Jump to content

A Groovy Kind of Love

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Groovy Kind of Love"
Song by Diane & Annita
from the EP One by One
Released1965
Length2:02
LabelDisques Vogue
Composer(s)Muzio Clementi
Lyricist(s)

"A Groovy Kind of Love" is a song written by Toni Wine and Carole Bayer Sager based on a melody by the classical composer Muzio Clementi.

The original rendition was recorded by American singing duo Diane & Annita[1] and released as "Groovey Kind of Love" on the French EP One by One, in 1965.[2][3] It has since been recorded by numerous artists, with the Mindbenders and Phil Collins releasing successful versions.

Background

[edit]

"A Groovy Kind of Love" consists of lyrics written by Bayer Sager and Wine, with music by Muzio Clementi. Composition of the song took place at Bayer Sager's home in New York City, only a few blocks away from the Brill Building and 1650 Broadway. Those buildings housed numerous music publishing companies and record labels, including Wine and Bayer Sager's label, Allegro Music (later Screen Gems); the buildings also contained facilities for songwriting and composition. However, Bayer Sager's residence was preferred because it was more comfortable, and more private. Wine composed the music, and Bayer Sager wrote the lyrics.[4]

The title was an early use of the slang word "groovy", and both women were interested in using the word because they recognized it as new and "happening". Wine said, "Carole came up with 'Groovy kinda… groovy kinda… groovy…' and we're all just saying, 'Kinda groovy, kinda groovy, kinda…' and I don't exactly know who came up with "Love", but it was 'Groovy kind of love'. And we did it. We wrote it in 20 minutes. It was amazing. Just flew out of our mouths, and at the piano, it was a real quick and easy song to write."[4]

The melody is from the Rondo from Muzio Clementi's Sonatina, Opus 36, No. 5. Even though Wine and Sager claim full songwriting credits, they mainly wrote the lyrics and just slightly modified Clementi's music.[5] Bayer Sager originally pitched the song to pop star Lesley Gore in early 1965, but Gore's producer at the time, Shelby Singleton, rejected it, as he found the word "groovy" too slangy.[6]

The Mindbenders version

[edit]
"A Groovy Kind of Love"
Single by the Mindbenders
from the album The Mindbenders
B-side"Love Is Good"
ReleasedDecember 10, 1965
Recorded1965
StudioPhilips Studio, London
GenreSoul-pop[7]
Length1:59
LabelFontana
Songwriter(s)
  • Carole Bayer Sager
  • Toni Wine
Producer(s)Jack Baverstock
The Mindbenders singles chronology
"She Needs Love"
(1965) 		"A Groovy Kind of Love"
(1965) 		"Can't Live with You, Can't Live Without You"
(1966)
Official audio
"A Groovy Kind of Love" on YouTube

Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders had enjoyed a cross-atlantic hit with the song "The Game of Love", which topped the Billboard Hot 100 and reached number two in the UK's Record Retailer.[8][9] However, towards autumn of 1965 Fontana suddenly left the band to embark on a solo career.[10] The trio continued performing however, with guitarist Eric Stewart, later of 10cc, taking the role of a lead vocalist.[11][12] In search of new material, Shelby Singleton handed the song "A Groovy Kind of Love" to the group after rejecting to record it with Lesley Gore.[6] However, in an interview with Keith Altham from New Musical Express, Mindbenders bassist Bob Lang claimed he found a demo of "A Groovy Kind Of Love" on their manager Danny Betesh's desk.[13] Alternatively, other sources claim Jack McGraw, who ran the Screen Gems offices in London, discovered the song and thought it was a perfect match for Stewart's voice.[12]

