Chapel of Love

Last updated
"Chapel of Love"
Single by The Dixie Cups
from the album Chapel of Love
B-side "Ain't That Nice"
ReleasedApril 1964
RecordedFebruary 1964
Genre Pop [1]
Length2:45
Label Red Bird
Songwriter(s) Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector
Producer(s) Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry
The Dixie Cups singles chronology
"Chapel of Love"
(1964)		"People Say"
(1964)

"Chapel of Love" is a song written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector, and made famous by The Dixie Cups in 1964, spending three weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. [2] The song tells of the happiness and excitement the narrator feels on her wedding day, for she and her love are going to the "chapel of love", and "[they'll] never be lonely anymore." Many other artists have recorded the song.

Contents

It was originally recorded by Darlene Love in April 1963, but her version was not released until 1991. The Dixie Cups' version was the debut release of the new Red Bird Records run by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller along with George Goldner. [3] The Ronettes included the song on their debut album released in November 1964 with production by Phil Spector. In 1973, singer and actress Bette Midler had a moderate hit with a cover of "Chapel of Love".

The Dixie Cups version

Background

The song was written in 1963 by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, who had themselves recently married; Barry later said that "the concept of marriage was very much in my head" at the time. It was written for Darlene Love to record, but producer Phil Spector was dissatisfied with her version and it was not released for some years. [4]

The Mel-Tones – a group of three young women from New Orleans, Barbara Ann Hawkins, Rosa Lee Hawkins, and Joan Marie Johnson – had traveled to New York City with their manager Joe Jones to attempt to get a record deal. They were given the song "Chapel of Love" to sing, and passed an audition with Leiber and Stoller in the Brill Building. The group rehearsed the song with Barry and Greenwich before recording it. The arrangement was by Wardell Quezergue, and Leiber and Stoller added lyrics and some touches to the arrangements. Leiber and Stoller then decided to issue the record as the first release on their own new record label, Red Bird, and changed the group's name to The Dixie Cups. [4]

The definitive version of "Chapel of Love" by The Dixie Cups was released as a single in April 1964. [3] Sung by Barbara Ann Hawkins, Rosa Lee Hawkins, and Joan Marie Johnson, this version was the group's first single taken from their debut studio album Chapel of Love . [5] The song was arranged by Joe Jones and produced by Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, Ellie Greenwich, and Jeff Barry. [6] It charted at number one on June 6, 1964, on the Billboard Hot 100 knocking The Beatles out of the number one spot and remained at the top for three weeks. [6] The song also peaked at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart [7] and hit number one in Canada on the RPM Chart. [8] The "Chapel of Love" version by The Dixie Cups sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. [9] The song was later included on the soundtrack to films ranging from Full Metal Jacket to Father of the Bride . [10] The hit single recorded by The Dixie Cups was ranked No. 279 on Rolling Stone 's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, being the group's only song on the list. [11] Billboard named the song No. 33 on their list of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time. [12]

Chart performance

Chart (1964)Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 [2] 1
UK Singles Chart [7] 22
Canada RPM [8] 1

Bette Midler version

Background

American singer and actress Bette Midler recorded a cover version of "Chapel of Love" for her 1972 debut studio album, The Divine Miss M . The track was produced and arranged by Barry Manilow. The following year, Midler included her version as the B-side of her number 40 pop single, "Friends" (the single charted on the Billboard Hot 100 as a double A-side). The version included on the single release is a radically remixed version, with added horns and strings, and this version remained unreleased on any format other than the 45rpm until it was included as a bonus track on the 2016 remastered edition of The Divine Miss M . Midler's single of "Chapel of Love" was issued on Atlantic Records.

Chart performance

Chart (1973)Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 40

The Beach Boys version

"Chapel of Love"
Song by The Beach Boys
from the album 15 Big Ones
ReleasedJuly 5, 1976 (1976-07-05)
Recorded1976
Length2:34
Songwriter(s) Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector
Producer(s) Brian Wilson

Background

A cover by the American rock group, The Beach Boys was released on their 1976 album, 15 Big Ones .

