Cupid (Sam Cooke song)

Last updated
"Cupid"
Cupid Sam Cooke.jpg
Single by Sam Cooke
from the album The Best of Sam Cooke
B-side "Farewell My Darling"
ReleasedMay 16, 1961 (1961-05-16)
RecordedApril 14, 1961
Studio RCA, Hollywood, California
Genre Rhythm and blues
Length2:30
Label RCA Victor
Songwriter(s) Sam Cooke
Producer(s) Hugo & Luigi
Sam Cooke singles chronology
"That's It, I Quit, I'm Moving On"
(1961)
"Cupid"
(1961)
"Feel It"
(1961)
"Cupid"
Single by Johnny Nash
from the album Hold Me Tight
A-side "Hold Me Tight" (original)
B-side "People in Love" (reissue)
Released1969
Recorded1969
Genre Reggae, rocksteady
Length3:29
Label JAD
Songwriter(s) Sam Cooke
Producer(s) Johnny Nash, Arthur Jenkins
Johnny Nash singles chronology
"Love and Peace"
(1969)
"Cupid"
(1969)
"(What A) Groovey Feeling"
(1970)
"Cupid"
Single by Tony Orlando and Dawn
from the album To Be with You
B-side "You're Growin' on Me"
ReleasedJanuary 1976 (1976-01)
Genre Pop
Length3:02
Label Elektra
Songwriter(s) Sam Cooke
Producer(s) Dave Appell, Hank Medress
Tony Orlando and Dawn singles chronology
"Skybird"
(1975)
"Cupid"
(1976)
"Midnight Love Affair"
(1976)
"Cupid/I've Loved You for a Long Time"
Single by The Spinners
from the album Love Trippin'
B-side "Pipedream"
"Body Language" (Germany/Sweden)
ReleasedMay 1980 (1980-05)
Genre R&B, disco
Length3:55 (single version)
5:32 (album version)
Label Atlantic
Songwriter(s) Sam Cooke ("Cupid"), Michael Zager ("I've Loved You for a Long Time")
Producer(s) Michael Zager
The Spinners singles chronology
"Working My Way Back to You"
(1979)
"Cupid/I've Loved You for a Long Time"
(1980)
"Now That You're Mine Again"
(1980)

"Cupid" is a song by American singer Sam Cooke, released on May 16, 1961. It charted at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 20 on the Hot R&B Sides chart; the track performed best in the United Kingdom, peaking at number seven on the UK Singles Chart. The song is featured on Cooke's greatest hits album, The Best of Sam Cooke (1962). Cooke's producers had asked him to write a song for a girl they had seen on a Perry Como TV show—but once they heard her sing, they kept "Cupid" for Cooke himself.

Contents

Personnel on the recording included Cooke's session regulars Clifton White and Rene Hall on guitar, Clifford Hills on bass, Earl Palmer on drums and Joseph Gibbons on guitar and banjo.

"Cupid" was ranked at number 452 in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004 and at number 458 in 2010. An AllMusic critic described the track as a "perfect pop song" which combines "Latin, R&B, jazz, and mainstream pop elements". [1]

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (2008)Peak
position
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 49

Cover versions

Other

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Way You Do the Things You Do</span> 1964 single by The Temptations

"The Way You Do the Things You Do" is a 1964 hit single by the Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label. Written by Miracles members Smokey Robinson and Bobby Rogers, the single was the Temptations' first charting single on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking in the Top 20 at number eleven; it also went to number one on the Cash Box R&B chart. The song has been an American Top 40 hit in four successive decades, from the 1960s to the 1990s. A version by Hall & Oates featuring Temptation members Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1986. A cover version by British reggae band UB40 hit number six in the U.S. in 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wonderful World (Sam Cooke song)</span> 1960 single by Sam Cooke

"Wonderful World" is a song by American singer-songwriter Sam Cooke. Released on April 14, 1960, by Keen Records, it had been recorded during an impromptu session the previous year in March 1959, at Sam Cooke's last recording session at Keen. He signed with RCA Victor in 1960 and "Wonderful World", then unreleased, was issued as a single in competition. The song was mainly composed by songwriting team Lou Adler and Herb Alpert, but Cooke revised the lyrics to mention the subject of education more.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twistin' the Night Away</span> 1962 single by Sam Cooke