Nonetheless, it was recorded together with a lead vocal by Eric Stewart with vocal backing consisting of Lang, drummer Ric Rothwell and a female singer in 1965 with Jack Baverstock producing.[12][14] The single was released in the United Kingdom by Fontana Records on December 10, 1965, as the trio's first single without Wayne Fontana.[15] According to Lang, the single initially failed to take off due to the Christmas rush, but eventually charted.[13] It entered the Record Retailer chart on January 19, 1966, at number 34 before peaking at number two on March 16.[9] It was kept from the number one spot by "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" by Nancy Sinatra.[16] It exited the chart on April 20 at a position of 37 after spending 14 weeks on the chart.[9] In the US, the single entered the Billboard Hot 100 on April 10 at a position of 78,[17] before reaching its peak of number two on May 28, 1966, a position it would hold for two weeks.[18] "When a Man Loves a Woman" by Percy Sledge kept the song from reaching the top spot.[18] It exited on July 9 at a position of 44 after spending 13 weeks on the chart.[19]

Upon the single reaching the top-ten in the US, Toni Wine phoned her mother, stating that she "was quitting her job" due to the success.[20] Coincidentally, it reached number one on the Cashbox Top 100 and in Record World on the day of her nineteenth birthday, June 4.[20] Pre-orders for the single were estimated to be 250 thousand copies in the UK alone and it would go on to sell over a million copies there in total.[21] It was the trio's only top-fifty single in the US which has led them to getting the label of being a one-hit wonder there.[22] "A Groovy Kind of Love" is also credited with bringing the word "groovy" back into the mainstream vocabulary of the 1960s;[23] according to Randy McNutt, in the modern day, "many excellent songs are dated just by one reference to the word 'groovy'", a fate he also several other songs, including "Groovin'" by The Young Rascals.[24]

It was favorably reviewed in the press upon release. Writing for New Musical Express, Derek Johnson states that it was a "commendable first disc", stating it to be an "attractively harmonized rockaballad".[25] However, he also states that the record "needs a few more spins" in order to register and claims that he was uncertain if it would become a hit.[25] In Cashbox magazine, the staff writer describes the single as a "soft, slow telling of a souching love tale", noting it to be a "sweet sweeping ork".[26] Following the singles' success, it would be issued on the Mindbenders eponymous debut album in the UK,[27] while it was the title track of said album in the US.[28]

Charts

[edit]

Phil Collins version

[edit]
"A Groovy Kind of Love"
Single by Phil Collins
from the album Buster: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
B-side"Big Noise"
Released22 August 1988[42]
RecordedMay 1988
GenrePop
Length3:30
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Carole Bayer Sager
  • Toni Wine
Producer(s)
Phil Collins singles chronology
"In the Air Tonight"
(1988) 		"A Groovy Kind of Love"
(1988) 		"Two Hearts"
(1988)
Music video
"Phil Collins - A Groovy Kind Of Love (Official Music Video)" on YouTube

English drummer, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actor Phil Collins recorded a new version of "A Groovy Kind of Love" in 1988. He had originally suggested the song as a good one for collaborator Stephen Bishop to record, with Collins producing. While filming the movie Buster (1988), Collins suggested the song as a potential love theme for the title character and his wife. He recorded a demo as a guide for the producers, only to find out later his demo had actually been used in the film. Collins had initially expressed reservations about being featured on the soundtrack during the movie, but relented due to feeling it worked well for the scene. He subsequently recorded a full version of the song, co-produced by Anne Dudley.[43][44] This version was originally released on Buster: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. It subsequently appeared on the compilation albums Hits, Love Songs: A Compilation... Old and New, and The Singles. A live performance appeared on his Serious Hits... Live! album.

Unlike the Mindbenders' version, which is an upbeat guitar-based pop song, Collins' is a slow ballad with a prominent keyboard and strings. When released as a single, it reached No. 1 on both the U.S. and UK charts, becoming Collins' only single to top the charts in both countries; it was his last No. 1 single in the UK.[45] The single was certified silver in the UK by the British Phonographic Industry. It also reached No. 1 on the US Adult Contemporary chart. It had the longest chart stay of any of Collins' singles on the US Hot 100 at twenty-five weeks.[46] The song earned Collins a Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male in 1989.

