Turtles – You Baby

I was given the single Elenor as a kid, and since then, I’ve always had a soft spot for the Turtles. They never took themselves seriously and always seemed to have fun. Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman (later Flo and Eddie) could harmonize so well together, and those harmonies kept this song a step above garage rock. They were not going to be mistaken as the next pin-up stars in 16 magazine.

It’s almost comically simple, but that was the cool thing about mid-1960s pop music. You didn’t need a great plan; you just needed two and a half minutes adn a catchy tune. And with that soaring chorus, the Turtles sold it well. It’s a sound that would carry them through the next few years, although they would grow into more sophisticated pop music.

The band was formed by Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan in the early sixties. They were saxophone players who did whatever was trendy to make a living as musicians. They were also in the choir together in high school. They started off as an instrumental band, but with the Beatles and the British invasion, they soon switched to a rock and roll band with Howard Kaylan as lead singer. They hit with a Bob Dylan song called It Ain’t Me Babe released in 1965.

They were just getting started here, but they would end up with quite a career. I’m happy to say that I did see them, although in the ’80s with Flo and Eddie. 

This song was released in 1966 on the You Baby album. The song peaked at #20 on the Billboard 100 and #11 in Canada. The song was written by P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri. They would also write songs for the Grass Roots and the Association. 

Every time I post on The Turtles…I recommend watching their documentary… one of the most entertaining docs I’ve ever seen. If you have watched it…what do you think? It’s one of the funniest documentaries I’ve ever seen. 

You Baby

From the time I fall asleep‘Til the morning comes I dream aboutYou, babyAnd I feel all right‘Cause I know tonight I’ll be withYou, babyAnd who makes me feel like smilingWhen the weary day is through?

You baby, no-one but you, baby, nobody but youYou baby, no-one but you, baby, nobody but you

They say candy is sweetBut it just can’t compete withYou, babyYou’ve got everything I needAnd nobody can please likeYou do, baby (nobody but you)And who believes that my wildest dreamsAnd my craziest schemes will come true?

You baby, no-one but you, baby, nobody but youYou baby, no-one but you, baby, nobody but you

A little ray of sunshineA little bit of soulAdd just a touch of magicYou got the greatest thing since rock ‘n’ roll

You baby, no-one but you, baby, nobody but youYou baby, no-one but you, baby, nobody but youYou baby, no-one but you, baby, nobody but you

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

49 thoughts on “Turtles – You Baby”

  2. They were great for a kid to listen to back then. Their songs were upbeat and easy to follow; not too adult or hard edged. Flo and Eddie performed here a few times, but I never made it to see them. Too late, I realized I should have made it a priority. I may watch ‘My Dinner with Jimi’ today while doing chores.

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    1. I’m so happy I got to see them and they were still young. They were a lot of fun. When I wrote this I had no idea about Mark Volman and I wrote this last night….I just didn’t hear.
      I own My Dinner With Jimi bu STILL haven’t seen it all…I will make it a priority.

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  3. Great tune for sure. P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri were really at the forefront of that pop folk sound. I have not seen the doc so I most definitely must do that. Love Flo and Eddie, I think you posted a video of them talking about the mathematics of the lawsuits they suffered through.

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  6. Pingback: Turtles – You Baby – MobsterTiger

  8. RIP Mark Volman 4/19/47-9/5/25. I loved the Turtles. A pop band with major hits that never took itself seriously. I’ve said it here before, but they wrote one of the greatest pop lyrics of all time with “Elenore, gee I think you’re swell [as corny as the Archies]/And you really do me well [suddenly explicitly sexual]/You’re my pride and joy/Etcetera [just to make sure you didn’t take them too seriously].”

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    1. I just found out today that he passed yesterday by a reader. They were so much fun when I saw them. They opened up with “Shot Through The Heart” by Bon Jovi…and then stopped…Howard say…we don’t play that crap…we play THIS crap…it was one of the most entertaining shows I’ve seen.
      Elenore is where I learned about them…because I had that single…before Happy Together or anything else.

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      2. That cracked Elenore single opened up a lot of music because I had to find out what came next. I’m happy I got to see them both.

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  10. pleasant little single. I think I’ve heard it before but infrequently; it’s not one that really carves out a permanent spot in my mind but I bet at the time it would have been a song I would’ve liked well enough.

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    2. I’ve already added it to my 60s pop playlist. I heard it in the 80s while listening to the oldies channel…Dave I was listening to that more than modern…thats probably why I know a lot of these songs.

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  11. What’s not to like about The Turtles? Tight compositions that had just enough wiggle room to make them interesting…great singing and playing…jangle…

    You know how much I love Janis Joplin, Max…one time I was reading an interview and she dissed The Turtles, saying they were inconsequential sunshine pop…and I was like, okay girl, slow your roll…

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    1. Yeah, I love Janis but everything isn’t that type of music. I’m glad I got to see them at a Nashville sounds game back in 1987. They were so much fun and those voices they had were second only to Crosby stills and Nash that I saw live.

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  13. While I cannot claim to know their music in detail, I’ve yet to hear a Turtles song I don’t like. “You Baby”, which was new to me, is no exception. “Happy Together,” while it’s been played times, still works for me as one of the best picker-uppers I’ve heard – that chorus is sheer magic! “Elenore” is another song with a great chorus.

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    1. Yea I like a lot of them…they didn’t take themselves seriously…if you ever are bored and need something to watch…watch their documentary, it’s very entertaining.

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