The Cheater (song)

Last updated
"The Cheater"
Single by Bob Kuban and the In-Men
from the album Look Out for the Cheater
B-side "Try Me Baby"
ReleasedOctober 1965
Genre Pop rock
Length2:39
Songwriter(s) John Krenski
Bob Kuban and the In-Mensingles chronology
"The Cheater"
(1965)		"The Teaser"
(1966)

"The Cheater" is a song written by John Krenski, and performed by Bob Kuban and the In-Men that was released in October 1965. The band's lead singer Walter Scott received billing on the recording ("Vocal by Walter Scott"), which was produced by Mel Friedman. It features on their 1966 album Look Out for the Cheater.

Contents

Background and composition

"The Cheater" is 2 minutes and 39 seconds, has a tempo of 136 BPM. The Intro begins in E Flat Minor, with the verses beginning in the key of G Flat major, changing to G major and again to A Flat major throughout the song, with the Chorus ending in F Minor, with an A Flat Major chord in the guitar. Walter Scott's vocals range from Eb3 to C5. On the B-side is a song titled "Try Me Baby."

The content of the song describes the story of a man, known as 'the cheater' who will 'build up' a relationship with someone's significant other before 'letting them down' by lying, betraying and mistreating them, a notorious 'fool-hearted clown' who is apparently warned about by people every day to the extent where people are staying in their houses. Eventually, the cheater steals the narrator's lover and the narrator is determined to get her back. The narrator foresees a day that the cheater finds true love of his own before it all falls apart, and the people who find out are laughing and making fun of him.

"The Cheater" was the In-Men's first and only hit. [1] They had planned to tour in Australia, but there were draft deferment rules in the midst of the Vietnam War that prevented them from doing so. The manager, Mel Friedman had an agenda of his own that did not involve the band, and thus the band was forcefully split apart from each other following two singles that scraped the pit of the Hot 100, "The Teaser" and a cover of The Beatles' "Drive My Car."

Nearly 20 years after their dissolution, the band was preparing for a big reunion concert before Walter Scott mysteriously disappeared in December 1983. Scott was tied up, shot in the back, and thrown into a cistern where his decomposed body was finally found in 1987. [2] Eventually, the boyfriend of Scott's second wife was found guilty of his murder, as well as his own wife's, and was given two life sentences. It was seen by many as a cruel irony that saw Scott meeting his untimely end in the way that he did, considering the context of The Cheater.

The song was parodied by Blowfly's as "The Eater", which was featured on his 1973 album The Weird World of Blowfly.

Reception and chart success

"The Cheater" was the In-Men's first record, and only top 40 hit, peaking at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. [3] In Canada in reached number 37. [4] It was also certified Gold by the RIAA, and earned them a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's permanent exhibit on one-hit wonders. In Canada a second single, The Teaser, reached number 65. [5]

The AllMusic review of ‘The Cheater’ describes it as "something of a blue-eyed soul flavor with the vibrant horn arrangements and Scott’s almost black vocal approach." [6] It was described in Cashbox magazine as a "potent, medium-paced, harmonic tune backed with a strong, steady beat" that has a "good dance sound and lyrics." [7] The song may also be remembered for being an exception at the peak of the British Invasion. In an interview with Kuban that is featured in the book So, Where'd You Go to High School? Vol. 2, author Dan Dillon calls the group "a clean-cut counterpoint to the scores of the long-haired groups cashing in on the phenomenal success of the Beatles." [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hey Jude</span> 1968 single by the Beatles

"Hey Jude" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles that was released as a non-album single in August 1968. It was written by Paul McCartney and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. The single was the Beatles' first release on their Apple record label and one of the "First Four" singles by Apple's roster of artists, marking the label's public launch. "Hey Jude" was a number-one hit in many countries around the world and became the year's top-selling single in the UK, the US, Australia and Canada. Its nine-week run at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 tied the all-time record in 1968 for the longest run at the top of the US charts, a record it held for nine years. It has sold approximately eight million copies and is frequently included on music critics' lists of the greatest songs of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Four Seasons (band)</span> American rock band

The Four Seasons is an American vocal quartet formed in 1960 in Newark, New Jersey. Since 1970, they have also been known at times as Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California Girls</span> 1965 song by the Beach Boys

"California Girls" is a song by the American rock band the Beach Boys from their 1965 album Summer Days . Written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, the lyrics were partly inspired by the band's experiences touring Europe for the first time, detailing an appreciation for women across the world. It was released as a single, backed with "Let Him Run Wild", and reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was also a top 10 hit in several other countries, becoming one of the band's most successful songs globally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dirty Water</span> 1965 single by the Standells

"Dirty Water" is a song by the American rock band The Standells, written by their producer Ed Cobb. The song is a mock paean to the city of Boston, Massachusetts, and its then-famously polluted Boston Harbor and Charles River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">That Thing You Do! (song)</span> 1996 single

"That Thing You Do" is the titular song appearing in the 1996 film of the same name. Written by Adam Schlesinger, the song is performed by the fictional 1960s band The Wonders, who are the focus of the film. The song peaked at No. 41 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song in 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Day Tripper</span> 1965 single by the Beatles

"Day Tripper" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles that was released as a double A-side single with "We Can Work It Out" in December 1965. The song was written primarily by John Lennon with some contributions from Paul McCartney and was credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. Both songs were recorded during the sessions for the band's Rubber Soul album. The single topped charts in Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands and Norway. In the United States, "Day Tripper" peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and "We Can Work It Out" held the top position.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You've Got to Hide Your Love Away</span> 1965 song by the Beatles

"You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles. It was written and sung by John Lennon and released on the album Help! in August 1965.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lady Madonna</span> 1968 single by the Beatles

