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Hitch Hike (song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Hitch Hike"
Single by Marvin Gaye
from the album That Stubborn Kinda Fellow
B-side"Hello There Angel"
ReleasedDecember 19, 1962
Recorded1962; Hitsville, USA, Detroit, Michigan
GenreR&B
Length2:32
LabelTamla
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)William "Mickey" Stevenson
Marvin Gaye singles chronology
"Stubborn Kind of Fellow"
(1962)
"Hitch Hike"
(1962)
"Pride and Joy"
(1963)

"Hitch Hike" is a 1962 song by Marvin Gaye, released on the Tamla label. Another song Gaye co-wrote (this time with Clarence Paul and William "Mickey" Stevenson).

The single was successful enough to land Gaye his first top forty pop single in 1963 with "Hitch Hike" reaching number thirty on the pop singles chart while reaching number twelve on the R&B singles chart.[1]

Background

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This time instead of confessing to being stubborn, the singer is now hitchhiking on the look out for his girl, who he feels has run so far that he has to travel "around the world" thinking of places she could have found herself at including St. Louis, "Chicago City Limits" and "L.A."[2]

The song sparked a brief dance craze when audience members from American Bandstand performed the "hitch hike" dance. Marvin performed the song on the show and also did the move onstage. The dance was also performed during Marvin's performance of the song in the T.A.M.I. Show. Cash Box described it as "a fetching, shuffle beat cha cha blueser...that the chorus-backed Gaye decks out in potent r&b-pop style."[3] Like "Stubborn", Martha and the Vandellas accompanied Gaye on this song.

Personnel

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Cover versions

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Influences

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References

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  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 225.
  2. ^ Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 26 - The Soul Reformation: Phase two, the Motown story. [Part 5]" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.
  3. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. December 29, 1963. p. 96. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  4. ^ "James & Bobby Purify, James & Bobby Purify". Discogs. 1967. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  5. ^ "Paul McCartney concert: A little luck, a lot of smiles -- even some tears". June 14, 2011.