"Hey Girl" Pearls: Songs of Goffin & King History lesson: "Hey Girl" first became a popular Top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963 when recorded by Freddie Scott. Donny Osmond took the song back to the Billboard top ten chart with his remake in 1972. There have also been many other cover versions of this song, including a cover by Billy Joel in 1997. Carole covered it herself on Pearls in 1980. | Carole King