The Meanest Girl in Town (Yeah, She's Evil)

The Meanest Girl in Town (Yeah, She's Evil)

The Meanest Girl in Town, also known as Yeah, She's Evil! is a rock and roll song written by Joy Byers, which was recorded in June 1964 by both Elvis Presley, as The Meanest Girl in Town for the soundtrack to the 1965 film release Girl Happy, and by Bill Haley & His Comets as Yeah, She's Evil! for a Decca Records single release.

Haley's recording was released during the summer of 1964, predating Presley's release (on the soundtrack to Girl Happy in 1965), although Presley actually recorded his version several days before Haley: on June 10, 1964, versus June 16, 1964 for Bill Haley & His Comets.

Bill Haley's one off deal for Decca in 1964 resulted in Yeah! She's Evil / Green Door. Recorded 16th June in New York and released on the 27th July 1964 - Dave Martin was on piano & Abie Baker on bass. Another single was released in Stereo - THE GREEN DOOR - Coupled with Corrine Corrina which was used on the Bill Haley's Chicks album. Unfortunately the 64' session produced no hit records and Decca did not offer another recording contract. The disc in the video is the British Brunswick release.

The Presley track is speeded up by the sounds of it as the title track Girl Happy.

The film version fromGirl Happy 1965

 

Nashville Songwriter Joy Byers

Joy Byers died on May 10 2017 at the age of 82.

Byers had her first hit as a songwriter in 1962 with What's a Matter Baby (Is It Hurting You)

which Timi Yuro took to number 12 on the Hot 100 and 16 on the R&B charts.

A number of her songs were also recorded by Elvis Presley including It Hurts Me, Please Don't Stop Loving Me and Let Yourself Go.

She was married to producer Bob Johnston who worked with Bob Dylan (Highway 61 Revisited, Blonde on Blonde), Johnny Cash (At Folsom Prison, At San Quentin), Simon & Garfunkel (Sounds of Silence, Parsley Sage Rosemary & Thyme) and Leonard Cohen (Songs From a Room, Songs of Love and Hate) among others. He died in 2015.

Songs written or co-written by Joy Byers:

What's a Matter Baby (Is It Hurting You) by Timi Yuro (1962 / #12 Pop / #16 R&B)
It Hurts Me by Elvis Presley (1964 / #29 Pop)
When You Loved Me by Brenda Lee (1964 / #47 Pop / #8 Adult Contemporary)
Wishing It Was You by Connie Francis (1965 / #57 Pop / #14 AC)
(No, No) I'm Losing You by Aretha Franklin (1965 / #34 AC)
Ring Dang Doo by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs (1965 / #33 Pop)
Gardenias In Her Hair by Marty Robbins (1967 / #9 Country)
Here Comes Heaven by Eddy Arnold (1967 / #91 Pop / #15 AC / #2 Country)
Let Yourself Go by Elvis Presley (1968 / #71 Pop / #15 U.K.)

From https://www.vintagevinylnews.com/2017/05/passings-nashville-songwriter-joy-byers.html