"Oh Babe, What Would You Say?" by Norman "Hurricane" Smith.

OK, boys and girls, more 70s one-hit wonders:  The only hit for this British musician, recording engineer and record producer came in 1972 with a "retro"-sounding tune composed by his wife Eileen Sylvia.  #1 Cashbox, #3 Billboard, #4 U.K.  His unique voice evokes the 30s pop sound.  Rich backing strings and a memorable tenor sax solo by Frank Hardcastle, with whom he served as an RAF glider pilot in WWII.  He engineered, along with Sir George Martin, all of The Beatles' recordings (over 100 songs) until and including "Rubber Soul" in '65.  He also produced three Pink Floyd albums.  Covered by Mama Cass Elliot ('72), Liza Minnelli ('73) and sung by Archie and Edith.  Singer?  Song?

Answer:  "Oh Babe, What Would You Say?" by Norman "Hurricane" Smith.  I first heard it in '72 as a pre-med at UPR. One of those very few songs that I liked the first time I heard it. There's a certain "je ne sais quoi" about it. I smile every time I listen to it. John Lennon nicknamed him "Normal" because of his "unhurried, unflappable and amiable nature".

Hurricane Smith - "Oh Babe, What Would You Say?" (youtube.com)

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