Wedding Bells Are Breaking Up That Old Gang of Mine

Last updated
"Wedding Bells (Are Breaking Up That Old Gang of Mine)"
Song
Published1929
Composer(s) Sammy Fain
Lyricist(s)

"Wedding Bells (Are Breaking Up That Old Gang Of Mine)" is a popular barbershop song composed by Sammy Fain with lyrics by Irving Kahal and Willie Raskin. Published in 1929, the song laments the loss of childhood friendships as they are replaced by adult relationships. [1]

This song was recorded by Gene Austin on February 23, 1929 (Victor 21893), peaking on the US charts at #8. [2] It was covered by Steve Gibson in 1948 and by The Four Aces in 1954. [3] It is one of the tracks on Gene Vincent's 1956 debut album Bluejean Bop (Capitol T764). [4]

The Beatles, for whom Gene Vincent was an influence, were fans of the song. On separate occasions while being interviewed, both John Lennon and Paul McCartney referred to the song as a commentary on the way the group had grown apart during the years before their break-up — Lennon in his Lennon Remembers interview for Rolling Stone in 1971, and McCartney in the final episode of The Beatles Anthology in 1995. George Harrison performed a cover of the song during a jam session while recording his 1970 album All Things Must Pass ; the recording was eventually released as part of the 50th anniversary reissue of the album in 2021.

Related Research Articles

The Beatles English rock band

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The group, whose best-known line-up comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, are regarded as the most influential band of all time. They were integral to the development of 1960s counterculture and popular music's recognition as an art form. Rooted in skiffle, beat and 1950s rock and roll, their sound incorporated elements of classical music and traditional pop in innovative ways; the band later explored music styles ranging from ballads and Indian music to psychedelia and hard rock. As pioneers in recording, songwriting and artistic presentation, the Beatles revolutionised many aspects of the music industry and were often publicised as leaders of the era's youth and sociocultural movements.

<i>The Beatles</i> (album) 1968 studio album by the Beatles

The Beatles, also known as the White Album, is the ninth studio album and only double album by English rock band the Beatles, released on 22 November 1968. Its plain white sleeve contains no graphics or text other than the band's name embossed, which was intended as a direct contrast to the vivid cover artwork of the band's previous LP Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. The Beatles is recognised for its fragmentary style and diverse range of genres, including folk, British blues, ska, music hall and the avant-garde. It has since been viewed by some critics as a postmodern work, as well as among the greatest albums of all time.

<i>Let It Be</i> (Beatles album) 1970 studio album by the Beatles

Let It Be is the twelfth and final studio album by the English rock band the Beatles. It was released on 8 May 1970, almost a month after the group's break-up, in tandem with the motion picture of the same name. Like most of the band's previous releases, the album topped record charts in many countries, including both the US and the UK. However, the critical response was generally unfavourable, and Let It Be came to be regarded as one of the most controversial rock albums in history.

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds 1967 song by the Beatles

"Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. It was written primarily by John Lennon and credited to the Lennon–McCartney songwriting partnership. Lennon's son Julian inspired the song with a nursery school drawing that he called "Lucy – in the sky with diamonds". Shortly before the album's release, speculation arose that the first letter of each of the title nouns intentionally spelled "LSD", the initialism commonly used for the hallucinogenic drug lysergic acid diethylamide. Lennon repeatedly denied that he had intended it as a drug song. He attributed the song's fantastical imagery to his reading of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland books.

Yesterday (Beatles song) 1965 single by the Beatles

"Yesterday" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was first released on the album Help! in August 1965, except in the United States, where it was issued as a single in September. The song reached number one on the US charts. It subsequently appeared on the UK EP Yesterday in March 1966 and made its US album debut on Yesterday and Today, in June 1966.

A Day in the Life Original song written and composed by Lennon-McCartney

"A Day in the Life" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles that was released as the final track of their 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Credited to Lennon–McCartney, the verses were mainly written by John Lennon, with Paul McCartney primarily contributing the song's middle section. It is widely regarded as one of the finest and most important works in popular music history.

Here, There and Everywhere 1966 song by the Beatles

"Here, There and Everywhere" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1966 album Revolver. A love ballad, it was written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. McCartney includes it among his personal favourites of all the songs he has written. In 2000, Mojo ranked it 4th in the magazine's list of the greatest songs of all time.

The Long and Winding Road 1970 single by the Beatles

"The Long and Winding Road" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1970 album Let It Be. It was written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. When issued as a single in May 1970, a month after the Beatles' break-up, it became the group's 20th and last number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States.

Let It Be (Beatles song) 1970 song by The Beatles

"Let It Be" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, released on 6 March 1970 as a single, and as the title track of their album Let It Be. It was written and sung by Paul McCartney, and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. The single version of the song, produced by George Martin, features a softer guitar solo and the orchestral section mixed low, compared to the album version, produced by Phil Spector, featuring a more-aggressive guitar solo and the orchestral sections mixed higher.

