He was born Delecta Clark in Blytheville, Arkansas, and moved to Chicago in 1941. His mother, Essie Mae Clark, was a gospel singer and encouraged her son to pursue his love of music. Clark made his first recording in 1952 as a member of the Hambone Kids, who enjoyed some success with a recording of "Hambone" on the OKeh label. In 1953, he joined an R&B group called the Goldentones, who later became the Kool Gents and were discovered by Chicago radio DJ Herb Kent upon winning a talent competition. Kent had the Kool Gents signed to Vee-Jay label's subsidiary Falcon/Abner. The group recorded for Falcon/Abner in 1956, and also recorded a novelty record as "The Delegates".
Clark embarked on a solo career in 1957, initially following the styles of Clyde McPhatter and Little Richard. When Little Richard temporarily abandoned his music career to study the Bible, Clark fulfilled Richard's remaining live dates and also recorded with his backing band, the Upsetters. Over the next four years he landed several moderate hits, two of which ("Just Keep It Up" and "Hey Little Girl") reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100). His records for Abner and Vee-Jay were orchestrated by Riley Hampton. His biggest single, "Raindrops," a power ballad augmented by heavy rain and thunder sound effects and Clark's swooping falsetto, was released in the spring of 1961 and became his biggest hit, soaring to number two on the pop chart and number three on the R&B charts. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. "Raindrops" was also an international success, reaching number one in New Zealand and reaching the top ten in South Africa and Belgium, and selling well in Japan. "Raindrops" remains a staple on oldies and adult standards radio station playlists to this day, and has also been covered by several other artists in the years since, including David Cassidy, Tony Orlando and Dawn, and most notably Narvel Felts, who took the song to number 30 on the country chart in 1974. Clark himself recorded an updated version of "Raindrops" in 1973.
However, Clark's biggest hit was also his last. The follow-up to "Raindrops," "Don't Walk Away From Me," was a flop, and he made the pop charts in America only twice more, with "I'm Going Back to School" (1962) and "Crossfire Time" (1963). By the time "Crossfire Time" came out, Clark had moved from Vee-Jay to the Constellation label. Though he continued to record for Constellation through 1966, none of his records charted nationally. He had considerable local success in Chicago with such standout recordings as "Come Closer" (1964), the double-sided hit of "Warm Summer Breezes" and "Heartbreak" (1964), and "TCB" (1965). He later recorded for the Columbia, Wand, Liberty and Rocky labels, without success. Clark had a brief revival in 1975 when his song "Ride a Wild Horse" became a surprise Top 30 hit in the UK Singles Chart, becoming his first chart hit in the UK since "Just Keep It Up."
Afterwards, Clark performed mostly on the oldies circuit. By the late 1980s, he was in dire straits financially, living in a welfare hotel in Toccoa, Georgia. Despite suffering a stroke in 1987 that left him partially paralyzed and with a mild speech impediment, he continued to perform until his death on December 7, 1990, in Smyrna, Georgia, from a heart attack at the age of 52. His last concert was with the Jimmy Gilstrap Band at the Portman Lounge in Anderson, South Carolina.
You're Looking Good
Dee Clark Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A-don't you know
That we could have a lot of fun?
You just moved into my neighborhood
But you oughta be in-a Hollywood
An I want this understood
You're lookin' go-oo-ood
You're not very tall
But you're stepping high
Eyeballs flashin'
As you walk by
The cats on the block
Wanna know your name
But I was here first
Ain't that a shame?
An I want this understood
You're lookin' go-oo-ood
You're lookin' good
(instrumental)
Hey!
Two an two is four
One an one is two
Ev'ryone's got their eyes on you
Look at those measurements
Man alive!
34-24-35
An I want this understood
You're lookin' go-oo-ood
You're lookin' good
FADES-
You're lookin'
Go-ooo-oo
Ooo-oo-oh
Oh-ooo.
