"Come Go with Me" is a song written by C. E. Quick (a.k.a. Clarence Quick), an original member (bass vocalist) of the Americandoo-wop vocal groupthe Del-Vikings.^[1] The original audition version of the song was recorded by The Del-Vikings in 1956. It was released in July 1957 onGeorge Goldner's Luniverse Records asCome Go with the Del Vikings, after distribution of the final, hit version byDot Records in January 1957. The group's lead vocalist has long been disputed, with both Norman Wright and Gus Backus cited in various sources.^[2] When Joe Averbach, the owner of Fee Bee Records could not handle the demand, he signed withDot Records in late January 1957; the song became a hit, peaking at No. 5 on the USBillboard Top 100 Pop Chart (a predecessor of the 1958 establishedBillboard Hot 100).^[3] It also reached No. 2 on theR&B chart.

"Come Go with Me" and another 8 songs were recorded in the basement ofPittsburgh disc jockey Barry Kaye. These recordings were released in 1992 as1956 Audition Tapes.

The song was later featured in the filmsAmerican Graffiti (1973),American Hot Wax (1978),^[4]Diner (1982),Stand by Me (1986),Joe Versus the Volcano (1990), andSet It Up (2018).^[5] It was included inRobert Christgau's "Basic Record Library" of 1950s and 1960s recordings, published inChristgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981).^[6] It sold over one million copies and was awarded agold disc.^[7]

Rolling Stone magazine ranked the song No. 449 in its list ofthe 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.^[8]

"Come Go with Me" later was covered bythe Beach Boys, and it was included on their 1978 albumM.I.U. Album. Although not released as a single at the time, the song was included on the Beach Boys compilation albumTen Years of Harmony in 1981. After being released as a single to promote the compilation, it rose to No. 18 on theBillboard Hot 100 chart in January 1982.^[10] According toAl Jardine, he requested bandmateBrian Wilson to contribute the horn arrangement; Wilson devised it on the spot atSunset Sound Recorders while dressed in a bathrobe.^[11]

Record World wrote that the performance "spotlights the group's renowned multi-vocal interaction and harmonies."^[12]

Credits sourced from Craig Slowinski, John Brode, Will Crerar, Joshilyn Hoisington and David Beard.^[9]

The Beach Boys

• Al Jardine - lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitars,tack piano, bass guitar, fingersnaps, handclaps,glockenspiel, horn arrangement
• Mike Love - co-lead and backing vocals
• Brian Wilson - backing vocals, horn arrangement
• Carl Wilson - backing vocals

Additional musicians

• Ricky Fataar - drums
• Matt Jardine - fingersnaps, handclaps
• Michael Sherry - fingersnaps, handclaps
• Unknown - saxophones

Dion included the song on his 1962 album,Lovers Who Wander. Released as a single (Laurie 3121), it reached No. 48 on theBillboard Hot 100 in 1963.^[16]

The Quarrymen, a precursor tothe Beatles, played "Come Go with Me" at the fete atSt Peter's Church, Woolton, Liverpool, on July 6, 1957. This was the first timePaul McCartney heardJohn Lennon performing. McCartney noticed how Lennon did not seem to know all the words, so he was ad-libbing instead, with phrases like "come and go with me... down to the penitentiary" which he thought was clever. After the set, McCartney impressed Lennon with his guitar and piano skills, and Lennon invited McCartney to join the band.^[17] In 2000, several ex-Quarrymen performed a version of the song for the filmTwo of Us.^[18]

• 1956 songs
• 1957 singles
• 1981 singles
• 1982 singles
• The Del-Vikings songs
• Dion DiMucci songs
• The Beach Boys songs
• The Fleetwoods songs
• The Coral songs
• Kenny Loggins songs
• The Quarrymen songs
• Dot Records singles

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• Articles with hAudio microformats