Maybe (The Chantels song)

Template:Short description Template:Infobox song Template:Infobox song Template:Infobox song Template:Infobox song "Maybe" is a song with words and music originally credited to End Records owner George Goldner and "Casey". The co-writing credit was later transferred to Richard Barrett. Arlene Smith, lead singer of the Chantels, is believed to be an uncredited co-writer.<ref name=rolling/> The song was first recorded by the Chantels on October 16, 1957, in a doo-wop style with Barrett playing piano, and released in December 1957. It climbed the charts in January 1958, reaching No. 15 in the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 in the Billboard R&B chart. It was subsequently described as "arguably, the first true glimmering of the girl group sound".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Rolling Stone ranked it No. 199 on its list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.<ref name=rolling>Template:Cite magazine</ref> It was also included in Robert Christgau's "Basic Record Library" of 1950s and 1960s recordings, published in Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Billboard named the song No. 60 on its list of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The song was also covered by the Three Degrees in 1966, Janis Joplin on her I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama! album in 1969, and again by the Three Degrees in 1970.

Miguel Matute Project recorded a version in 2019 with Monica Mayen on vocals, included in the album Desde Adentro y Otros Asuntos.

Album appearances

The original Chantels recording was included on the 1963 compilation album Golden Goodies Vol. 3 (Roulette R-25218). The song also appears on the 1973 compilation Rock 'N' Soul 1958 (ABCX-1958), and on the 1975 compilation More American Graffiti (MCA2-8007).