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God Only Knows (1954 song)

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"God Only Knows"
Single by The Capris
B-side"That's What You're Doing To Me"
Released1954
GenreDoo wop
LabelGotham 304
Gotham G-7304
Songwriter(s)Ruben Wright
The Capris singles chronology
"God Only Knows"
(1954) 		"It Was Moonglow"
(1955)

"God Only Knows" was a regional hit for Philadelphia Doo wop group The Capris. It was their debut single for the group and was written by Ruben Wright. The song also had a dramatic effect on Motown singer Marvin Gaye. It has been covered by other artists as well.

Background

The song was written by Ruben Wright.[1] It was hastily written and together with five other songs it was recorded by The Capris with their very recently acquired female singer Renee Hinton on lead vocal.[2][3] According to Charlie Stroud (who was to leave the group before Renee Hinton joined[4]), he sang the song first and didn't like it. So it was given to Ruben Wright to sing the lead. Wright then gave it to Renee Hinton.[5]

The singer is singing about how only God can know how deep her feelings are and how she is worried that their relationship is breaking up. She also tells her lover that only God would know what would happen if they did.[6] On hearing the song, Marvin Gaye said that it fell from the heavens and hit him between the eyes. With so much soul and hurt, he related to the story.[7]

It was released on Gotham G-304 on 78 RPM,[8] and Gotham G-7304 on 45 RPM.[9] The 1954 and 1956 issues have different color labels.[10]

Chart positions

Chart positions
Week ending Position Region
August 18, 1954 6 Philadelphia[11]
September 8, 1954 10 Phhiladelphia[12]
September 15, 1954 4
7 		Baltimore / Washington
Philadelphia[13]
October 13, 1954 5
8 		Baltimore / Washington
New York[14]
October 27, 1954 3 Baltimore / Washington[15]
November 3, 1954 10 Baltimore / Washington[16]
November 10, 1954 4 Baltimore / Washington[17]
December 1, 1954 10 Cincinnati[18]
December 15, 1954 8 Baltimore / Washington[19]

.[20]

Other versions

The song was re-recorded by another doo wop group called The Crystals in 1955.[21] This came about because of it being #10 on the regional R&B charts of Cincinnati in December 1954. Syd Nathan who was the owner of Deluxe, a Cincinnati record label, rushed The Crystals, an all-male group, into the studio to record it. It was released on DeLuxe 6077.[22] In 1961, the song title was slightly changed. "Heaven Only Knows"/"My Darling" was released on the Sheryl label. The actual group that was on the single was The Larks. However, the credited artist credited on the recording was Cleopatra.[23][24] Then in 1963, again with the title as "Heaven Only Knows", a version by Little Cheryl. The female lead was similar to that of the original.[25][26]

Releases

78 RPM
Title Release info Year Notes
"God Only Knows" / "That's What You're Doing To Me" Gotham 304 1954
45 RPM Singles
Title Release info Year Notes
"God Only Knows" / "That's What You're Doing To Me" Gotham G-7304 1954 [27]
"God Only Knows" / "That's What You're Doing To Me" Lost-Nite L-112 1964 Re-release
"God Only Knows" / "That's What You're Doing To Me Collectables COL 1001 1978 Re-release[28]
45 RPM Singles Other versions
Artist Title Release info Year Notes
The Crystals Deluxe 45-6077 1955 [29]
Cleopatra "Heaven Only Knows" / "My Darling" Sheryl 335 1961 [30]
Little Cheryl "Can't We Just Be Friends" / "Heaven Only Knows" Cameo C-270 1963 [31]
Appears on
Artist Title Release info Year F'mat Notes
Various artists For Lovers Only Lost Nite Records LP 102 1964
Various artists Oldies From The Past Lost Nite Records LP-110 1965
The Capris Gotham Recording Stars The Capris Collectables CLP 5000 1990 LP [32]
The Capris 1954-1958 Flyright Records FLY CD 56 1993 CD [33]
The Capris Best Of The Capris Go GO-1000 [34]
Various artists Spotlite On Gotham Records Vol 1 Collectables COL-CD-5633
The Spotlite Series 		1995 CD
Various artists Collectables Presents For Collectors Only
Volume 1 "The Rarities" 		Collectables COL-7003 2LP
Various artists Street Corner Symphonies Volume 6 : 1954 Bear Family Records BCD17284
Series: Street Corner Symphonies – Volume 6: 1954 		2012 CD [35]

