Introduction:
Singer and guitarist Johnny Rivers was a major figure in the American rock and roll scene of the early to mid-1960s. Building a reputation for energetic live performances and a knack for successful covers of rhythm and blues songs by artists like Chuck Berry and Ray Charles, Rivers established himself as a popular act. However, by 1966, the musical landscape was beginning to shift. The British Invasion, spearheaded by groups like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, was influencing American music, and Rivers, ever the keen observer of trends, decided to incorporate some of these new influences into his sound.
Poor Side of Town, released in 1966 on the album Changes, marked a turning point in Rivers’ career. While he remained the vocalist on the track, the song itself represented a departure from his earlier rock and roll approach. Poor Side of Town leaned more towards a pop ballad style, featuring lush orchestral arrangements produced by Lou Adler, known for his work with The Mamas & the Papas. This shift proved successful. The song resonated with audiences, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States and the RPM Canadian Chart in November 1966. Poor Side of Town became one of Rivers’s signature tunes and helped solidify his place as a major pop star of the decade.
The song’s success also reflected a broader trend in popular music. Poor Side of Town demonstrated the growing popularity of ballads and orchestral pop arrangements, a style that would continue to be influential throughout the late 1960s and beyond. For Johnny Rivers, the song marked a move towards a more polished sound that helped him maintain his commercial success as musical tastes evolved.
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Lyrics:
Do-doo-doo-wah shoo-be-doo-beDo-doo-doo-wah shoo-be-doo-be
How can you tell me how much you miss meWhen the last time I saw you, you wouldn’t even kiss meThat rich guy you’ve been seein’Must have put you downSo welcome back babyTo The Poor Side of town
To him you were nothin’ but a little playthingNot much more than an overnight flingTo me you were the greatest thing this boy had ever foundAnd girl it’s hard to find nice thingsOn the poor side of town
I can’t blame you for tryin’I’m tryin’ to make it tooI’ve got one little hang up babyI just can’t make it without you
So tell me, are you gonna stay nowWill you stand by me girl all the way nowWith you by my sideThey can’t keep us downTogether we can make it babyFrom the poor side of town
Oh, with you by my sideThis world can’t keep us downTogether we can make it babyFrom the poor side of town
Do-doo-doo-wah shoo-be-doo-beDo-doo-doo-wah shoo-be-doo-beDo-doo-doo-wah shoo-be-doo-be