The TV series New Girl featured the Phil Collins version in the episodes "Wedding" (2011) and "The Curse of the Pirate Bride" (2018).[47]

Critical reception

[edit]

Pan-European magazine Music & Media described Collins' version as "a slushy version of the original '66 hit of the Mindbenders."[48]

Personnel

[edit]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Germany (BVMI)[84] Gold 250,000^
Sweden (GLF)[85] Gold 25,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[86] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[87] Silver 250,000^
United States (RIAA)[88] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Covers

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Leszczak, Bob (March 13, 2014). Who Did It First?: Great Pop Cover Songs and Their Original Artists. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781442230682.
  2. ^ [1] Archived from the original on March 23, 2016
  3. ^ "Dianne And Annita - One By One". 45cat.com. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Toni Wine: Songwriter Interviews". Songfacts.com. May 8, 2007. Archived from the original on June 21, 2009. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  5. ^ Dennis, Jon (June 14, 2012). "Readers recommend: classical songs – results". The Guardian. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
  6. ^ a b Tolliver, Trevor (2015). You Don't Own Me: The Life and Times of Lesley Gore. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 167. ISBN 9781495049729.
  7. ^ Unterberger, Richie. "A Groovy Kind of Love - Song Review by Richie Unterberger". AllMusic. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  8. ^ a b Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  9. ^ a b c d "Mindbenders". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  10. ^ Perone, James E. (2009). Mods, Rockers, and the Music of the British Invasion. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9780275998608.
  11. ^ Thompson, Dave. "The Mindbenders - Artist Biography By Dave Thompson". AllMusic. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  12. ^ a b c Tamarkin, Jeff (April 7, 2020). "How Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders Led to 10cc: A Groovy Kind of Story". Best Classic Bands. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  13. ^ a b Altham, Keith. "Mindbenders Success!". New Musical Express (Feb 18, 1966): 8.
  14. ^ "10cc : A Pure Injection Of Pop". www.the10ccfanclub.com. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  15. ^ "New Roy Head & Twinkle" (PDF). Record Mirror (December 4, 1965).
  16. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 50 10 March 1966 - 16 March 1966". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  17. ^ "Top 100 Songs | Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard. April 10, 166. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  18. ^ a b "Top 100 Songs | Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard. May 28, 1966. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  19. ^ "Top 100 Songs | Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard. July 9, 1966. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  20. ^ a b Podolsky, Rich (2012). Don Kirshner: The Man with the Golden Ear: How He Changed the Face of Rock and Roll. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 57. ISBN 978-1458471550.
  21. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1985). Million Selling Records from the 1900s to the 1980s: An Illustrated Directory. Arco Publishing. p. 226. ISBN 978-0668064590.
  22. ^ Nite, Norm N.; Newman, Ralph M. (1978). Rock on: the illustrated encyclopedia of rock 'n roll, the modern years. Thomas Y. Crowell Co. p. 176. ISBN 978-0690011968.
  23. ^ Jackson, Andrew Grant (2015). 1965: The Most Revolutionary Year in Music. Macmillan Publishers. p. 136. ISBN 978-1466864979.
  24. ^ McNutt, Randy (2021). The Language of Vinyl: Record Industry Terms and Phrases of the Golden Era. McFarland & Company. p. 93. ISBN 978-1476685724.
  25. ^ a b Johnson, Derek. "Singles by Derek Johnson" (PDF). New Musical Express (December 10, 1965).
  26. ^ "Record Reviews" (PDF). Cashbox (February 5, 1966): 16.
  27. ^ Eder, Bruce. "The Mindbenders - The Mindbenders - Review by Bruce Eder". AllMusic. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  28. ^ "Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders - A Groovy Kind Of Love". AllMusic. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  29. ^ Kent, David (2009). Australian Chart Book: Australian Chart Chronicles (1940–2008). Turramurra: Australian Chart Book. p. 205. ISBN 9780646512037.
  30. ^ "Top Singles - Volume 5, No. May 14, 30, 1966". RPM. July 17, 2013. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  31. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Groovy Kind of Love". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  32. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 12, 1966" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  33. ^ "The Mindbenders". Flavour of New Zealand. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  34. ^ "Hits Of The World" (PDF). Billboard. No. April 2, 1966.
  35. ^ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Rock.co.za. June 4, 1965. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  36. ^ "Cash Box TOP 100" (PDF). Cashbox (June 4, 1966).
  37. ^ "100 Top Pops" (PDF). Record World (June 4, 1966).
