Mary Wells - "Bye Bye Baby" without backing vocals

**mysterysinger** · 04-04-2025, 07:35 AM

DFTMC refers to an acetate of this song without backing vocals. Except for live tracks all other issued versions shown are of the 2nd overdub with backing vocals.

On the 3 CD set "Motown Girls Sing The Hits", Mary's "Bye Bye Baby" has no backing vocals. I prefer this version - which is in stereo as well and nicely mastered [[so not the acetate referred to on DFTMC).

Where else does this version appear?

https://www.discogs.com/release/3047...VSH2oysTYR-TmJ

**BayouMotownMan** · 04-04-2025, 09:16 AM

The stereo mix with no backing vocals first appeared on the stereo version of her Greatest Hits album in the mid 60s. Have no idea why the Rayber Voices were not included in that mix

**mysterysinger** · 04-04-2025, 11:00 AM

Thanks for that.

The CD version of her Greatest Hits has the backing vocals. MCDO9016MD / 3746352332 Mary Wells - Greatest Hits.

**motony** · 04-04-2025, 02:17 PM

Can't get to my record player right now , but I think My original vinyl GREATEST HITS[[mono)that I bought in '64 does NOT have the background vocals on it.

**Starguard4** · 04-04-2025, 04:13 PM

Originally Posted by mysterysinger

... Where else does this version appear?

There's a great version, without backing vocals, and with a bangin' thumpin' drummer, on the 20th Century Masters CD.

**mysterysinger** · 04-04-2025, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by Starguard4

There's a great version, without backing vocals, and with a bangin' thumpin' drummer, on the 20th Century Masters CD.

Thanks for that - I'm guessing that's where this track originates from - that Masters series did throw up some very interesting and well mastered mixes.

**Starguard4** · 04-05-2025, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by mysterysinger

...that Masters series did throw up some very interesting and well mastered mixes.

I found the series interesting too - I've around 30 of the Motown CDs in the series, with plans to get a handfull more sometime soon. Found the mastering a bit patchy in places, but overall OK. Some CDs are over loud - victims of the loudness wars. I had problems too, with a few tracks on both the Kim Weston & The Marvelettes CDs - "Helpless" was a rare extended version, but sounded terrible. "Young And In Love" sounded OK, but I didn't like the added intro - prefer the "hit" version. The Smokey & The Miracles CD was a let down - not enough of the original group, with some Smokey solo tracks thrown in - then they go and release a Smokey solo CD in the series, which shows to me, a bad lack of forward planning.

Then there's the issue of WHO DID NOT GET A RELEASE in the series. So they released a Barrett Strong CD, and said no to a Chuck Jackson "Motown Years" CD, and no to the Undisputed Truth, amongst others. And not forgetting Thelma Houston, who got a release in the series, but in Canada only - and using a really terrible front cover photo shot, that never ever, should have seen the light of day.

**mysterysinger** · 04-09-2025, 05:50 AM

I like the spoken intro on "When You're Young and In Love". Makes a change from the standard version. I also have the Thelma CD which is fine I think [[not sure about the photo as you say). I don't have as many of the CDs as yourself but I think it was an interesting series [[over 600 titles overall is some going). There could have been more tracks on these releases I think - kind of rectified by the Classic series.

As for "Bye Bye Baby" here's Mary at Little Darlin's with a live version [[have to skip by the ads).

**motony** · 04-09-2025, 10:50 AM

Mary was GREAT that night at Little Darlins.Great to see family & friends in the crowd.I think she set an attendance record the week she was there.Good times.

**mysterysinger** · 04-09-2025, 11:53 AM

She looked gorgeous on the video and sang well too. Never saw Mary live in person.

