Peak
1
Weeks
16
Score
2,827
Chart Year
1975
One of the most blatant and memorable songs in the "no-good man" milieu, "You're No Good" was written by a guy: Clint Ballard, Jr., who also wrote songs for Connie Francis and The Hollies. The song is about a woman who comes to the conclusion that the guy she split from was trouble from the start. This song had been around for a while before Linda Ronstadt took it to the top of the chart. It was originally recorded by Dee Dee Warwick in 1963. Her version was produced by the famous team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, but it stalled at #117. Betty Everett had more success with her version, which went to #51 in 1964. First released on her 1963 album of the same name, Everett recorded the song at Chess Records in Chicago, with Maurice White on drums (White, who later formed Earth, Wind & Fire, was a staff drummer at Chess early in his career). Everett was a former gospel singer who, like Ronstadt, had a very powerful voice. Her next single, "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)," became her biggest hit. The song made one more chart appearance in 1964 when the British male band Swinging Blue Jeans switched the gender and took the song to #97 in the US and #3 in the UK, where it became the best-known rendition of the song. A decade later, Ronstadt started performing the song and recorded it with her producer Peter Asher. Released as a single from her fifth album, the song was a huge breakthrough for Ronstadt, whose chart success to this point was sporadic (her biggest hit to then: "Long, Long Time" at #25). She became one of the biggest stars of the '70s, known for her musical versatility and impressive vocal range. Most of her hits were cover songs, including the follow-up, "When Will I Be Loved," originally recorded by the Everly Brothers. This song makes it quite clear that the lowdown guy is no good, but in the second verse, Ronstadt turns it around, as she's done some bad things herself and deserves some comeuppance: I broke a heart that's gentle and true Well I broke a heart over someone like you I'll beg his forgiveness on bended knee I wouldn't blame him if he said to me You're no good By the third verse, she's back to bashing the guy: I'm telling you now baby and I'm going my way Forget about you baby 'cause I'm leaving to stay Heart Like A Wheel was the first album Peter Asher produced for Ronstadt, and the results were spectacular. With his duo Peter & Gordon, Asher had a #1 hit in 1964 with "A World Without Love," and later became head of A&R at The Beatles' Apple Records, where he began a longstanding relationship with James Taylor. In a Songfacts interview with Asher, he explained that getting the most out of Ronstadt meant listening to her and honoring her ideas. "I may have listened to her with a bit more attentiveness than others had in the past," he said. "There was, particularly back in that era, an element of, 'Don't you worry your pretty little head about that, I know what's best.' Linda knew a lot and was not given credit for it." Van Halen recorded this for their second album. It was one of many successful cover songs by the group; Others include Roy Orbison's "Pretty Woman," The Kinks' "You Really Got Me," and Martha & the Vandellas' "Dancing in the Street." This is the only cover on the album. Between 1978-1983, Van Halen released an album a year. Since they toured constantly, including cover songs on the albums helped ease the songwriting burden. "You're No Good" opens the 2022 season 2 episode of the HBO show Hacks in a scene where it plays on the car radio as Deborah (Jean Smart) and Ava (Hannah Einbinder) are setting out for Deborah's comedy tour. The song highlights the generational divide between the characters, as Deborah turns it up and gets into the song while Ava is nonplussed. It also hints at the secret Ava has been keeping. The song also appears in these TV shows: Godfather of Harlem ("The French Connection" - 2021) The Flash ("The Darkness and the Light" - 2015) Supernatural ("Mother's Little Helper" - 2014) True Blood ("You're No Good" - 2013) Murphy Brown ("The Good Nephew" - 1995) The A-Team ("Body Slam" - 1985) Fantasy Island ("The Big Bet/Nancy and the Thunderbirds" - 1982) And in these movies: My Best Friend's Girl (2008) In the Cut (2003) House (1985) Oriental Blue (1975)
Feeling better now that we're through Feeling better 'cause I'm over you I learned my lesson, it left a scar Now I see how you really are You're no good You're no good You're no good Baby, you're no good I'm gonna say it again You're no good You're no good You're no good Baby, you're no good I broke a heart that's gentle and true Well, I broke a heart over someone like you I'll beg his forgiveness on bended knee I wouldn't blame him if he said to me You're no good You're no good You're no good Baby, you're no good I'm gonna say it again You're no good You're no good You're no good Baby, you're no good I'm telling you now, baby, and I'm going my way Forget about you, baby, 'cause I'm leaving to stay You're no good You're no good You're no good Baby, you're no good I'm gonna say it again You're no good You're no good You're no good Baby, you're no good Oh, oh, no You're no good You're no good You're no good Baby, you're no good Writer/s: Clint Ballard, Jr.
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dec 7, 1974 | 86 | 40 |
| 2 | Dec 14, 1974 | 74 | 52 |
| 3 | Dec 21, 1974 | 57 | 69 |
| 4 | Dec 28, 1974 | 46 | 80 |
| 5 | Jan 4, 1975 | 37 | 89 |
| 6 | Jan 11, 1975 | 29 | 97 |
| 7 | Jan 18, 1975 | 21 | 105 |
| 8 | Jan 25, 1975 | 6 | 120 |
| 9 | Feb 1, 1975 | 4 | 122 |
| 10 | Feb 8, 1975 | 2 | 124 |
| 11 | Feb 15, 1975 | 1 | 125 |
| 12 | Feb 22, 1975 | 8 | 118 |
| 13 | Mar 1, 1975 | 18 | 108 |
| 14 | Mar 8, 1975 | 26 | 100 |
| 15 | Mar 15, 1975 | 45 | 81 |
| 16 | Mar 22, 1975 | 78 | 48 |