"Hey! Baby" is a song written by Margaret Cobb and Bruce Channel, and recorded by Channel in 1961, first released on LeCam Records, a local Fort Worth, Texas label. After it hit, it was released on Smash Records for national distribution. He co-produced the song with Major Bill Smith and released it on Mercury Records' Smash label. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks, starting the week ending March 10, 1962. The song features a prominent riff from well-known harmonica player Delbert McClinton, and drums played by Ray Torres. Other musicians on the record included Bob Jones and Billy Sanders on guitar and Jim Rogers on bass. According to a CNN article from 2002, while touring the UK in 1962 with The Beatles, McClinton met John Lennon and gave him some harmonica tips. Lennon put the lessons to use right away on "Love Me Do" and later "Please Please Me". Lennon included the song in his jukebox, and it is also featured on the 2004 related compilation album John Lennon's Jukebox. The song was used in the 1987 hit film Dirty Dancing in the scene in which Johnny and Baby dance on top of a log.
Austrian artist DJ Ötzi recorded a cover version titled "Hey Baby ". It was released in July 2000 as the lead single from his debut solo album, Love, Peace & Vollgas. In 2002, it was re-released when it became the unofficial theme song for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. It reached number-one in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia. Darts player Tony O'Shea uses it as his walk-on song.
Music video
The official music video features large groups of people singing along to the song in a taxi at different times, interspersed with DJ Ötzi singing on a TV screen.
Johnny Hallyday covered the song arranged in French on his 1962 10" record Madison Twist.
Paul and Paula covered the song on their 1964 album Paul and Paula Sing For Young Lovers.
Jerry Lee Lewis recorded the song in 1967 for his album Soul My Way.
NRBQ covered the song on their 1969 self-titled debut album for Columbia Records.
Bobby G. Rice released a cover version in 1970, which reached number 35 on the country music charts.
Conway Twitty covered the song on his 1970 album Fifteen Years Ago.
Don Partridge covered the song on his 1973 album Don Partridge and Friends.
Ringo Starr released the song as a single, backed with "Lady Gaye", from his Ringo's Rotogravure album, on 22 November 1976 in the US, and on 26 November in the UK. He had also sampled it in his previous chart hit, "A Dose of Rock 'n' Roll".
Juice Newton covered the song on her 1978 album Well Kept Secret.
Alabama covered the song on their 1997 album Dancin' on the Boulevard w/guest vocals by Bruce Channel
Cooldown Café, a Dutch band, covered it in 2000; it was top-5 hit in the Netherlands.
Crazy Frog covered the song on his hit follow up 2006 album More Crazy Hits.
Canadian band Crowbar covered it in 1972 on their album Heavy Duty.
"Hey Baby" has become a popular terrace chant among football supporters, with the lyrics changed to refer to teams or individual players.
"Hey Baby" was used by fans of professional wrestlerBayley, who chanted it as "Hey Bayley, I wanna know, will you be my girl?"
