaked in the UK at #58 in 1988.[9]

Legacy

In 1959, The Bobbettes recorded an

The Hot 100.[11] A lawsuit was later declared in July 1960 after Atlantic sued Triple-X for copyright infringement.[12] A ruling ordered the seizure of copies of the Triple-X recording.[13] "Mr. Lee" was #79 on Billboard's list of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time.[14]

Certifications and awards

"Mr. Lee" sold 2 million copies[15] and led The Bobbettes to be awarded with platinum records by Atlantic Records.[16]

Popular culture

"Mr. Lee" was featured in the soundtrack for

Stand By Me and included in the 1987 film The Big Town.[16]

It also appeared in an episode of The Cosby Show. Clair (Phylicia Rashad) and her high school friend (Leslie Uggams) put on wigs and danced around the room as they sang it.

In the United Kingdom, the song was used in the

Vincent Wong
.

In 1985, it was used in the soundtrack of the Miami Vice episode, Golden Triangle-Part 2.

DJ Frank E. Lee of WXRT in Chicago used "Mr. Lee" as his show intro.

Charts

The Bobbettes version

Chart (1957) Peak
position
Canada (CHUM)[17] 1
Best Sellers in Stores (Billboard)[18] 7
Most Played By Jockeys (Billboard)[19] 6
Most Played R&B by Jockeys (Billboard)[20] 1
R&B Best Sellers in Stores (Billboard)[21] 2
Top Rhythm and Blues Records (Billboard)[22] 5

Diana Ross version

Chart (1988) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[9]
 58

See also

  • List of CHUM number-one singles of 1957

References

  1. ^ "CHUM Hit Parade - September 23, 1957".
  2. ISBN 0899190251
    . Retrieved March 16, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  3. ISBN 9781477276334
    . Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  4. ISBN 1580050786
    . Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  5. ^ Clemente 2013, p. 62.
  6. ISBN 978-0415971126
    . Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  7. ISBN 978-0-89820-213-7
    .
  8. ISBN 0634099787
    . Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  9. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  10. ^ Gaar 2002, p. 27.
  11. ^ "The Bobbettes - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  12. ^ "'Mr Lee' Tune Keys Lawsuit". Billboard. 11 July 1960. pp. 3, 28. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  13. ^ "Suit Enjoins Triple-X Disk". Billboard. 18 July 1960. p. 42. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  14. ^ "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks". Billboard. 10 July 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  15. ISBN 9780823076222
    . Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  16. ^ a b Clemente 2013, p. 66.
  17. ^ "CHUM Chart Archives". Archived from the original on 10 March 2006. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  18. ^ "Best Sellers in Stores". Billboard. 23 September 1957. p. 53. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  19. ^ "Most Played By Jockeys". Billboard. 23 September 1957. p. 53. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  20. ^ "Most Played R&B by Jockeys". Billboard. 30 September 1957. p. 60. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  21. ^ "R&B Best Sellers in Stores". Billboard. 16 September 1957. p. 58. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  22. ^ "Top Rhythm and Blues Records". Billboard. 11 November 1957. p. 74. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
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