"Baby, Hold Me Close" was recorded for Smash Records in the U.S. as S-1969 and was released as a 7" 45 single backed with "I Believe in You" in February, 1965. The music and lyrics were credited to Jerry Lee Lewis and Bob Tubert.
Shelby Singleton, the producer of the recording with
Jerry Kennedy, was credited as a co-writer on the Australian release by
Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs. The song was published by Raleigh Music, Inc. The appeal of the song is to dancing. In 1965, go go dancing and dance shows were popular. The opening line is: "Now listen here baby to what ol' Jerry Lee has to say / I want you to get out on this dance floor with me now." While on the floor, he exhorts his partner: "Now hold me close, baby / Squeeze ol' Jerry Lee all through the doggone night." In
Jerry Lee Lewis: Lost and Found, Joe Bonomo characterizes the song as "a cool studio-concocted groove". Jerry Lee Lewis performed the song live on the American music variety television series
Shindig! in 1965. The song was also released as a 45 single in the UK, Australia, Brazil, and the Netherlands. In the UK, the song was released as a Philips 7" 45 single in April, 1965 as BF 1407. The song was featured on the 1965 Smash LP album
The Return of Rock. The single reached no. 129 on the
Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100 singles chart in the U.S. in June, 1965.
Billy Thorpe released a cover version in Australia as a
Parlophone Records 45 single as A8170 on
EMI in September, 1965 as
Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs. Their recording was a hit on the Australian charts, reaching #4 in Sydney, #24 in Melbourne, #4 in Brisbane, #14 in Adelaide, and #19 in Perth. The single peaked at #15 on Australia's (4BC) Top Singles Chart for the week of November 14, 1965. The recording was also released on the 1965 Parlophone EP
Twilight Time. The song appeared on the 1971 compilation album
The Best of Billy Thorpe on Parlophone. ==Album appearances==