Hello Stranger

"Hello Stranger" is a 1963 hit single by Barbara Lewis that spent two weeks at number one on the R&B singles chart in Billboard, crossing over to #3 on the pop chart. Original version "Hello Stranger" was written by Barbara Lewis herself. She was inspired to write a song with that title while working gigs in Detroit with her musician father: “I would make the circuit with my dad and people would yell out: ‘Hey stranger, hello stranger, it’s been a long time’." The song is notable because its title comprises the first two words of the lyrics but is never repeated at any point in the rest of the song. Lewis recorded "Hello Stranger" at Chess Studios in Chicago in January 1963. The track's producer, Ollie McLaughlin, recruited the Dells to provide the background vocals. The arrangement by Riley Hampton, who was then working with Etta James, features a signature organ riff provided by John Young. The track was completed after thirteen takes. Lewis recalled that, on hearing the playback of the finished track, Dells member Chuck Barksdale "kept jumping up and down and saying, ‘It’s a hit, it’s a hit.’...I didn’t really know. It was all new to me.” McLaughlin flew to New York City to pitch "Hello Stranger" to Atlantic Records, which had picked up Lewis' previous two singles for national release. Atlantic optioned "Hello Stranger", but then had second thoughts about releasing such an unusual track. The ascent of "Our Day Will Come" by Ruby & the Romantics to the top of the pop and R&B charts in March 1963 motivated Atlantic to release "Hello Stranger" that month. It entered the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1963, but took another month to reach the Top 40. Impelled by its #1 status in St. Louis, Missouri, it entered the Billboard Top Ten that June for a five-week stay.