Long Lonely Nights

"Long Lonely Nights" is a song that was originally released by Lee Andrews & the Hearts in 1957. Hit versions were also released by Clyde McPhatter, later in 1957, and Bobby Vinton in 1965. The song was written by Lee Andrews, though Larry Brown (as Abbott), Doug Henderson, and Mimi Uniman were given songwriter credit as well, in a practice that was common at the time.[1]

"Long Lonely Nights"
Single by Lee Andrews & the Hearts
B-side"The Clock"
Released1957
GenreDoo wop
Length2:55
LabelMain Line
Songwriter(s)Lee Andrews[1]
Lee Andrews & the Hearts singles chronology
"Just Suppose"
(1956)		 "Long Lonely Nights"
(1957)		 "Tear Drops"
(1957)

1957 versions

Lee Andrews & the Hearts' version was released as a single in 1957.[2] It was originally released on the Philadelphia based Main Line Records label, before being released on the Chess label, which was able to give it wider distribution.[3] It reached No. 45 on Billboard's "Top 100 Sides" chart,[4] and No. 11 on Billboard's chart of "Most Played R&B by Jockeys".[5]

Clyde McPhatter's version was released as a single in 1957.[2] It reached No. 49 on Billboard's "Top 100 Sides" chart,[6] while reaching No. 1 on Billboard's chart of "Most Played R&B by Jockeys",[5] and No. 9 on Billboard's chart of "R&B Best Sellers in Stores".[7] In 1958, McPhatter released the song on his album Love Ballads.[8]

The song also reached No. 33 on the Cash Box Top 60 in 1957, in a tandem ranking of Lee Andrews & the Hearts, Clyde McPhatter, Kitty Kallen, and The Kings' versions, with Lee Andrews & the Hearts and Clyde McPhatter's versions marked as bestsellers,[9] while reaching No. 27 on Cash Box's chart of "The Records Disc Jockeys Played Most".[10] It also reached No. 3 on Cash Box's R&B Top 20, in a tandem ranking of Lee Andrews & the Hearts and Clyde McPhatter's versions.[11]

Bobby Vinton version
"Long Lonely Nights"
Single by Bobby Vinton
from the album Bobby Vinton Sings for Lonely Nights
B-side"Satin"
Released1965
GenrePop
Length2:27
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)Lee Andrews[1]
Bobby Vinton singles chronology
"Dearest Santa"
(1964)		 "Long Lonely Nights"
(1965)		 "L-O-N-E-L-Y"
(1965)

Bobby Vinton released the most widely successful version of "Long Lonely Nights" in 1965 as a single and on the album Bobby Vinton Sings for Lonely Nights. Vinton's version spent 7 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 17,[12] while reaching No. 12 on Record World's "100 Top Pops",[13] No. 14 on the Cash Box Top 100,[14] No. 5 on Billboard's Middle-Road Singles chart,[15][16] and No. 5 on Canada's "RPM Play Sheet".[17]

Other versions

The Four Seasons released a cover of "Long Lonely Nights" in 1964, as the B-side of "Alone",[3] and on the album Folk-Nanny.[18]

The Dells released a cover of "Long Lonely Nights" in 1970, as a single and on the album Like It Is, Like It Was.[19] It spent 4 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 74,[20] while reaching No. 27 on Billboard's Soul Singles chart,[21] No. 60 on Record World's "100 Top Pops",[22] No. 13 on Record World's "Top 50 R&B",[23] and No. 70 on the Cash Box Top 100.[24]

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References
  1. Warner, Jay (2006). American Singing Groups: A History from 1940s to Today, Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 102. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  2. "This Week's R&B Best Buys", Billboard, July 29, 1957. p. 60. Retrieved March 24, 2018
  3. Leszczak, Bob (2013). Who Did It First?: Great Rhythm and Blues Cover Songs and Their Original Artists, Scarecrow Press, p. 131. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  4. "Top 100 Sides", Billboard, August 26, 1957. p. 88. Accessed October 19, 2015
  5. "Most Played R&B by Jockeys", Billboard, September 16, 1957. p. 58. Accessed October 19, 2015
  6. "Top 100 Sides", Billboard, September 30, 1957. p. 50. Accessed October 19, 2015
  7. "R&B Best Sellers in Stores", Billboard, August 5, 1957. p. 57. Accessed October 19, 2015
  8. "Love Ballads – Clyde McPhatter". AllMusic. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  9. "The Cash Box Top 60 Best Selling Tunes on Records", Cash Box, August 17, 1957. p. 6. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  10. "The Records Disc Jockeys Played Most", Cash Box, September 14, 1957. p. 16. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  11. "The Nation's R&B Top 20", Cash Box, September 7, 1957. p. 50. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  12. Hot 100 - Bobby Vinton Long Lonely Nights Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  13. "100 Top Pops", Record World, April 10, 1965. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  14. "Cash Box Top 100", Cash Box, April 10, 1965. p. 4. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  15. Adult Contemporary - Bobby Vinton Long Lonely Nights Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  16. "Middle-Road Singles", Billboard, March 27, 1965. p. 64. Accessed October 19, 2015
  17. "R.P.M. Play Sheet", RPM Weekly, Volume 3, Ed. 7, April 12, 1965. Accessed October 19, 2015
  18. "Folk-Nanny – Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons". AllMusic. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  19. "Like It Is, Like It Was – The Dells". AllMusic. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  20. Hot 100 The Dells Long Lonely Nights Chart History, Billboard.com. Accessed October 19, 2015
  21. "Soul Singles", Billboard, August 29, 1970. p. 29. Accessed October 19, 2015
  22. "100 Top Pops", Record World, August 22, 1970. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  23. "Top 50 R&B", Record World, August 15, 1970. p. 31. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  24. "Cash Box Top 100", Cash Box, August 8, 1970. p. 4. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
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