Wedding Bell Blues
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"Wedding Bell Blues" is a song written and recorded by Laura Nyro in 1966. The best known version was a number one hit for the 5th Dimension in 1969.
The lyrics are written from the perspective of a woman whose boyfriend has not yet proposed to her, and who wonders, "am I ever gonna see my wedding day?" The song carries dual themes of adoring love and frustrated lament.
The title subsequently became a popular phrase in American pop culture.
Laura Nyro recording
Nyro wrote "Wedding Bell Blues" at the age of 18 as a "mini-suite". The lyrics were inspired by an affair that actor and nightclub owner Bill Carter had in the 1950s with singer
As released by Nyro, the song is similar in content and arrangement to the later 5th Dimension version, albeit with a somewhat more soulful vocal line. Nyro's recording was released as a single in September 1966 and remained on Billboard's
The 5th Dimension version
"Wedding Bell Blues" | ||||
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Sunshine Pop | ||||
Length | 2:42 | |||
Label | Soul City | |||
Songwriter(s) | Laura Nyro | |||
Producer(s) | Bones Howe | |||
The 5th Dimension singles chronology | ||||
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The 5th Dimension had already found hits with Nyro's "Stoned Soul Picnic" and "Sweet Blindness" during 1968. When recording tracks for their upcoming album The Age of Aquarius, producer Bones Howe suggested recording another Nyro song.
5th Dimension member Marilyn McCoo was then engaged to another member of the group, Billy Davis Jr., though they had not decided on an actual wedding date when the album was released in May 1969 . The first single released ahead of the album, "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In", was a tremendous hit, while the success of the second single, "Workin' On a Groovy Thing", was much more modest. When a disc jockey in San Diego began playing "Wedding Bell Blues" from the album, Soul City Records saw the song's potential, and in September 1969 it was released as a single.
"Wedding Bell Blues" quickly soared to No. 1 on the
In 1969 television appearances, McCoo sang lead vocal parts of the song to Davis, who would then respond with quizzical looks. The rest of the 5th Dimension's early hits had featured more ensemble singing, and McCoo's prominent vocal and stage role on "Wedding Bell Blues" might have led to her being more featured in the group's early 1970s productions.
Morrissey version
Morrissey released a version of the song for his album California Son on April 10, 2019. It features Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day and Lydia Night of The Regrettes.[6][7]
Chart history
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA)[17] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
See also
References
- ^ Wiser, Carl (August 1, 2009). "Alan Merrill of The Arrows". Songfacts. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
- ^ Joel Whitburn's Bubbling Under the Billboard Hot 100 1959-2004
- ^ Gordon, Alex (January 1, 1998). "The Fifth Dimension". In Knopper, Steve (ed.). MusicHound Lounge: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. p. 172.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 202.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001. Record Research. p. 91.
- ^ "Listen to Morrissey's new single 'Wedding Bell Blues' with Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong". NME. April 8, 2019.
- ^ Serota, Maggie (8 April 2019). "Morrissey — "Wedding Bell Blues" (ft. Billie Joe Armstrong and Lydia Night)". Retrieved 13 November 2019.
- ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Retrieved 2018-01-04.
- ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1969-11-15. Retrieved 2018-01-04.
- ^ [ Flavour of New Zealand, 9 January 1970]
- ISBN 0-89820-089-X
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 85.
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100 11/15/69". tropicalglen.com.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". www.collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2012-10-20.
- ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1969/Top 100 Songs of 1969". www.musicoutfitters.com.
- ^ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1969". tropicalglen.com.
- ^ "American single certifications – Fifth Dimension – Wedding Bell Blues". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
External links
- The 5th Dimension - Wedding Bell Blues on YouTube