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| "Oh, What a Night" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by The Dells | ||||
| from the album Oh, What a Nite (original version) / Love Is Blue (re-recorded version) | ||||
| B-side | "Believe Me" | |||
| Released | August 1969 | |||
| Recorded | 1969 | |||
| Genre | Doo-wop, [1] soul | |||
| Length | 4:07 | |||
| Label | Cadet Records | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Marvin Junior, Johnny Funches | |||
| Producer(s) | Bobby Miller | |||
| The Dells singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Official audio | ||||
| "Oh, What a Night" (Cadet label) on YouTube | ||||
"Oh, What a Night" is a song first recorded by the doo-wop group the Dells [1] and released in 1956, originally under the title "Oh What a Nite". It is said to have been inspired by a party, which had been held in the Dells' honor by some female friends of the group. [2]
Reception
The Dells' original 1956 recording on the Vee-Jay label peaked at #4 on the R&B singles chart. In 1969, they refashioned it as a soul song on the Cadet label. The August 2, 1969 edition of Record World gave it a "Four Star Pick" review, stating: "This old, old, old, oldie sounds newer than tomorrow, via the Dells chartbreaker express. All will dig." [3] The new "Oh, What a Night" was notably different from its original counterpart with an altered arrangement and tempo, and included a spoken recitation, in the introduction, from bass singer Chuck Barksdale. This new version reached #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and #1 on the Best Selling Soul singles chart. [4]
The 1969 version was ranked #260 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. [5]
"Oh, What a Night" was subsequently recorded by Sly Stone & the Biscaynes (1978), Tracey Ullman (1983), Lester Bowie (1986), the Moonlighters (1988), Nick Kamen (1988), Barbara Jones (1995), Donnie & the Del Chords (1999), and Unisoghn (2001).
Personnel
1956 version
- Lead vocals: Johnny Funches, Marvin Junior
- Background vocals: Johnny Funches, Marvin Junior, Michael McGill, Chuck Barksdale, Verne Allison
1969 version
- Lead vocals: Junior Marvin (Marvin Junior), Johnny Carter
- Background vocals: Johnny Carter, Michael McGill, Chuck Barksdal, Verne Allison
- Spoken intro: Chuck Barksdale
- Producer: Bobby Miller
References
- ^ a b Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 11 - Big Rock Candy Mountain: Early rock 'n' roll vocal groups & Frank Zappa" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries. Track 5.
- ^ "The Dells". Rockhall.com. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ^ "Record World" (PDF). Worldradiohistory.com. August 2, 1969. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 154.
- ^ "The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". RollingStone.com. Archived from the original on December 28, 2006. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
External links
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee page
- Songfacts: "Oh What a Nite" page
- Song review and list of albums the song appears on
- Change - Sharing Your Love (1982)
- Change information, bio, discography and track lists
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