Little Darlin'

"Little Darlin'" is a popular Top 40 song, made famous by the Diamonds.[2]

For the jazz standard of the same year, see Li'l Darlin'.
"Little Darlin'"
Single by The Diamonds
from the album America's Favorite Song Stylists
B-side"Faithful and True"
ReleasedFebruary 8, 1957
GenreRock, Doo-wop
Length2:05[1]
LabelMercury
Songwriter(s)Maurice Williams
"Little Darlin'"
Song by Elvis Presley
from the album Moody Blue
ReleasedJuly 19, 1977
RecordedApril 24, 1977
GenreRock
Length1:56
LabelRCA Records
Songwriter(s)Maurice Williams

The Gladiolas' version

It was written by Maurice Williams with both melody and doo-wop accompaniment strongly emphasizing the clave rhythm. It was first recorded by Excello Records in January 1957 and quickly released as a rhythm-and-blues song by Williams' R&B group, the Gladiolas. The song is noted for its spoken recitation by the lead singer ("My Darlin' I need you..."). The Gladiolas, featuring Williams, were from Lancaster, South Carolina, where they had been together since high school. Their original version of the song was on the small Excello label. (Excello primarily recording "swamp blues" songs in Crowley, Louisiana.) The Gladiolas song peaked at No. 11 on the R&B charts in April 1957, but barely dented the hot 100. By 1959, Williams' group became "Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs" with the rock 'n roll-R&B hit "Stay."

The Gladiolas' version was included in Robert Christgau's "Basic Record Library" of 1950s and 1960s recordings, published in Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981).[3]

The Diamonds' version

The Diamonds' successful cover version followed a month later.[2] The Diamonds were a Canadian pop group that evolved into a doo-wop group. The Diamonds' version reached number two in sales for eight weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. Billboard ranked this version as the No. 3 song for 1957.

The Diamonds' version is generally considered superior. Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine argues that the Diamonds Little Darlin' is an unusual example of a cover being better than the original:

[T]he Diamonds' take remained the bigger hit, and over the years, the better-known version. Normally, this would have been an outrage, but there's a reason why the Diamonds' version has sustained its popularity over the years: it's a better, fiercer recording. Both versions are good, even if they're a little silly, because it's a good doo wop song, giving each member of the quartet a lot to do. At times, the vocal phrases verge on self-parody -- the "ai-ya-yi-yai-yai-ya"'s or the "wella-wella"'s -- which may be why The Diamonds' version is superior.[4]

On the Pop Chronicles, host John Gilliland claimed that their version was in fact a parody of the genre.[2] Nonetheless, Little Darlin' (primarily the Diamonds' version, but to some extent the Gladiolas' version) remains an all-time rock 'n roll R&B classic.[2]

Other recordings
gollark: Add it then.
gollark: Oh, the server, I see.
gollark: What?
gollark: This could be implemented!!!
gollark: Do you want me to make ABR somehow detect and remind for voice chats?!

See also

References
  1. "The Diamonds - Little Darlin' / Faithful And True (Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 1957-02-08. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
  2. 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.
  3. Christgau, Robert (1981). "A Basic Record Library: The Fifties and Sixties". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 0899190251. Retrieved March 16, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.