**paul_nixon** · 04-09-2025, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by Starguard4

I found the series interesting too - I've around 30 of the Motown CDs in the series, with plans to get a handfull more sometime soon. Found the mastering a bit patchy in places, but overall OK. Some CDs are over loud - victims of the loudness wars. I had problems too, with a few tracks on both the Kim Weston & The Marvelettes CDs - "Helpless" was a rare extended version, but sounded terrible. "Young And In Love" sounded OK, but I didn't like the added intro - prefer the "hit" version. The Smokey & The Miracles CD was a let down - not enough of the original group, with some Smokey solo tracks thrown in - then they go and release a Smokey solo CD in the series, which shows to me, a bad lack of forward planning.

Then there's the issue of WHO DID NOT GET A RELEASE in the series. So they released a Barrett Strong CD, and said no to a Chuck Jackson "Motown Years" CD, and no to the Undisputed Truth, amongst others. And not forgetting Thelma Houston, who got a release in the series, but in Canada only - and using a really terrible front cover photo shot, that never ever, should have seen the light of day.

"Young And In Love" sounded OK, but I didn't like the added intro - prefer the "hit" version.

The spoken intro version was on a 20th Century Masters CD???

**Starguard4** · 04-09-2025, 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by Starguard4

..."Young And In Love" sounded OK, but I didn't like the added intro - prefer the "hit" version...

Originally Posted by paul_nixon

The spoken intro version was on a 20th Century Masters CD???

It wasn't a spoken intro, on the 20th Century CD, I just said "added intro."

What then, was added? Singers [? Andantes] singing "young and in love, young and in love" over the music intro. Just re-checked it. Still don't like it all that much.

**mysterysinger** · 04-09-2025, 05:45 PM

Tis I that keeps referring to the 20th Century Masters WYYAIL as having a spoken into when it doesn't. It's the same as the spoken intro mix, without Wanda's feeling excited bit, so not spoken at all.

I do it as I like to confuse [[or because I just get mixed up). I don't mind having the 3 different versions - are there more? .

**Starguard4** · 04-09-2025, 06:08 PM

Originally Posted by mysterysinger

I do it as I like to confuse [[or because I just get mixed up)

Probably both LOL

**danman869** · 04-09-2025, 07:54 PM

I don't mind the sung "young and in love....! young and in love!" added during the opening of "When You're Young And In Love." While it may not necessarily add anything amazing to the track, it definitely doesn't take away anything by being there.

That said, when I listen to the version with Wanda's spoken introduction [found on the "Forever More" boxed set], the impression I always get is that it's improvisation. It probably wasn't, but... Wanda starts out sounding quite assured as though she's gonna really LAY something "profound" on us about love [LOL], but... she eventually winds up sounding lost in what she was going to say. Whether improvised or Weatherspoon and Dean came up with the lines to help make the track more interesting, it just didn't work [for me] and it makes Wanda sound...foolish--and not that "I'm young and in love" kind of foolish! I think Weatherspoon and Dean made the right production decision to mute it on the released versions [mono and stereo]. That said, it is neat to have that spoken version as bonus track. Who doesn't like to hear those pieces of the Motown creative process as part of Expanded Editions and boxed sets?!

**midnightman** · 04-15-2025, 11:29 AM

The version without background vocals is my favorite version of Bye Bye Baby. I'm guessing the backgrounds were added later?

**motony** · 04-15-2025, 02:00 PM

no, the backgrounds[[Rayber singers) is the ORIGINAL.I bought the 45 new in 1961, I think they took the backgrounds off for the 1964 Greatest Hits release to sound more "modern".

**mysterysinger** · 04-15-2025, 02:13 PM

Originally Posted by midnightman

The version without background vocals is my favorite version of Bye Bye Baby.

Mine too .

**motown01** · 04-15-2025, 02:31 PM

Does anyone have a clip of this version? Is it available online?

**midnightman** · 04-15-2025, 02:58 PM

Originally Posted by motony

no, the backgrounds[[Rayber singers) is the ORIGINAL.I bought the 45 new in 1961, I think they took the backgrounds off for the 1964 Greatest Hits release to sound more "modern".

AH lol yeah makes sense.

Maybe that's why I like it. It did sound more modern.

Though Berry might've done it out of pettiness since he wasn't messing with Raynoma anymore during this period [[64).