8 Great Songs with “Bobby” in the Title
The music industry has never been short on great artists named Bobby. In fact, it seems like every genre has at least two or three. Country music features revered singer/songwriters such as Bobby Bare and Bobbie Gentry. From the world of R&B we get impressive performers like Bobby Brown, Bobby Rush, and Bobby Womack. Certainly, pop crooners appear on the tally with quality singers like Bobby Vinton, Bobby Vee, and Bobby Rydell. And don’t forget the incomparable Bobby Darin. But what may be just as impressive are the number of great tunes that feature the name “Bobby” in the title.
When it comes to “Bobby” songs, the list has to start with “Me and Bobby McGee.” Penned by upstart songsmith Kris Kristofferson, the tune was a certified hit for both Roger Miller and Gordon Lightfoot in 1969 and 1970, respectively. However, Janis Joplin’s 1971 version made the song a certified classic. Joplin’s rendition, recorded nine days before her death, became her only #1 song and one that would define a generation. “Bobby McGee” might be the first “Bobby” tune to come to mind, but they certainly do not stop there. Here are another seven great songs with “Bobby” in the title.
“Bobby’s Girl” – Marcie Blane
This song perfectly encapsulates those early days of Rock N Roll when obsession was considered charming. Released in the summer of 1962, the tune rocketed all the way to #2 on the U.S. Cashbox charts for 18-year-old Marcie Blane. The catchy ditty was written by Gary Klein and Henry Hoffman. Klein was only 20 at the time and went on to an illustrious career as both producer and music executive. Marcie Blane quit the music industry soon thereafter with “Bobby’s Girl” being the only hit of her career.
“Bobby is his Name” – Etta James
From her 1964 album Queen of Soul, Etta James co-wrote this tune with Ed Townsend. It was produced by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Leonard Chess on the Argo label, a division of Chess Records. The lasting impact with this song resides in the amazing vocal. “Bobby is his Name” was not released as a single, however it serves as one of the strongest testaments for anyone with that moniker. If Bobby’s virtue was ever in doubt, Etta James will convert even the most ardent doubter.
“Viva Bobby Joe” – The Equals
Appropriately named The Equals, this English group is credited with being one of the first racially integrated major rock bands out of the UK. Founding member Eddy Grant wrote “Viva Bobby Joe”, which was released as a single by The Equals in 1969. The song was one of the most successful of the band’s catalog, peaking at #6 on the UK charts. Grant went on to solo success including the 1982 hits “I Don’t Wanna Dance” and “Electric Avenue.”
“Bobby Brown (Goes Down)” – Frank Zappa
Not to be confused with the founding member of New Edition, Zappa’s Bobby Brown is yet another example of his flawless symphonic depravity. The song appears on Frank’s 1979 double album Sheik Yerbouti. The album would rise to #21 in the United States; however, “Bobby Brown” was banned on most U.S. airwaves. Oddly enough, the song was a #1 single in both Norway and Sweden. The blatantly filthy lyrics, which detail a young man’s colorful sexual evolution, illustrate Zappa at his satirical best.
“Hey Bobby” – K.T. Oslin
Peaking at #2 on the Billboard Country charts, this tune continued a string of hits for songstress K.T. Oslin in the late 1980s. “Hey Bobby” is Oslin’s third single from ger second career album, This Woman. Written by K.T., this tune reflects the confidence and freedom gained with her newfound industry success. It features an independent woman who certainly knows what she wants. The song is smart, catchy, and sassy, just like its author.
“Bobby” – Reba McEntire
From McEntire’s album For My Broken Heart, released in October of 1991, this tune often gets lost in the shuffle. The album features two singles that topped the charts as well as “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia”, a signature song for Reba. “Bobby” was not released as a single, but it is the only song that features a writing credit for the Diva Icon. The tune was co-written with the legendary Don Schlitz and tells a beautifully tragic tale of love, loyalty and redemption.
“Bobbi with an I” – Phil Vassar
This 2009 Phil Vassar song is about as big of an endorsement that country music will ever give to cross dressing. “Bobbi with an I” features a guy who is all too willing to take advantage of the fiscal benefits of ladies’ night at the bar. Written by Phil and his friend Craig Wiseman, the tune made it to #46 on the Billboard Country charts. It also stirred a bit of controversary. Regarding the backlash, Vassar stated, “Every song can’t save the whales. Some songs are just to have a good time.”