  38. ^ "The 100 best-selling singles of 1966 [in the U.K.]". sixtiescity.net. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  39. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1966/Top 100 Songs of 1966". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  40. ^ "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 26, 1966". Archived from the original on June 1, 2015. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  41. ^ "Top Singles Of Past Years". Record World (July 5, 1980): 58.
  42. ^ "BPI".
  43. ^ a b Phil Collins (2016). Not Dead Yet. London, England: Century Books. p. 259. ISBN 978-1-780-89513-0.
  44. ^ "Record Reviews, Streaming Songs, Genres & Bands". AllMusic. October 1, 1998. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  45. ^ Dean, Maury (2003). Rock N' Roll Gold Rush. Algora. p. 60. ISBN 0-87586-207-1.
  46. ^ "Phil Collins". Billboard.
  47. ^ Beard, Lanford (October 5, 2011). "New Girl recap: Suppress the Jess". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  48. ^ "Previews: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. September 17, 1988. p. 17. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  49. ^ "Phil Collins – A Groovy Kind of Love". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  50. ^ "Phil Collins – A Groovy Kind of Love" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  51. ^ "Phil Collins – A Groovy Kind of Love" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  52. ^ "RPM Magazine - October 29, 1988 - Page 6" (PDF).
  53. ^ "Top 3 in Europe". Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 46. November 12, 1988. p. 28.
  54. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 41. October 8, 1988. p. 26.
  55. ^ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  56. ^ "Phil Collins – A Groovy Kind of Love" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  57. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – A Groovey Kind of Love". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  58. ^ a b "Top 3 in Europe". Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 4. January 28, 1989. p. 32.
  59. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 42, 1988" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  60. ^ "Phil Collins – A Groovy Kind of Love" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  61. ^ "Phil Collins – A Groovy Kind of Love". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  62. ^ "Phil Collins – A Groovy Kind of Love". VG-lista. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  63. ^ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  64. ^ "Phil Collins – A Groovy Kind of Love". Singles Top 100. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  65. ^ "Phil Collins – A Groovy Kind of Love". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  66. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  67. ^ "Phil Collins Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  68. ^ "Phil Collins Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  69. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Phil Collins – A Groovy Kind of Love" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  70. ^ * Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  71. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1988". ARIA. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  72. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1988" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  73. ^ "RPM Magazine - December 24, 1988 - Page 9" (PDF).
  74. ^ "1988 Year End Eurocharts: Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 52/1. January 1, 1989. p. 30.
  75. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1988" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  76. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1988" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  77. ^ "End of Year Charts 1988". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  78. ^ Scaping, Peter, ed. (1991). "Top 100 Singles: 1988". BPI YearBook 1989/90. London, England: British Phonographic Industry. pp. 64–65. ISBN 978-0-9061-5410-6.
  79. ^ "1988 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 100, no. 52. December 24, 1988. p. Y-20.
  80. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1988". Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  81. ^ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1988" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  82. ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – 1989". ARIA. Retrieved July 29, 2022 – via Imgur.
  83. ^ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1989" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  84. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Phil Collins; 'Groovy Kind of Love')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  85. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2011. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  86. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('A Groovy Kind of Love')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  87. ^ "British single certifications – Phil Collins – A Groovy Kind of Love". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  88. ^ "American single certifications – Phil Collins – A Groovy Kind of Love". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  89. ^ "everyhit.com search results for "A Groovy Kind of Love"". Archived from the original on March 19, 2008. Retrieved March 21, 2008.
  90. ^ "sessiondays.com description page for album "Flower" by artist "Flower". Retrieved November 16, 2024.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A_Groovy_Kind_of_Love&oldid=1258502027"