Personnel

The Beach Boys

Additional musicians

Other versions

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Ronettes</span> American singing group

The Ronettes were an American girl group from Washington Heights, Manhattan, New York City. The group consisted of lead singer Veronica Bennett, her older sister Estelle Bennett, and their cousin Nedra Talley. They had sung together since they were teenagers, then known as "The Darling Sisters". Signed first by Colpix Records in 1961, they moved to Phil Spector's Philles Records in March 1963 and changed their name to "The Ronettes".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller</span> American songwriting and record producing duo

Leiber and Stoller were an American Grammy award-winning songwriting and record production duo, consisting of lyricist Jerome Leiber and composer Michael Stoller They wrote numerous standards for Broadway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Dixie Cups</span> American musical girl group of the 1960s

The Dixie Cups are an American pop music girl group of the 1960s. They are best known for a string of hits including their 1964 million-selling singles "Chapel of Love", "People Say", and "Iko Iko".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronnie Spector</span> American singer (1943–2022)

Veronica Yvette Greenfield was an American singer who co-founded and fronted the girl group The Ronettes. She is sometimes referred to as the original "bad girl of rock and roll".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Bird Records</span> Defunct American record label

Red Bird Records was a record label founded by American pop music songwriters Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, and George Goldner in 1964. Though often thought of as a "girl-group" label, female-led acts made up only 40% of the artist roster on Red Bird and its associated labels. However, female-led acts also accounted for more than 90% of the label's charting records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spanish Harlem (song)</span> 1960 song by Ben E. King

"Spanish Harlem" is a song recorded by Ben E. King in 1960 for Atco Records. It was written by Jerry Leiber and Phil Spector and produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. "Spanish Harlem" was King's first hit away from The Drifters, peaking at number 15 on Billboard's rhythm and blues and number 10 in pop music chart.

Jeff Barry is an American pop music songwriter, singer, and record producer. Among the most successful songs that he has co-written in his career are "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", "Da Doo Ron Ron", "Then He Kissed Me", "Be My Baby", "Chapel of Love", and "River Deep - Mountain High" ; "Leader of the Pack" ; "Sugar, Sugar" ; "Without Us".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Be My Baby</span> 1963 song by the Ronettes

"Be My Baby" is a song by American girl group the Ronettes that was released as a single on Philles Records in August 1963. Written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, and Phil Spector, the song was the Ronettes' biggest hit, reaching number 2 in the U.S. and number 4 in the UK. It is often ranked as among the best songs of the 1960s, and it is regarded by some as one of the greatest songs of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baby, I Love You</span> 1963 single by the Ronettes

"Baby, I Love You" is a song originally recorded by the Ronettes in 1963 and released on their debut album Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes (1964). The song was written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, and Phil Spector, and produced by Spector.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ellie Greenwich</span> American singer-songwriter

Eleanor Louise Greenwich was an American pop music singer, songwriter, and record producer. She wrote or co-wrote "Da Doo Ron Ron", "Be My Baby", "Maybe I Know", "Then He Kissed Me", "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", "Christmas ", "Hanky Panky", "Chapel of Love", "Leader of the Pack", and "River Deep – Mountain High", among others.

<i>Divine Madness</i> (Bette Midler album) 1980 live album by Bette Midler

Divine Madness is an album by American singer Bette Midler and the Harlettes, released in 1980. It is a live recording taken from Midler's Divine Madness concert film, released the same year. The album, however, does not contain any of Midler's comedy routines and features only her musical performances from the show and it in fact only provides half of the songs that appear in the film. The original live recordings were also to a large extent edited and re-recorded in the studio for the soundtrack album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leader of the Pack</span> 1964 single by the Shangri-Las

"Leader of the Pack" is a song written by George "Shadow" Morton, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich. It was a number one pop hit in 1964 for the American girl group the Shangri-Las. The single is one of the group's best known songs as well as a popular cultural example of a "teenage tragedy song". The song was covered in 1985 by the heavy metal band Twisted Sister, who had a more modest hit with their version.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm a Woman (song)</span> Original song written and composed by Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller

The song "I'm a Woman" was written by famed songwriting duo Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, and was first recorded in 1962 by Christine Kittrell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes</span> 1963 single by The Supremes

