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| "Love Is Strange" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Mickey & Sylvia | ||||
| B-side | "I'm Going Home" | |||
| Released | November 1956[1] | |||
| Format | 7" 45 RPM | |||
| Recorded | October 17, 1956[2] | |||
| Genre | Rock and roll, rhythm and blues | |||
| Length | 2:52 | |||
| Label | Groove | |||
| Writer(s) | Mickey Baker, Sylvia Vanderpool, Ethel Smith | |||
| Producer | Bob Rolontz[2] | |||
| Mickey & Sylvia singles chronology | ||||
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"Love Is Strange" was a crossover hit by American rhythm and blues duet Mickey & Sylvia, which was released in late November 1956 by the Groove record label.[1]
The song was based on a guitar riff by Jody Williams. The co-writers of the song are of some dispute. The song has also been recorded by Buddy Holly and Bo Diddley, among others.
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[edit] Background and recordings
At a concert at Howard Theatre in Washington, D.C. Mickey & Sylvia heard Jody Williams play a guitar riff that Williams had played on Billy Stewart's debut single "Billy's Blues".[3] "Billy's Blues" was released as a single in June 1956 and the instrumentation combined a regular blues styling with Afro-Cuban styling.[4] Sylvia Robinson claims that she and Mickey Baker wrote the lyrics, while Bo Diddley claims that he wrote them.
The first recorded version of "Love Is Strange" was performed by Bo Diddley, who recorded his version on May 24, 1956 with Jody Williams on lead guitar. This version was not released until its appearance on I'm a Man: The Chess Masters, 1955-1958 in 2007.[5] Mickey & Sylvia's version was recorded several months later on October 17, 1956.[2]
[edit] Charts and accolades
"Love Is Strange" peaked at #1 Billboard magazine's R&B Singles chart and #11 on the Hot 100.[6] In 2004 "Love Is Strange" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for its influence as a rock and roll single.[7]
[edit] Cover versions
[edit] Charting versions
In 1967, Peaches & Herb's version of the song charted on both Billboard's Hot 100 and R&B Singles charts peaking at #13 and 16, respectively.[8] Buddy Holly recorded a version of "Love Is Strange" that was not released until 1969, a decade after his death. His version reached #115 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart and #76 on the RPM 100.[9] In 1975, Buck Owens and Susan Raye had a Top 20 country hit with the song. The song was also covered in 1990 by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton. The recording, the title cut of Rogers' Love Is Strange album, was released as a single, and reached #21 on the U.S. country singles chart.
[edit] Other versions
Lonnie Donegan recorded a version which appeared on the B-side of his 1957 hit single, "Cumberland Gap". The Everly Brothers released a rendition in 1965 as a single and on their Beat & Soul album. Sonny and Cher also covered the song in 1964. Paul McCartney sang it as a duet with wife Linda on the Wings album Wild Life (1971). Everything but the Girl covered the song on their album Worldwide & again on a subsequent album Acoustic. Chubby Checker, accompanied by Dee Dee Sharp, covered the song on the 1960 record "Twist with Chubby Checker". Also in 1998, German synth-pop band Wolfsheim did a cover of the song for their EP Once in a Lifetime. Jackson Browne and David Lindley also covered the song on the live album Love Is Strange, which captures live highlights from their 2006 tour of Spain.
Rapper B.o.B. sampled this song in this song "My Sweet Baby".
[edit] References
- ^ a b Ackerman, Paul, ed (November 24, 1956). "Reviews of New R&B Records". Billboard 68 (No. 47): 48. http://books.google.com/books?id=hQoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA48&dq=%22Groove+0175%22&hl=en&ei=WjpxTZOnD8T1gAeOksQy&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CEAQ6AEwBjgK#v=onepage&q=%22Groove%200175%22&f=false. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
- ^ a b c "Love Is Strange" b/w "Love Is a Treasure" by Mickey & Sylvia. RCA Victor 45 RPM (447-0599).
- ^ Dahl, Bill. Jody William's Biography at Allmusic. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
- ^ Ackerman, Paul, ed (June 16, 1956). "Reviews of New R&B Records". Billboard 68 (No. 24): 44. http://books.google.com/books?id=gQoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA44&dq=%22Chess+1625%22&hl=en&ei=cklxTfqQBs-tgQeOw408&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CDcQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=%22Chess%201625%22&f=false. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
- ^ (2007) Album notes for I'm a Man: The Chess Masters, 1955-1958 by Bo Diddley [CD liner]. United States: Hip-O Select (B0009231-02).
- ^ "Charts & Awards: Mickey & Sylvia – Billboard Singles". Allmusic. United States: Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p13669/charts-awards/billboard-singles. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
- ^ "Grammy Hall of Fame (Letter L)". Grammys. United States: National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/awards/hall-of-fame#l. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
- ^ "Charts & Awards: Peaches & Herb – Billboard Singles". Allmusic. United States: Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p5116/charts-awards/billboard-singles. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
- ^ "Top Singles - Volume 11, No. 13, May 26 1969" (PHP). Library and Archives Canada. March 31, 2004. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.5950&type=2&interval=20&PHPSESSID=m89iq841abagb37ld9c0fdc1f3.
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