"Lady Madonna" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written primarily by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. In March 1968 it was released as a mono non-album single, backed with "The Inner Light". The song was recorded on 3 and 6 February 1968, before the Beatles left for India, and its boogie-woogie style signalled a more conventional approach to writing and recording for the group following the psychedelic experimentation of the previous two years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Don't Want to Spoil the Party</span> 1964 single by the Beatles

"I Don't Want to Spoil the Party" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was featured as the twelfth track on the 1964 album Beatles for Sale. "I Don't Want to Spoil the Party" was also released on the Beatles for Sale EP. It was later released as the B-side of the US single "Eight Days a Week", and then as the fifth track on the North America-only album Beatles VI. The song reached number 39 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Please Mr. Postman</span> 1961 song by the Marvelettes

"Please Mr. Postman" is a song written by Georgia Dobbins, William Garrett, Freddie Gorman, Brian Holland and Robert Bateman. It is the debut single by the Marvelettes for the Tamla (Motown) label, notable as the first Motown song to reach the number-one position on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart. The single achieved this position in late 1961; it hit number one on the R&B chart as well. "Please Mr. Postman" became a number-one hit again in early 1975 when The Carpenters' cover of the song reached the top position of the Billboard Hot 100. "Please Mr. Postman" has been covered several times, including by the British rock group the Beatles in 1963. The 2017 song "Feel It Still" by Portugal. The Man draws on "Please Mr. Postman" and includes a credit for Brian Holland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">She's a Woman</span> 1964 single by the Beatles

"She's a Woman" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written primarily by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was released on a non-album single in November 1964 as the B-side to "I Feel Fine", except in North America, where it also appeared on the album Beatles '65, released in December 1964. Though it was the B-side, it charted in the US, reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and number eight on the Cash Box Top 100. The song originated in McCartney's attempt to write a song in the style of Little Richard. The lyrics include the first reference to drugs in a Beatles song, with the line "turn(s) me on" referring to marijuana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow Submarine (song)</span> 1966 single by the Beatles

"Yellow Submarine" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1966 album Revolver. It was also issued on a double A-side single, paired with "Eleanor Rigby". Written as a children's song by Paul McCartney and John Lennon, it was drummer Ringo Starr's vocal spot on the album. The single went to number one on charts in the United Kingdom and several other European countries, and in Australia, Canada and New Zealand. It won an Ivor Novello Award for the highest certified sales of any single written by a British songwriter and issued in the UK in 1966. In the US, the song peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Robert "Bob" Kuban is an American musician and bandleader.

Walter Simon Notheis, Jr., best remembered by his stage name of Walter Scott, was an American singer who fronted Bob Kuban and The In-Men, a St. Louis, Missouri-based rock 'n' roll band that had brief national popularity during the 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">If I Were a Carpenter (song)</span> 1960s song by Tim Hardin

"If I Were a Carpenter" is a folk song written by Tim Hardin in the 1960s, and re-recorded with commercial success by various artists including Bobby Darin, The Four Tops and Johnny Cash. Hardin's own recording of the piece appeared on his 1967 album Tim Hardin 2. It was one of two songs from that release performed by Hardin at Woodstock in 1969. The song, believed by some to be about male romantic insecurity, is rumored to have been inspired by his love for actress Susan Morss, as well as the construction of Hardin's recording studio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Something in the Air</span> 1969 single by Thunderclap Newman

"Something in the Air" is the debut single by English rock band Thunderclap Newman, written by Speedy Keen who also provided lead vocals. It was a No. 1 single for three weeks in the UK Singles Chart in July 1969. The song has been used for films, television and advertisements, and has been covered by several artists. The track was also included on Thunderclap Newman's only album release Hollywood Dream over a year later.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Working My Way Back to You</span> 1966 single by the Four Seasons

"Working My Way Back to You" is a song made popular by the Four Seasons in 1966 and the Spinners in 1980.

The Wonder Who? was a nom de disque of The Four Seasons for four single records released from 1965 to 1967. It was one of a handful of names used by the group at that time, including Frankie Valli and The Valli Boys. Wonder Who? recordings generally feature the falsetto singing by Valli, but with a softer falsetto than on "typical" Four Seasons recordings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Got to Get You into My Life</span> 1966 song by The Beatles

"Got to Get You into My Life" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, first released in 1966 on their album Revolver. It was written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The song is a homage to the Motown Sound, with colourful brass instrumentation and lyrics that suggest a psychedelic experience. "It's actually an ode to pot," McCartney explained.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Better Run</span> 1966 single by The Rascals

"You Better Run" is a song by the Young Rascals. Written by group members Eddie Brigati and Felix Cavaliere, it was released as the band's third single in 1966 and reached the top 20 in the United States. This song is noted for its repeated roller coaster musical chords in the bass guitar, going from C to B-flat to C to E-flat to B-flat to C.

References

  1. ↑ "One Hit Wonders » 60 KUBAN, BOB & THE IN-MEN "THE CHEATER"" . Retrieved 2021-11-27.
  2. ↑ Anthony, Shane (13 September 2011). "Man who murdered St. Louis singer dies in prison". STLtoday.com. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
  3. ↑ "The Cheater | Bob Kuban And The In Men | The Hot 100". Billboard. 2013-01-02. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
  4. ↑ "RPM Top 100 Singles - April 11, 1966" (PDF).
  5. ↑ "RPM Top 100 Singles - May 23, 1966" (PDF).
  6. ↑ "Bob Kuban & the In-Men Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
  7. ↑ "Cash Box Magazine - January 15, 1966" (PDF).
  8. ↑ Dillon, Dan (June 2005). So, Where'd You Go to High School, Vol. 2. Virginia. ISBN   9781891442339.
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.