~
The song "You're Looking Good" by Dee Clark is a playful and flirtatious track about a man admiring a new girl who has just moved into his neighborhood. The lyrics suggest that the girl is very beautiful and draws attention wherever she goes. The man is clearly smitten with her, as he remarks that she should be in Hollywood, but also seems a bit possessive, stating that he was there first and it's a shame that other guys want to know her name. The instrumental break in the song features a catchy riff that adds to the upbeat and fun tone of the track. Overall, the song captures the excitement and thrill of a new crush or infatuation.
One interesting fact about "You're Looking Good" is that it was written and produced by Curtis Mayfield, who was a prolific songwriter and musician in the Chicago soul scene of the 1960s. Mayfield also worked with other artists such as The Impressions and Aretha Franklin. The song was released in 1960 and became a top 20 hit on the Billboard R&B chart. Another interesting aspect of the song is the use of the phrase "34-24-35" in the lyrics, which refers to the girl's measurements and was a popular idealized figure for women in the 1950s and 60s.
Line by Line Meaning
Little girl, where did you come from?
As an expression of curiosity, he wants to know where she came from.
A-don't you know that we could have a lot of fun?
He is informing her or emphasizing that they could have a lot of fun together.
You just moved into my neighborhood, but you oughta be in-a Hollywood
He is suggesting that she should be in Hollywood because she is beautiful.
An I want this understood, you're lookin' go-oo-ood, you're lookin' good
He wants to make sure she understands that she looks really good.
You're not very tall, but you're stepping high
She may not be tall, but she is confident and positive as you see in the way she walks (stepping high).
Eyeballs flashin' as you walk by
Her eyes radiate a certain sparkle or attractiveness as she passes him.
The cats on the block wanna know your name
The people in the neighbourhood are interested in knowing her name.
But I was here first, ain't that a shame?
He is disappointed that more people are interested in her now and not before she arrived in the neighbourhood.
Two and two is four, one and one is two
He is indicating that basic math is easy and obvious because it is exact.
Ev'ryone's got their eyes on you
Every other person has their attention focused on her.
Look at those measurements, man alive! 34-24-35
Her measurements are exceptional and he marvels at them.
An' I want this understood, you're lookin' go-oo-ood, you're lookin' good
Again he reiterates that she looks really good.
You're lookin' go-oo-ood, Ooo-oo-oh, Oh-ooo
He is lost in the admiration of how she looks.
Contributed by Ian L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@johnbradford4715
I love it love it love it sweet sweet sweet cutie
@Kenbramham
Great oldie I miss Dee
@soulman4692
Wonderful music !!!
@sauquoit13456
On this day in 1960 {August 15th} "You're Looking Good" by Dee Clark entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #81; and on September 26th, 1960 it peaked at #43 {for 1 week} and spent 10 weeks on the Top 100...
Between 1958 and 1963 he had ten Top 100 records; with one reaching the Top 10, that was "Raindrops", it peaked at #2 {for 1 week} on June 26th, 1961...
The week "Raindrops" was at #2, the #1 record was "Quarter to Three" by Gary 'U.S.' Bonds...
R.I.P. Mr. Clark, born Delectus Clark, {1938 - 1990}...
@rin3guy
Just heard this tonight for the first time on WLS, Chicago! Dick Biondi has a great request show on Friday nights. Great song...
@sauquoit13456
On this day in 1960 {July 28th} Dee Clark performed "You're Looking Good" on the late Dick Clark's American Bandstand... One month later on August 15th it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; eventually it peaked at #43 and spent 10 weeks on the Top 100 chart... And one year later in 1961 he reached #2 with "Raindrops"... Sadly, Dee Clark passed away at the young age of 52 on December 7th, 1990 {heart attack}... R.I.P. to both Mr. Clarks...
@lionheartroar3104
Sounds too Much like "Hey Little Girl"
@essessessesq
agreed. often done back then on follow up records