"When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes" is a song written by Holland–Dozier–Holland and recorded in 1963 by Motown singing group The Supremes. It is notable as the Supremes' first Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 recording, following seven previous singles between January 1961 and September 1963 which failed to enter the Top 40. The single is also notable as the first Supremes single written and produced by Holland–Dozier–Holland, who had previously created hits for Martha and the Vandellas and Mary Wells.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(The Best Part of) Breakin' Up</span> 1964 song

"(The Best Part of) Breakin' Up" is a song written by Phil Spector, Pete Andreoli and Vince Poncia. It was first recorded by the Ronettes, produced by Phil Spector and arranged by Jack Nitzsche with Ronnie Spector on lead vocals and with backing vocals by Nedra Talley and Estelle Bennett, ably abetted by Darlene Love and the Blossoms, Bobby Sheen, and Sonny & Cher. The song was released in April 1964, the year widely recognized as the group's most successful year, and proved to be the group's third consecutive top forty hit in the US. The single peaked at number 39 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number 43 on the UK Singles Chart.

"Is This What I Get for Loving You?" is a pop song written by Phil Spector, Carole King and Gerry Goffin and recorded by 1960s girl group The Ronettes. The song featured Ronettes lead singer Ronnie Spector on lead vocals, and Ronettes Nedra Talley and Estelle Bennett on backing vocals. Released on Philles Records, reaching No. 75 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1965.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walking in the Rain (The Ronettes song)</span> Song by The Ronettes

"Walking in the Rain" is a song written by Barry Mann, Phil Spector, and Cynthia Weil. It was originally recorded by the girl group the Ronettes in 1964 who had a charting hit with their version. Jay and the Americans released a charting hit cover of the song in 1969. The song has since been recorded by many other artists over the years, including the Walker Brothers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Why Don't They Let Us Fall in Love</span> 1964 single by Veronica

"Why Don't They Let Us Fall in Love" is a song written by Phil Spector, Ellie Greenwich, and Jeff Barry. It was first recorded by American singer Ronnie Spector, who was credited as Veronica. In 1964, it was released as an A-sided single backed with "Chubby Danny D". It did not chart.

"People Say" is a hit single written by the Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich songwriting team and made popular by the American pop girl group The Dixie Cups. It was originally released in July 1964 on the Red Bird Records label. The song was arranged by Mike Stoller. Billboard named the song #53 on their list of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time.

<i>Chapel of Love</i> (album) 1964 studio album by The Dixie Cups

Chapel of Love is the debut studio album by the New Orleans pop girl group The Dixie Cups. The album was produced by Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich. It includes 11 tracks and was first released on Red Bird Records in August 1964. It was available in both mono and stereo, catalogue numbers RB 20-100 and RBS 20-100.

References

  1. ↑ Breihan, Tom (June 19, 2018). "The Number Ones: The Dixie Cups' "Chapel Of Love"". Stereogum . Retrieved June 10, 2023. It's a small miracle of pop music — sharp, economical, idealistic, guiltlessly sentimental.
  2. 1 2 Whitburn, Joel (2009). Top Pop Singles 1955-2008 (12th ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 282.
  3. 1 2 Betrock, Alan (1982). Girl Groups The Story of a Sound (1st ed.). New York: Delilah Books. pgs. 90-94. ISBN   0-933328-25-7
  4. 1 2 Myers, Marc (2016). Anatomy of a Song. Grove Press. pp. 35–39. ISBN   978-1-61185-525-8.
  5. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top Pop Albums 1955-1996 (4th ed.). Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation. p. 222. ISBN   0-89820-117-9.
  6. 1 2 Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits: The Inside Story Behind Every Number One Single on Billboard's Hot 100 from 1955 to the Present (5th ed.). Billboard Books. p. 149. ISBN   0-8230-7677-6.
  7. 1 2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 158. ISBN   1-904994-10-5
  8. 1 2 "Top Forty-5's". RPM. 22 June 1964. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017.
  9. ↑ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. pp.  173–174. ISBN   0-214-20512-6.
  10. ↑ Chokshi, Niraj (2016-10-08). "Joan Marie Johnson, of the Singing Trio the Dixie Cups, Dies at 72". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  11. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Presents Across The Charts: The 1960s (1st ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p.119.
  12. ↑ "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Tell That Girl to Shut Up"/"Chapel of Love," rateyourmusic.com
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.