Michelle (song)

"Michelle" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1965 album Rubber Soul. It was composed principally by Paul McCartney, with the middle eight co-written with John Lennon. The song is a love ballad with part of its lyrics sung in French.

Lennon–McCartney Songwriting partnership

Lennon–McCartney was the songwriting partnership between English musicians John Lennon (1940–1980) and Paul McCartney of the Beatles. It is the best known and most successful musical collaboration ever by records sold, with the Beatles selling over 600 million records worldwide as of 2004. Between 5 October 1962 and 8 May 1970, the partnership published approximately 180 jointly credited songs, of which the vast majority were recorded by the Beatles, forming the bulk of their catalogue.

<i>McCartney</i> (album) 1970 studio album by Paul McCartney

McCartney is the debut solo album by English musician Paul McCartney, released on 17 April 1970 by Apple Records. McCartney recorded it in secrecy, mostly using basic home-recording equipment at his house in St John's Wood. Mixing and some recording took place at professional London studios. In its loosely arranged performances, McCartney eschewed the polish of the Beatles' past records in favour of a lo-fi style. Apart from occasional contributions by his wife, Linda, McCartney performed the entire album alone by overdubbing on four-track tape.

Come Together 1969 single by the Beatles

"Come Together" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The song is the opening track on their 1969 album Abbey Road and was also released as a single coupled with "Something". The song reached the top of the charts in the United States and peaked at No. 4 in the United Kingdom.

The Ballad of John and Yoko

"The Ballad of John and Yoko" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles that was released as a non-album single in May 1969. It was written by John Lennon and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership, and chronicles the events surrounding the wedding of Lennon and Yoko Ono. The song was the Beatles' 17th and final UK number-one single. In the United States, it was banned by some radio stations due to the lyric's reference to Christ and crucifixion. The single peaked at number 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song has subsequently appeared on compilation albums such as Hey Jude and 1967–1970.

In My Life 1965 song by The Beatles

"In My Life" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1965 album Rubber Soul. It was written primarily by John Lennon, who later disagreed over the extent of their respective contributions to the song. Lennon credited the harmony and bridge to McCartney, while McCartney claimed the entire musical structure. George Martin contributed the piano solo bridge, which was sped up to sound like a harpsichord.

I Saw Her Standing There

"I Saw Her Standing There" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles credited to Paul McCartney and John Lennon, but written primarily by McCartney. It is the opening track on the band's 1963 debut album Please Please Me.

Yellow Submarine (song) Original song written and composed by Lennon-McCartney

"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.

<i>Ringos Rotogravure</i> 1976 studio album by Ringo Starr

Ringo's Rotogravure is the fifth studio album by Ringo Starr, released in 1976. It was the last project to feature active involvement from all four former Beatles before John Lennon's murder in 1980, and the second of two projects following the band's 1970 breakup to hold the distinction. Following the end of his contract with EMI, Starr signed on with Polydor Records worldwide.

Free as a Bird Formerly unreleased home demo song by John Lennon released in Anthology documentary

"Free as a Bird" is a single released in December 1995 by the Beatles. The song was originally written and recorded in 1977 as a home demo by John Lennon, the band's founding member. In 1995, 25 years after their break-up and 15 years after Lennon was murdered, his surviving bandmates Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr released a studio version incorporating the demo.

Aint She Sweet 1927 hit by Gene Austin

"Ain't She Sweet" is a song composed by Milton Ager, with lyrics by Jack Yellen. It was published in 1927 by Edwin H. Morris & Co. Inc./Warner Bros. It became popular in the first half of the 20th century and typified the Roaring Twenties. Like "Happy Days Are Here Again" (1929), it became a Tin Pan Alley standard. Both Ager and Yellen were elected to the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

References

  1. Lasser, Michael (2014). America's Songs II: Songs from the 1890s to the Post-War Years. Routledge. p. 82. ISBN   978-1-135-09452-2.
  2. For recording date, see "Victor matrix BVE-49989. Wedding Bells (Are Breaking Up That Old Gang of Mine)/Gene Austin; Dick Robertson; Ed Smalle". Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved 2015-03-21.
    For chart position, see Drake, Howard (ed.). "Wedding Bells are Breaking Up That Old Gang of Mine / Gene Austin". Music VF. Retrieved 2015-03-22.
  3. Tyler, Don (2007). Hit Songs, 1900–1955: American Popular Music of the Pre-Rock Era. McFarland. p. 167. ISBN   978-0-7864-2946-2.
  4. Henderson, Derek (2005). Gene Vincent: A Companion. Spent Brothers Productions. p. 108. ISBN   978-0-9519416-7-6.