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God Only Knows (1954 song)
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Wikipedia article
"'God Only Knows'" was a regional hit for Philadelphia Doo wop group The Capris. It was their debut single for the group and was written by Ruben Wright. The song also had a dramatic effect on Motown singer Marvin Gaye. It has been covered by other artists as well.
Background
The song was written by Ruben Wright.'Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series', Volume 8, Part 5B, Number 1, Unpublished Music, JanuaryJune 1954 - [https://books.google.com/books?id=zjYhAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA487&lpg=PA487&dq=God+Only+Knows%22Ruben+Wright%22&source=bl&ots=Z7taNAVqhN&sig=adO51_HopyKOl0DQ6P-KWzZPXjE&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiu5eGYy_bTAhVFv7wKHccWBNkQ6AEILzAE#v=onepage&q=God%20Only%20Knows%22Ruben%20Wright%22&f=false Page 487] It was hastily written and together with five other songs it was recorded by The Capris with their very recently acquired female singer Renee Hinton on lead vocal.'American Singing Groups: A History from 1940s to Today', By Jay Warner - [https://books.google.com/books?id=mTM_9JTeoMIC&pg=PA92&dq=%22The+Capris%22God+Only+Knows%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi9kY-W_uTTAhXH2LwKHa3SCQsQ6AEIITAA#v=onepage&q=%22The%20Capris%22God%20Only%20Knows%22&f=false Page 92 The Capris (PHILADELPHIA)]AllMusic - [http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-capris-mn0001256246/biography The Capris, Biography by Jim Dunn] According to Charlie Stroud (who was to leave the group before Renee Hinton joined'American Singing Groups: A History from 1940s to Today', By Jay Warner - [https://books.google.com/books?id=mTM_9JTeoMIC&pg=PA92&dq=%22The+Capris%22God+Only+Knows%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi9kY-W_uTTAhXH2LwKHa3SCQsQ6AEIITAA#v=onepage&q=%22The%20Capris%22God%20Only%20Knows%22&f=false Page 92 The Capris (PHILADELPHIA)]), he sang the song first and didn't like it. So it was given to Ruben Wright to sing the lead. Wright then gave it to Renee Hinton.Classic Urban Harmony - [http://classicurbanharmony.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Philadelphias-Orioginal-Capris.pdf 'Echoes of the Past', Issue #97, Philadelphias Original Capris by Charlie Horner
With contributions from Pamela Horner, Article page 1]
The singer is singing about how only God can know how deep her feelings are and how she is worried that their relationship is breaking up. She also tells her lover that only God would know what would happen if they did.'Inside the Music of Brian Wilson: The Songs, Sounds, and Influences of the Beach Boys' Founding' Genius', By Philip Lambert - [https://books.google.com/books?id=3sGoAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA244&lpg=PA244&dq=%22The+Crystals%22God+Only+Knows%22&source=bl&ots=JZHTK8UxSX&sig=fnutoNjO_ShUzV9Vc8bVv3XY0E0&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi1zr_h1vbTAhVHv5QKHQ-WAGQQ6AEIRDAI#v=onepage&q=%22The%20Crystals%22God%20Only%20Knows%22&f=false Page 244]
On hearing the song, Marvin Gaye said that it fell from the heavens and hit him between the eyes. With so much soul and hurt, he related to the story.'Divided Soul: The Life Of Marvin Gaye: The Life of Marvin Gaye', By David Ritz - [https://books.google.com/books?id=LDDxPD2pejMC&pg=PT47&dq=%22Marvin+Gaye%22The+Capris&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjW1Z_ZyfbTAhXCHZQKHTmEA5cQ6AEIJTAA#v=onepage&q=%22Marvin%20Gaye%22The%20Capris&f=false 4 Stimulation .....]
It was released on Gotham G-304 on 78 RPM,45Worlds - [http://www.45worlds.com/78rpm/record/g304 78 RPM Record, Artist: The Capris, Catalogue: G-304] and Gotham G-7304 on 45 RPM.45Cat - [http://www.45cat.com/record/g7304us Artist: The Capris [Philadelphia], Catalogue: G-7 304] The 1954 and 1956 issues have different color labels.'Goldmine Standard Catalog of American Records 1948-1991', By Martin Popoff - [https://books.google.com/books?id=XUI1R7jJz2YC&pg=PA202&dq=God+Only+Knows%22Gotham&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiU2dH7zfbTAhXGTbwKHQItB5IQ6AEIUDAH#v=onepage&q=God%20Only%20Knows%22Gotham&f=false Page 202 Capris, The (2)]
Chart positions
.Classic Urban Harmony - [http://classicurbanharmony.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Philadelphias-Orioginal-Capris.pdf 'Echoes of the Past', Issue #97, Philadelphias Original Capris by Charlie Horner
With contributions from Pamela Horner, Article page 5]
Other versions
The song was re-recorded by another doo wop group called The Crystals in 1955.'Inside the Music of Brian Wilson: The Songs, Sounds, and Influences of the Beach Boys' Founding' Genius', By Philip Lambert - [https://books.google.com/books?id=3sGoAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA244&lpg=PA244&dq=%22The+Crystals%22God+Only+Knows%22&source=bl&ots=JZHTK8UxSX&sig=fnutoNjO_ShUzV9Vc8bVv3XY0E0&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi1zr_h1vbTAhVHv5QKHQ-WAGQQ6AEIRDAI#v=onepage&q=%22The%20Crystals%22God%20Only%20Knows%22&f=false Page 244] This came about because of it being #10 on the regional R&B charts of Cincinnati in December 1954. Syd Nathan who was the owner of Deluxe, a Cincinnati record label, rushed The Crystals, an all-male group, into the studio to record it. It was released on DeLuxe 6077.Classic Urban Harmony - [http://classicurbanharmony.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Philadelphias-Orioginal-Capris.pdf 'Echoes of the Past', Issue #97, Philadelphias Original Capris by Charlie Horner
With contributions from Pamela Horner, Article page 1] In 1961, the song title was slightly changed. "Heaven Only Knows"/"My Darling" was released on the Sheryl label. The actual group that was on the single was The Larks. However, the credited artist credited on the recording was Cleopatra.45Cat - [http://www.45cat.com/artist/cleopatra-doowop Cleopatra (DooWop) - Discography]Marv Goldberg's Yesterday's Memories Rhythm & Blues Party - [http://www.uncamarvy.com/Larks2/larks2.html The Other, Other Larks, By Marv Goldberg, based on an interview with Weldon McDougal] Then in 1963, again with the title as "Heaven Only Knows", a version by Little Cheryl. The female lead was similar to that of the original.45Cat - [http://www.45cat.com/artist/little-cheryl Little Cheryl - Discography]Classic Urban Harmony - [http://classicurbanharmony.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Philadelphias-Orioginal-Capris.pdf 'Echoes of the Past', Issue #97, Philadelphias Original Capris by Charlie Horner
With contributions from Pamela Horner, Article page 1]
Releases
References
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