"Twistin' the Night Away" is a song written and recorded by Sam Cooke. It was recorded on 18 December 1961 and released as a single in 1962. It became very popular, charting in the top ten of both the Billboard Hot 100 (#9) and Billboard's R&B chart (#1). "Twistin' the Night Away" was successful overseas as well, peaking at #6 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montego Bay (song)</span> 1970 single by Bobby Bloom

"Montego Bay" is a song co-written and performed by Bobby Bloom about the city in Jamaica of the same name. The song was a top ten hit for Bloom in the Fall of 1970 on both sides of the Atlantic. It reached No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart, No. 5 on the Canadian RPM 100 Singles Chart, No. 7 on the Australian Go-Set Singles Chart and No. 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song was co-written and produced by Jeff Barry. In the master tape of the song, Bloom breaks into a chorus of "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'" at the end of the recording. The song features a whistler, as well as Jamaican instruments in a calypso style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Another Saturday Night</span> 1963 Sam Cooke single

"Another Saturday Night" is a 1963 hit single by Sam Cooke from the album Ain't That Good News. The song was written by Cooke while touring in England when staying in a hotel where no female guests were allowed. It reached No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was No. 1 on the R&B chart for a single week. In the UK, the song peaked at No. 23 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">This Masquerade</span> 1976 single by George Benson

"This Masquerade" is a song written by American singer and musician Leon Russell. It was originally recorded in 1972 by Russell for his album Carney and as a B-side for the album's hit single "Tight Rope". The song was then covered on Helen Reddy's 1972 album, I Am Woman. It was then recorded by American vocal duo, the Carpenters, for their 1973 album Now & Then and as the B-side of the Carpenters's single "Please Mr. Postman". Three years later, "This Masquerade" was recorded by American singer and guitarist George Benson, who released it on his 1976 album, Breezin'. Benson's version, featuring Jorge Dalto on piano, was released as a single and became the first big hit of his career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keep On Singing</span> Early 1970s hit song

"Keep on Singing" is a 1973 song composed by Danny Janssen and Bobby Hart, and was originally recorded by Austin Roberts from the album Austin Roberts. It was released as a single on Chelsea Records and reached No. 50 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and No. 39 on the Cash Box Top 100. In Canada it reached # 79. "Keep on Singing" was best known as a hit single by Helen Reddy in 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lonely Night (Angel Face)</span> 1976 single by Captain & Tennille

"Lonely Night (Angel Face)" is a song written by Neil Sedaka. The song was first recorded by Sedaka and appeared as a track on his 1975 studio album, The Hungry Years. The following year the song was made popular when covered by the pop music duo Captain & Tennille, who took their version to number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Ballad (L.T.D. song)</span>

"Love Ballad" is a song by R&B/Funk band L.T.D. Jeffrey Osborne is the lead singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(There's) No Gettin' Over Me</span> 1981 single by Ronnie Milsap

"(There's) No Gettin' Over Me" is a song written by Walt Aldridge and Tom Brasfield, and recorded by American country music singer Ronnie Milsap. It was released in June 1981 as the first single from the album There's No Gettin' Over Me. Known by many fans by its less grammatically correct title "There Ain't No Gettin' Over Me" — the song's official title appears nowhere in the lyrics — the song became one of Milsap's biggest country hits and his only top 10 pop hit during his recording career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Believe You</span> 1978 single by The Carpenters

"I Believe You" is a love ballad composed by Don and Dick Addrisi which was a 1977 single for Dorothy Moore; taken from her self-titled Dorothy Moore album. "I Believe You" reached #5 R&B and crossed over to the US Pop Top 30 at number 27. The track also reached number 20 in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lookin' for a Love</span>

