Maybe (The Chantels 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.^[1] 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".^[2] Rolling Stone ranked it No. 199 on its list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.^[1] 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).^[3]

B-side"Come My Little Baby"

ReleasedDecember 1957

RecordedOctober 16, 1957

VenueA church in Midtown Manhattan

Quick facts Single by the Chantels, from the album We Are the Chantels ...

"Maybe"
Single by the Chantels
from the album We Are the Chantels
B-side	"Come My Little Baby"
Released	December 1957
Recorded	October 16, 1957
Venue	A church in Midtown Manhattan
Length	2:54
Label	End
Songwriters	George Goldner Roger "Casey" Case (credited) Richard Barrett (later credited)
Producer	Richard Barrett[1]
The Chantels singles chronology
"He's Gone" (1957) "Maybe" (1957) "Every Night (I Pray)" (1958)

Close

Billboard named the song No. 60 on its list of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time.^[4]

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.