"Build Me Up Buttercup" is a song written by Mike d'Abo and Tony Macaulay, and released by the Foundations in 1968 with Colin Young singing lead vocals. Young had replaced Clem Curtis during 1968, and this was the first Foundations hit on which he sang.
It hit No. 1 on the Cash Box Top 100 and No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in early 1969. It was also a No. 2 hit in the United Kingdom, for two non-consecutive weeks, behind "Lily the Pink" by the Scaffold. It was quickly certified gold by the RIAA for sales of over a million US copies.
In popular culture
"Build Me Up Buttercup" is featured in the 1998 romantic comedy film There's Something About Mary and the episode "Art Imitates Art" from the fourth season of the CBS TV detective series Elementary. The track also features in the 2020 film The Kissing Booth 2, as well as in a series of 202021 Geico commercials.
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Personnel
Colin Young – vocals
Alan Warner – lead guitar
Peter Macbeth – bass guitar
Tim Harris – drums, percussion
Tony Gomez – keyboards
Mike Elliott – tenor saxophone
Eric Allandale – trombone
Mike d'Abo – piano
Other versions
A version by British trio Partyboys reached No. 44 on the UK Singles Chart in 2003.