"Lookin' for a Love" is a song written by J. W. Alexander and Zelda Samuels and was the debut hit of the family group the Valentinos, which featured Bobby Womack. The song was a hit for the Valentinos, climbing to number eight on the R&B chart and crossing over to number 72 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962, released on Sam Cooke's SAR label. The song became a much bigger hit when Womack issued a solo version in 1974; this version reached number one on the R&B chart and number ten on the Billboard Hot 100. As well, an interim version of "Lookin' for a Love" by the J. Geils Band in 1971 was a top-40 hit for them, peaking at number 39.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">That's Rock 'n' Roll</span>

"That's Rock 'n' Roll" is a song written and originally recorded by Eric Carmen in 1976. It became a popular Billboard top 10 hit in 1977 for teen idol Shaun Cassidy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">An American Dream (song)</span> 1979 single by The Dirt Band

"An American Dream" is a song written by Rodney Crowell. He recorded it under the title "Voilá, An American Dream" on his 1978 album Ain't Living Long Like This, and released it as the B-side to that album's single "(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such as I".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gypsy Woman (The Impressions song)</span>

"Gypsy Woman" is a 1961 rhythm and blues song written by Curtis Mayfield and recorded by his group the Impressions. The group's first single following the departure of lead singer Jerry Butler, it reached No. 2 on the US Billboard R&B chart, No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 17 on the Cash Box chart. It also appeared on the group's 1963 eponymous debut album. Joe Bataan (1967), Brian Hyland (1970), Bobby Womack (1985), Steve Marriott (1989), and Santana (1990) covered this song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Only Sixteen</span>

"Only Sixteen" is a song by American singer-songwriter Sam Cooke, released in May 1959. It was a top 15 hit on Billboard's Hot R&B Sides chart and also charted within the top 30 of the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart. In the UK it was covered, and taken to No. 1, by Craig Douglas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Almost Over You</span> 1983 single by Sheena Easton

"Almost Over You" is a 1983 single by Scottish singer Sheena Easton from her Best Kept Secret LP. It was written by Jennifer Kimball and Cindy Richardson. The single reached number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100, while its Adult Contemporary peak was number 4. In Canada, the song reached number 35 and number one on the Adult Contemporary chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow</span> 1975 song by Morgan Ames and Dave Grusin

"Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow", also known as "Baretta's Theme", is a song written by Morgan Ames and Dave Grusin, recorded by multiple artists during the summer of 1975. Merry Clayton's version was the first to chart, reaching #45 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second Avenue (song)</span>

“Second Avenue” is a song written by American singer-songwriter Tim Moore. The song was released in 1974 as Moore's second single from his debut LP, concurrently with a version by Art Garfunkel, which received greater notice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Throw It All Away</span> Song written by Gary Benson (NOT Andy Gibb)

"Don't Throw It All Away" is a song written by British musician Gary Benson and first released by the Shadows on their 1975 album Specs Appeal. Benson released his version as a single later the same year, which reached number 20 on the UK Singles Chart in the fall of 1975.

References

  1. Janovitz, Bill. "Cupid - Sam Cooke". AllMusic . Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  2. "Sam Cooke - Artist - Official Charts". Official Charts Company . Retrieved February 28, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN   0-89820-089-X
  4. Cash Box Top 100 Singles, August 5, 1961
  5. "Sam Cooke – Awards". Allmusic . Rovi Corporation . Retrieved February 28, 2014.
  6. The 100 Best-Selling Singles of 1961
  7. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. January 17, 1970. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  8. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. January 31, 1970. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  9. 1 2 "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Cupid". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  10. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. April 17, 1976. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  11. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. April 17, 1976. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  12. Flavour of New Zealand, 11 June 1976
  13. "Top Singles – Volume 26, No. 14 & 15, January 08 1977". RPM . Library and Archives Canada . Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  14. RPM Adult Contemporary, August 2, 1980
  15. Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 225.
  16. Musicoutfitters.com [ permanent dead link ]
  17. 1980: The Top 100 Soul/Funk/Disco Singles
  18. Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 27, 1980
  19. "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  20. "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  21. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 333. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  22. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 545.
  23. "Carly Rae Jepsen's 'Tiny Little Bows' - Discover the Sample Source". WhoSampled. Retrieved June 2, 2021.