"Red Rubber Ball" was written by which pair of songwriters?

"Red Rubber Ball" is the story of unrequited love, which the singer finally realizes, comes to terms with, and observes in the chorus, "And I think it's gonna be alright. Yeah, the worst is over now. The mornin' sun is shinin' like a red rubber ball."

The song was one of two Top-40 hits for the 1960s American rock band The Cyrkle; their other was "Turn-Down Day."

It was penned when Paul Simon and then-partner Art Garfunkel were on tour and Simon was living in England. At the same time, The Cyrkle was opening for Simon and Grarfunkel. To earn money, Simon teamed up with Bruce Woodley of The Seekers to write the song, which scored on the record charts in the United States, Canada, and New Zealand.

The Seekers covered "Red Rubber Ball," as did other artists and groups, including Mel Tormé, Cilla Black, Eggchair (their cover was featured in the 2004 film, "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story"), The Diodes (reportedly because Simon was a critic of punk rock and The Diodes were a Canadian punk rock band), Simon and Garfunkel themselves, Streetlight Manifesto, and, in 2015, Nellie McKay.

Today, the picture-sleeve that Columbia Records issued with the "Red Rubber Ball" single is a collector's item.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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29 Comments

Howard Groopman

Coincidentally, that song has been running through my head all afternoon. I've known this song and its composers for nearly six decades, and that it was written in England. S&G both went to my high school, 10 years earlier. Brian Epstein managed the Cyrkle, and included them on the bill when the Beatles toured.

Suraya Choudhury

I put Ray Davies and Dave Davies !

Cynthia Bush MD

One of my physician friends recorded this first with his band: his one and only hit ❣️

Mallory

Got it

Colin David Field

Great song, best version is the Seekers version, co-written by Melbourne lad Bruce Woodley. He also co-wrote with Paul Simon Cloudy from PSR&T. And who can forget that the arrangement of Scarborough Fair was from Martin Carthy. Happy to say I’ve met both Bruce and Martin in my time

Leanna Greenbush

No clue.

Sue Grayson

Jimmy Burnett, That was Rubber Ball, not Red Rubber Ball.

Michael Doherty

The morning sun is shining like a red rubber ball.

Denise Currie

A good guess, It is a song I have never heard

lucasmats

When name that tune? was popular, Joy and I would play Who wrote it? and Who sang the original? I remembered I laughed when at Rhino Records store, she said red rubber ball was written by Simon and an Australian (Seeker). yes, the worst is over now

Joy Desreaux

Lucky guess

Cheryl Perkins

I remember the song but had no idea who wrote it. The songwriters I do know were Lennon and McCartney.

Marcella Kosse

Afraid I’ve never paid attention to who wrote the songs, just who sang them. Even then, I remember the songs in though I am in my late 60’s, but rarely remember who sang them.