 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Baby Don't You Do It" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(November 2006) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| "Baby Don't You Do It" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byMarvin Gaye | ||||
| from the albumHow Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You | ||||
| B-side | "Walk on the Wild Side" | |||
| Released | September 2, 1964 | |||
| Recorded | August 1 & 4, 1964 | |||
| Genre | Rhythm and blues,soul | |||
| Length | 2:30 | |||
| Label | Tamla | |||
| Songwriter | Holland–Dozier–Holland | |||
| Producers | Brian Holland,Lamont Dozier | |||
| Marvin Gaye singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Baby Don't You Do It" is a 1964 single byAmerican singerMarvin Gaye. Released on theTamla label, this song discusses a man who is at a standstill with his girlfriend, who he feels is neglecting his love stating "Don't break my heart/...I've tried to do my best".
Featured on theHolland–Dozier–Holland-written and produced track, for the first time on a Marvin Gaye record, were Motown's top session girl group,the Andantes. The song was originally written and intended forthe Supremes, but eventually reassigned to Marvin Gaye to record.
In October 1964 Gaye's single peaked at number 27 on both theBillboard Hot 100[1] and the Top 100 singles chart inCashbox, withCashbox affording the single a number 14 peak on its R&B chart (Billboard was not maintaining an R&B chart at this time).
Billboard stated that "it's that powerhouse beat that can't be beat."[2]Cash Box described it as "an electrifying pleader that rocks along in sensational vocal and instrumental fashion."[3]
The Band recorded the song numerous times under the title "Don't Do It". The lead singer wasLevon Helm, with backing vocals byRick Danko andRichard Manuel. Different versions, both studio and live, appear on several of their albums and box sets, including the 1972 live releaseRock of Ages. "Don't Do It" was the encore performed by The Band inMartin Scorsese's 1976 concert filmThe Last Waltz, though it was featured first in the film. Although it was not included on the1978 soundtrack album, the track was included in the2002 box set edition ofThe Last Waltz soundtrack.
The version of "Don't Do It" fromRock of Ages was issued as a single, reaching #34 on theBillboard Hot 100 in the autumn of 1972; the track was the second - following "Up on Cripple Creek" - and finalTop 40 single for the Band.Billboard called this version a "dynamite dance treatment."[5]Record World called it "a funky rocker that fits The Band to a tee."[6]
| "Baby Don't You Do It" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Single byThe Who | |
| A-side | "Join Together" |
| Released |
|
| Recorded | December 13, 1971 |
| Venue | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco |
| Genre | Rock,hard rock |
| Length | 6:09 |
| Label |
|
| Songwriter | Holland-Dozier-Holland |
| Producers |
|
The Who recorded several versions of "Baby Don't You Do It". The first version released was recorded live in San Francisco and released as the b-side to "Join Together"[7] in June 1972. The group had previously played the song in their live performances circa 1964–65, and a studio recording from that time was later released on the 1998 remastered CD ofOdds & Sods.
The Who also recorded a studio version of the song on March 16, 1971 at The Record Plant in New York. This version became first available on the 1995 Reissue ofWho's Next and featuredLeslie West on lead guitar, but was edited to 5:13.[8] The full version (8:21) of the song became available on theWho's NextDeluxe Edition. During the sixth season ofThat '70s Show when the show's episodes were all named after recordings byThe Who, the March 3, 2004 broadcast was entitled "Baby Don't You Do It". In 2025 The Who released "Live at the Oval 1971," which featured the song as track #10.
