Released 1967 Recorded 1967 Length 3:17 | Format 7", 45rpm Genre Soul, R&B, Blues | |
B-side "Small Portion of Your Love" | ||
"When Something Is Wrong with My Baby" is a classic hit song, a soul ballad, written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter, recorded in Memphis and sung by Sam & Dave, and first released in 1967 by Stax Records.
Contents
Personnel
In popular culture
The song is featured in 2012 film Stand Up Guys, in a scene where Al Pacino asks a girl to dance with him. It's also featured in 1995 film Dead Presidents.
Johnny Gill version
In 1983, American contemporary R&B singer Johnny Gill covered "When Something Is Wrong with My Baby" and included it on his first eponymous album. The song was issued as the second and final single from the album; and it peaked at #57 on the Billboard R&B chart.
Other versions
The song was covered by: Otis Redding & Carla Thomas in 1967; by Charlie Rich in 1967; Sonny James in 1976; Hall & Oates with David Ruffin and Eddie Kendrick of the Temptations at their Apollo Theatre concert in New York City 1985; Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville as a Top Five duet in 1990 - from the Triple Platinum album Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind, and again by Patti LaBelle and Travis Tritt in 1994 and by Frankie Miller in 1994. In Australia, the song was also covered by John Farnham and Jimmy Barnes in the middle of 1991, where it reached number 3 on the ARIA Singles Chart and number 6 in New Zealand. It was featured on Barnes' 1991 album, Soul Deep. It has also been covered by the Dutch singer Herman Brood. Guy Sebastian sung the song in a duet with Jimmy Barnes and original Stax band Booker T. & the MG's in Sydney during the Memphis Tour Concert (Friday, 7 March 2008).
A cover by American country music artist Joe Stampley peaked at number 67 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1985.