00:00Everybody's doing a brand new dance now.
00:04Come on, buddy, do the little motion.
00:07Welcome to Miss Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks
00:10for the brill-building tunes that show off King's songwriting genius
00:14long before she stepped into the spotlight herself.
00:17Will you still love me tomorrow?
00:23Number 10. One Fine Day, The Chiffons.
00:27Released in July 1963, when the Chiffons belted out One Fine Day,
00:36they captured the hearts of teenagers everywhere
00:39with its upbeat melody and hopeful lyrics about a boy finally noticing a girl.
00:44This track is pure brill-building brilliance,
00:47springing from the fertile partnership of Carole King and Jerry Goffin
00:51at their creative hub at 1650 Broadway.
00:54One Fine Day, you look at me, and you will know I was meant to be.
01:04King's piano demo helped shape the song's vibrant feel and infectious hook,
01:09influencing the final arrangement that listeners fell in love with.
01:13The song climbed to number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100,
01:16becoming the Chiffons' signature hit and further cementing King and Goffin as elite hitmakers,
01:21even when their names stayed behind the scenes.
01:24One Fine Day, you're gonna want me for your turn.
01:31Number 9. I'm Into Something Good, Herman's Hermits.
01:35At the height of the British invasion, Herman's Hermits scored their first major U.S. breakthrough
01:46with a song that sounded surprisingly American.
01:49That's because I'm Into Something Good was written by Carole King and Jerry Goffin.
01:54Originally recorded earlier in 1964 by Earl Jean McRae, formerly of the Cookies,
02:00the song was reworked by Herman's Hermits into a bright, bouncy pop smash.
02:12I'm Into Something Good soared to number 1 on the U.K. singles chart
02:16and hit number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, launching the band into international stardom.
02:21With its irresistible melody and Goffin's simple, optimistic lyrics about finding happiness,
02:27the song showcased King's uncanny ability to craft feel-good pop that effortlessly crossed borders.
02:33Number 8. Take Good Care of My Baby, Bobby V.
02:52Bobby V's tender rendition of Take Good Care of My Baby became one of the defining teen idol ballads of the era.
02:59The song climbed to number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in September 1961,
03:04giving V his only chart topper and solidifying his status as a pop heartthrob.
03:09Take good care of my baby, he's wearing blue.
03:19The emotional core of the track came from Carole King and Jerry Goffin,
03:23whose songwriting captured the bittersweet vulnerability of asking someone else to look after a former love.
03:29It was an early triumph for the duo and a clear sign of their ability to turn youthful emotion into timeless pop.
03:35Take good care of my baby, now don't you really cry.
03:44Chains holds the rare distinction of being both a girl group gem and a Beatles deep cut.
03:58The Cookies' harmony-rich version explored the frustration of being trapped in a painful relationship led by vocalist Earl Jean.
04:05The song's legacy expanded dramatically when the Beatles recorded it for their debut album, Please Please Me, in February 1963.
04:20With George Harrison on lead vocals and a raw harmonica-driven arrangement,
04:24the Beatles introduced chains to a massive international audience.
04:28That the most influential bands in history chose to cover a King Goffin composition speaks volumes about the power of their songwriting.
04:366. Pleasant Valley Sunday – The Monkees
04:46Pleasant Valley Sunday, released in July of 1967, gave The Monkees one of their most enduring and critically respected hits.
05:01A top 5 billboard hit, the song offered a sharp, satirical take on suburban conformity, providing a witty counterpoint to the idealism of the summer of love.
05:11Jerry Goffin's lyrics were inspired by his and Carole King's experiences living in suburban West Orange, New Jersey, observing the routines and pressures of middle-class life.
05:30King's driving composition, anchored by a distinctive guitar riff often attributed to Michael Nesmith and producer Chip Douglas, added urgency and edge.
05:39The result was a pop song that doubled as social commentary, proving King and Goffin could evolve with the times while still delivering chart-dominating hooks.
05:48Rows of houses that are all the same, and no one seems to care.
05:585. Some Kind of Wonderful – The Drifters
06:01All you have to do is touch my hand to show me you understand.
06:10When The Drifters put out Some Kind of Wonderful in May 1961, they delivered a soulful classic that blended pop, R&B, and doo-wop into a timeless love anthem.
06:19Coming shortly after Ben E. King's departure, the song featured Rudy Lewis on lead vocals and reached number 6 on the R&B chart and number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100.
06:37King's gospel-tinged melody and sophisticated chord progressions gave the track emotional richness, while Goffin's heartfelt lyrics celebrated the magic of recognizing a truly special love.
06:48It's a perfect example of how their songwriting could become the emotional backbone of legendary vocal groups.
07:04And don't feel too bad for Benny King, you might remember a little song of his called Stand By Me.
07:194. The Locomotion – Little Eva
07:22Few songs have enjoyed as many chart-topping lives as The Locomotion. Released in May 1962, Little Eva's original version became a global dance craze, spending two weeks at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
07:43The inspiration came from Eva Boyd, the King Goffin household babysitter, who demonstrated a dance while working in their home, sparking the idea for a dance instruction hit.
08:01Over a decade later in 1974, Grand Funk Railroad turned it into a hard rock anthem that also hit number 1.
08:08Then in 1988, Kylie Minogue introduced it to a new generation, topping charts in Australia and becoming a major hit worldwide.
08:21Three eras, three styles and three massive successes, all from the same King and Goffin classic.
08:323. Up on the Roof – The Drifters
08:35All the roof is peaceful as can be
08:41Released in December 1962, Up on the Roof stands as a rare moment where pop songwriting reaches true poetry.
08:49The Drifters version, led by Rudy Lewis, reached number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 4 on the R&B chart, capturing the fantasy of escaping city stress for peace and romance above the streets.
09:00And there the world below can bother me
09:07Jerry Goffin's lyrics vividly portray the rooftop as a refuge from urban chaos, while Carole King's elegant melody adds warmth and longing.
09:17Produced and arranged by the legendary Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller, the song elevated pop songwriting into something closer to urban poetry.
09:24Let's go up on the roof
09:312. Will You Love Me Tomorrow – The Shirelles
09:34A true milestone in pop history, Will You Love Me Tomorrow became the first number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 by an all-female group when it topped the chart in January 1961.
09:51Written by a very young Carole King and Jerry Goffin, the song broke new ground with its candid exploration of intimacy, vulnerability and emotional uncertainty.
10:01When will you love me tomorrow?
10:07Shirley Owens' heartfelt lead vocal gave voice to feelings rarely addressed so openly in early 60s pop, while King's sweeping melody and orchestration gave the song its emotional weight.
10:19The track didn't just top charts, it helped redefine what pop lyrics could address, cementing King and Goffin as writers willing to push boundaries while still delivering massive commercial hits.
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10:51You make me feel like a natural woman, Aretha Franklin
11:08Topping our list is one of the most iconic songs ever recorded.
11:12Released in September 1967, Aretha Franklin's You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman became a defining moment in her legendary career.
11:20Reaching number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 2 on the R&B chart.
11:26The song's origin is legendary.
11:28Producer Jerry Wexler suggested the phrase natural woman to Carole King and Jerry Goffin, who went home and wrote the song almost immediately.
11:37Because you make me feel, you make me feel.
11:43King's gospel-infused melody and Goffin's deeply moving lyrics created the perfect foundation for Aretha Franklin's transformative vocal performance.
11:52Recognized by the Library of Congress, A Natural Woman stands as the ultimate testament to King and Goffin's songwriting legacy.
11:59Which King composition is your favorite? Are there any we missed? Be sure to let us know in the comments below.
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