References

  1. ^ Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series, Volume 8, Part 5B, Number 1, Unpublished Music, January–June 1954 - Page 487
  2. ^ American Singing Groups: A History from 1940s to Today, By Jay Warner - Page 92 The Capris (PHILADELPHIA)
  3. ^ AllMusic - The Capris, Biography by Jim Dunn
  4. ^ American Singing Groups: A History from 1940s to Today, By Jay Warner - Page 92 The Capris (PHILADELPHIA)
  5. ^ Classic Urban Harmony - Echoes of the Past, Issue #97, Philadelphia’s Original Capris by Charlie Horner
    With contributions from Pamela Horner, Article page 1
  6. ^ Inside the Music of Brian Wilson: The Songs, Sounds, and Influences of the Beach Boys' Founding' Genius, By Philip Lambert - Page 244
  7. ^ Divided Soul: The Life Of Marvin Gaye: The Life of Marvin Gaye, By David Ritz - 4 Stimulation .....
  8. ^ 45Worlds - 78 RPM Record, Artist: The Capris, Catalogue: G-304
  9. ^ 45Cat - Artist: The Capris [Philadelphia], Catalogue: G-7 304
  10. ^ Goldmine Standard Catalog of American Records 1948-1991, By Martin Popoff - Page 202 Capris, The (2)
  11. ^ The Billboard, August 28, 1954 - Page 78 R&B Territorial Best Sellers, For Survey Week ending August 18
  12. ^ The Billboard, September 18, 1954 - Page 38 R&B Territorial Best Sellers, For Survey Week ending September 8
  13. ^ The Billboard, September 25, 1954 - Page 60 R&B Territorial Best Sellers, For Survey Week ending September 15
  14. ^ The Billboard, October 23, 1954 - Page 43 R&B Territorial Best Sellers, For Survey Week ending October 13
  15. ^ The Billboard, November 6, 1954 - R&B Territorial Best Sellers, For Survey Week ending October 27
  16. ^ The Billboard, November 13, 1954 - Page 97 R&B Territorial Best Sellers, For Survey Week ending November 3
  17. ^ (e)-Billboard, November 20, 1954 - Page 50 R&B Territorial Best Sellers, For Survey Week ending November 10
  18. ^ The Billboard, December 11, 1954 - Page 46 R&B Territorial Best Sellers, For Survey Week ending December 1
  19. ^ The Billboard, December 25, 1954 - Page 38 R&B Territorial Best Sellers, For Survey Week ending December 15
  20. ^ Classic Urban Harmony - Echoes of the Past, Issue #97, Philadelphia’s Original Capris by Charlie Horner
    With contributions from Pamela Horner, Article page 5
  21. ^ Inside the Music of Brian Wilson: The Songs, Sounds, and Influences of the Beach Boys' Founding' Genius, By Philip Lambert - Page 244
  22. ^ Classic Urban Harmony - Echoes of the Past, Issue #97, Philadelphia’s Original Capris by Charlie Horner
    With contributions from Pamela Horner, Article page 1
  23. ^ 45Cat - Cleopatra (DooWop) - Discography
  24. ^ Marv Goldberg's Yesterday's Memories Rhythm & Blues Party - The Other, Other Larks, By Marv Goldberg, based on an interview with Weldon McDougal
  25. ^ 45Cat - Little Cheryl - Discography
  26. ^ Classic Urban Harmony - Echoes of the Past, Issue #97, Philadelphia’s Original Capris by Charlie Horner
    With contributions from Pamela Horner, Article page 1
  27. ^ Encyclopedia of Rhythm & Blues and Doo-Wop Vocal Groups, By Mitch Rosalsky - Page 51 Capris Discography
  28. ^ 45Cat - The Capris (Philadelphia) - Discography
  29. ^ 45Cat - The Crystals (Deluxe) - Discography
  30. ^ 45Cat - Cleopatra (DooWop) - Discography
  31. ^ 45Cat - Little Cheryl - Discography
  32. ^ Discogs - The Capris (2) Discography, Appearances
  33. ^ Discogs - The Capris (2) Discography, The Capris (2) Discography, Compilations
  34. ^ Discogs - The Capris (2) Discography, Unofficial
  35. ^ Discogs - The Capris (2) Discography, Appearances
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