Soldier Baby (Of Mine)
1965 · Cameo C-355 · USA
- Artist
- Candy & The Kisses
- Title
- Soldier Baby (Of Mine)
- Release
- Soldier Baby (Of Mine) / Shakin' Time
- Year
- 1965
- Label
- Cameo # C-355
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- English
- Country
- USA
- Genre
- Soul, Gospel & Funk · Soul
- Primary theme
- Home Front Perspective / Soldier's Perspective
Annotation
The track "Soldier Baby (Of Mine)" (Cameo Records # 355) released by Candy & the Kisses in January 1965 took on the soldier boy theme - a 1960s doo-wop girl group from Port Richmond, New York, featuring the two sisters Candy and Suzanne Nelson along with Jeanette Johnson. There is no reference to Vietnam, just that the soldier was stationed "way across the sea". The narrator waited for the day that the soldier returned, hoping he would "say you'll marry me". Co-written by Phil Spector (with Pete Andreoli and Vini Poncia), he produced this song with the The Ronettes in 1964, but it was unreleased until it appeared on some compilations, such as Phil Spector Wall of Sound Vol. 5: Rare Masters (1976). (1) Brenda Hall released a version of the song in October 1965: Soldier Baby (Of Mine) / Oh Eddy, My Baby (Loma Records # 2020) - this label was based in Los Angeles, California, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Records, established in 1964 for the Soul and Rhythm & Blues market.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
About the artist
All-female vocal trio formed in Port Richmond, New York - sisters Candy and Suzanne Nelson with Jeanette Johnson - best known for the 1964 dance hit 'The 81' (Cameo); 'Soldier Baby (Of Mine)' b/w 'Shakin' Time' followed on Cameo C-355 in 1965, and the group dissolved after a 1968 Decca single. [Source: AllMusic; Discogs]