THE HIT HAMMER: Ruby & the Romantics' "Our Day Will Come"

(The Hit Hammer is where I'm reviewing each #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. Starting from when the chart started in 1958 and eventually working my way to the present. To see my inspiration and more information about this blog, please refer to the "Poor Little Fool" post.)

Ruby & the Romantics - "Our Day Will Come"

Hit Number 1: March 23, 1963

Stay at Number 1: 1 Week

"Our Day Will Come" is a very meaningless song that for one week, was the most popular song in the country. From what I've seen so far in 1963, and looking ahead, 1963 is full of meaningless little songs that you rarely, if ever, hear today. Some are actually alright in my eyes, and then there's some that really boggle my mind (looking at you "Go Away Little Girl"). But the Ruby & the Romantics' tune "Our Day Will Come" is so uninteresting and bland, that I can't even bring myself to dislike it. Take that as a silver lining if you so choose.

There really isn't a whole lot of information on the production of the song either. It was written by Bob Hilliard, who was responsible for writing even more meaningless, bland songs. The composers of the song were hoping for it to land in the laps of a more established easy listening group, but the Kapp Records A&R Director Al Stanton must have really liked the new up and comers Ruby & the Romantics, cause he was hellbent on giving them a shot at the song. He promised that if their version failed, he would record the song with Jazz singer Jack Jones. Well it didn't fail, obviously, cause it was a #1 hit. There were two different takes of the song, with one being a regular mid-tempo song, and the other with a bossa nova style. The latter was the one chosen for release.

As I said earlier, there isn't much FOR me to say about "Our Day Will Come". It's nice enough, but will never be a song that I will go out of my way to listen to. You might hear me say that a few more times throughout 1963! This song is kind of like laying in bed, dozing off, but at the same time, thinking about what's gonna happen tomorrow. It has an optimistic message, and lead singer Ruby Nash has a very nice voice. But those things aren't helped by the sleepy instrumentation, and the careless oohing background singers. Can't get much out of "Our Day Will Come".

GRADE: 4/10

JUST MISSED:

Skeeter Davis got stuck behind "Our Day Will Come" at the #2 spot with the haunting and beautifully good song "The End of the World". It's an 8.