Like to Get to Know You

Updated on Nov 10, 2023

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Released March 1968 Recorded 1968		Format 7"
B-side "Three Ways from Tomorrow" Genre Sunshine pop, blue-eyed soul Length Single: 3:19 Album: 2:15 (single), 0:59 (coda)

"Like to Get to Know You" is a 1968 song from Spanky and Our Gang. Written by Stuart Scharf, the song debuted at number 71 on the Billboard Hot 100 on April 20, 1968, and peaked at #17 on June 8, 1968. It became a minor hit on the Billboard Easy Listening chart at the same time, eventually peaking at #24 the same week it peaked on the Hot 100. In Canada the song reached #5 on the RPM Magazine charts. On the album of the same name, the song is broken into two parts: the full vocal, and a coda that echoes the chorus and conversation from the song.

The single, which had more of a soulful style than some of their previous releases, was about a guy who wanted to meet a girl that he sees at a party, even though he feels that she might not notice him or turn him down. But when he does finally ask her, she tells him that she cannot promise him that she'll be the one for him, but she wants to get to know him, too.

Recording

Like their previous hit single, their new producer, Stuart Scharf, also employed session musicians to create the instrumental backing track while the group members provided lead and background vocals. This was the first hit they recorded in Los Angeles—all of their previous records were cut in New York with Jerry Ross producing. Session players on this recording included Max Bennett on bass; Larry Knechtel on piano; Mike Deasy on guitar; Hal Blaine on drums; Ralph Schaffer, Sid Sharp, Harry Bluestone, Marvin Limonick, Nathan Kaproff, William Hymanson and Mischa Russell on violins; Leonard Selic and David Burk on violas; Paul Bergstrom and Armand Kaproff on cellos; and Jules Chaikin on trumpet. Additional Instruments were also played by Stuart Scharf, William Kurasch, and Robert Dorough. most of them playing wind instruments.

A performance of this song was featured on The Ed Sullivan Show on March 24, 1968. In the uniquely-staged performance, the members of the group appear to be at a cocktail party (interacting in a way that tracks the song's lyrics), while the song is performed by the same group on a stage behind them.