The Weekend (Jack Jones song)
| "The Weekend" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Jack Jones | ||||
| from the album For the "In" Crowd | ||||
| B-side | "Wildflower" | |||
| Released | January 1966 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 2:05 | |||
| Label | Kapp K-736[1] | |||
| Songwriters |
| |||
| Producer | Michael Kapp | |||
| Jack Jones singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"The Weekend" is a song written by Teddy Randazzo, Lou Stallman, and Bob Weinstein. It was most notably performed by Jack Jones, whose version was released as a single in early 1966 by Kapp Records.
Jack Jones version
Release and reception
"The Weekend" was released as a seven-inch single in January 1966 by Kapp Records in the United States and other territories.[2] In Australia the catalogue number was K-4073.[3] It was backed by another pop-romancer,[4] "Wildflower" on the B-side.[2] Both tracks were lifted from his For the "In" Crowd album and were arranged and conducted by Don Costa.[2] The single was produced by Michael Kapp himself, and also didn't receive a picture sleeve.[2]
The single received a positive critical reception upon its release. Record World gave the single four stars and in its short review of it stated that "Jazzy waltz -foxtrot song gets an extremely pleasant rendition from the Jones boy."[5] Cashbox reviewed the single in late January and said that Jones "should have no difiiculty in repeating his recent 'Love Bug' triumph with either side of this ultra-commercial Kapp release." Continuing, "One side, 'The Weekend,' a cover of the previously released Steve Lawrence Columbia outing, is a rhythmic, chorus-backed handclapper. ...The other side, 'Wildflower,' is a pretty, hauntingly melodic bittersweet romancer."[4]
Chart performance
"The Weekend" debuted at No. 23 on February 5, 1966, on the Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100, dropping out after a two-week run on the chart.[6] The single reached No. 100 on the Cashbox Top 100 Singles,[7] and peaked at No. 9 on the Record World Looking Ahead singles chart, during its six-week run on the chart.[8] The single also peaked at No. 20 on the Billboard Easy Listening chart.[9] Outside of America "The Weekend" didn't sell well, unlike "Love Bug" the single didn't chart in Canada.[10]
Track listing
- "The Weekend" - 2:05
- "Wildflower" – 2:20
Steve Lawrence version
Release and reception
The competing version of "The Weekend", titled "The Week-End" by Steve Lawrence was released as a seven-inch single on January 3, 1966, by Columbia Records in the United States and other territories.[11] It was also arranged by Don Costa, but was produced by Mike Berniker.[11] It was backed by "Only the Young" on the B-side.[12] Unlike Jones' version, Lawrence's version wasn't included in any of his albums.
Record World called it a "Syncopated tune that changes pace nicely and provides Steve with one of his best outings."[13]
Charts
| Chart (1966) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100[6] | 123 |
| US Cashbox Top 100 Singles[7] | 100 |
| US Record World Up-Coming Singles[8] | 109 |
| US Billboard Easy Listening[9] | 20 |
References
- ^ Goldmine Standard Catalog of American Records, Krause Publications
- ^ a b c d e "The Weekend"/"Wildflower" (7" vinyl single) (Media notes). Jack Jones. Kapp Records. January 1966. K-736.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "The Weekend"/"Wildflower" (7" vinyl single) (Media notes). Jack Jones. Kapp Records. 1966. K-4073.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b c Cashbox magazine, January 29, 1966. Record Reviews, The Cashbox Pick of the Week
- ^ "Record World Singles Reviews, Four Stars" (PDF). Record World. Vol. 20, no. 973. January 29, 1966. p. 6. Retrieved December 31, 2025 – via worldradiohistory.com.
- ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (1982). Joel Whitburn's Bubbling under the hot 100, 1959-1981. Menomonee Falls, Wis: Record Research. p. 88. ISBN 978-0-8982-0047-8.
- ^ a b Downey, Pat (1994). Cash box pop singles charts, 1950-1993. Englewood, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited. p. 182. ISBN 1-56308-316-7.
- ^ a b "Record World: Up-Coming Singles chart" (PDF). Record World. Vol. 20, no. 978. March 5, 1966. p. 18. Retrieved December 31, 2025 – via worldradiohistory.com.
- ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2007). Joel Whitburn presents Billboard top adult songs, 1961-2006. Menomonee Falls, Wis. : Record Research Inc. p. 142. ISBN 978-0-89820-169-7.
- ^ "RPM Weekly - Adult Contemporary Chart Search: Jack Jones". Library and Archives Canada. Government of Canada. 17 July 2013. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ a b The Week-End by Steve Lawrence on 45cat.com Retrieved February 1, 2026
- ^ "The Weekend"/"Only the Young" (7" vinyl single) (Media notes). Steve Lawrence. Columbia Records. January 3, 1966. 4-43487.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Record World Singles Reviews, Four Stars" (PDF). Record World. Vol. 20, no. 970. January 8, 1966. p. 6. Retrieved December 31, 2025 – via worldradiohistory.com.