Credited on the record as Candy and The Kisses.
Soldier Baby (Of Mine)
1965 · Cameo C-355 · USA
- Artist
- Candy & The Kisses
- Credited on the record as
- Candy and 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
- Songwriter
- Andreoli, Poncia Jr., Spector
- 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.Sources1Phil Spector: Wall Of Pain (Dave Thompson, 2010)↩
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Annotation — Soul, Gospel, & Funk Songs
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. Sources1Phil Spector: Wall Of Pain (Dave Thompson, 2010)↩
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Lyrics
English: Soldier baby of mine, way across the sea / They've taken you away from me / Soldier baby of mine, I promise you that while you're away I'll be true / Soldier baby of mine, I'm so alone / But I'll be right here to welcome you home / When you told me that we had to part / You know you really broke my heart / I say a prayer for you every night... / Soldier baby of mine, while we're apart / I'll hold your picture next to my heart / Soldier baby of mine, I hope you'll say / You'll marry me when you return some day
Notes
Cameo C-355-A, red and black label; "Soldier Baby (Of Mine)" (Andreoli-Poncia, Jr.-Spector), Hill and Range Songs, Inc. – BMI, time 2:33; produced by Jerry Ross, arranged by Jimmy Wisner; label carries "© 1960 Cameo Records". [From the record sleeve and labels]
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]
Themes
In collections
US Domestic Perspective Songs [War Years] · Soul, Gospel, & Funk Songs