Oh Girl
"Oh Girl" is a song written by Eugene Record and recorded by the American soul vocal group the Chi-Lites, with Record on vocals and also producing. It was released as a single on Brunswick Records in 1972. Included on the group's 1972 album A Lonely Man, "Oh Girl" centers on a relationship on the verge of break-up.
"Oh Girl" was the Chi-Lites' first and only No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at that position in May 1972 for one week. The single also reached the top position of the Billboard R&B Singles chart the following month, remaining in that position for two weeks. Billboard ranked it as the No. 13 song for 1972. In addition, it reached No. 14 on the UK Singles Chart in July 1972, and was a UK hit again in 1975 when reissued as a double A-side with "Have You Seen Her", this time reaching a new peak of No. 5.
The song prominently features a harmonica.
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart | Peak position |
| UK | 5 |
Personnel
- Eugene Record – lead vocals, guitar, bass, composer, producer
- Robert "Squirrel" Lester – vocals
- Creadel "Red" Jones – vocals
- Marshall Thompson – vocals, harmonica, melodica
- Floyd Morris – piano
- Quinton Joseph – drums
- Tom Tom – arranger
Paul Young version
The track was most prominently covered in 1990 by Paul Young, from his album Other Voices. It became a top 10 hit in the U.S. and Canada. It was also a major adult contemporary hit, reaching number one on both the US and Canadian Adult Contemporary charts.Charts
| Chart | Peak position |
| Australia | 111 |
| Canada Adult Contemporary | 1 |
| Canada Top Singles | 4 |
| Europe | 64 |
| - | |
| Netherlands | 73 |
| New Zealand | 41 |
| UK Singles | 25 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 8 |
| US Billboard Adult Contemporary | 1 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 | 6 |
| Chart | Rank |
| Canada Top Singles | 27 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 84 |
Other versions
- Country music singer Con Hunley took his version of the song to number 12 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1982 with the Oak Ridge Boys on background vocals.
- In 1987, Glenn Jones had a moderate hit with his version on the US Soul singles chart, at No. 38.