B-side "Ain't That Nice" Format 7" vinyl Length 2:45 | Released April 1964 Recorded February 1964 | |
Genre Doo-wop, Pop, R&B, soul | ||
"Chapel of Love" is a song written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector, and made famous by The Dixie Cups in 1964, spending three weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The song tells of the happiness and excitement the narrator feels on her wedding day, for she and her love are going to the "chapel of love", and "we'll never be lonely anymore." Many other artists have recorded the song.
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It was originally recorded by the Blossoms in April 1963 but was never released. The Dixie Cups' version was the debut release of the new Red Bird Records run by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller along with George Goldner. The Ronettes included the song on their debut album released in November 1964 with production by Phil Spector. In 1973, singer and actress Bette Midler had a moderate hit with a cover of "Chapel of Love".
Background
The definitive version of "Chapel of Love" was recorded by The Dixie Cups and released as a single in April 1964. Sung by Barbara Ann Hawkins, Rosa Lee Hawkins, and Joan Marie Johnson, this version was the group's first single taken from their debut studio album Chapel of Love issued on Red Bird Records. The song was arranged by Joe Jones and produced by Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, Ellie Greenwich, and Jeff Barry. It charted at number one on June 6, 1964 on the Billboard Hot 100 knocking The Beatles out of the number one spot and remained at the top for three weeks. The song also peaked at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart and hit number one in Canada on the RPM Chart. The "Chapel of Love" version by The Dixie Cups sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. The song was later included on the soundtrack to films ranging from Full Metal Jacket to Father of the Bride. The hit single recorded by The Dixie Cups was ranked #279 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, being the group's only song on the list.
Background
American singer and actress Bette Midler recorded a cover version of "Chapel of Love" for her 1972 debut studio album, The Divine Miss M. The track was produced and arranged by Barry Manilow. The following year, Midler included her version as the B-side of her number 40 pop single, "Friends" (the single charted on the Billboard Hot 100 as a double A-side). The version included on the single release is a radically remixed version, with added horns and strings, and this version remained unreleased on any format other than the 45rpm until it was included as a bonus track on the 2016 remastered edition of The Divine Miss M. Midler's single of "Chapel of Love" was issued on Atlantic Records.
Background
A cover by the American rock group, The Beach Boys was released on their 1976 album, 15 Big Ones.