"Oh, What a Night"
Single by The Dells
from the album Oh, What a Nite (original version) / Love Is Blue (re-recorded version)
B-side"Believe Me"
ReleasedAugust 1969
Recorded1969
GenreDoo-wop,[1] soul
Length4:07
LabelCadet Records
Songwriter(s)Marvin Junior, Johnny Funches
Producer(s)Bobby Miller
The Dells singles chronology
"I Can Sing A Rainbow/Love Is Blue"
(1969)		 "Oh, What a Night"
(1969)		 "On the Dock of the Bay"
(1969)
Official audio
"Oh, What a Night" (Cadet label) on YouTube

"Oh, What a Night" is a song first recorded by the doo-wop group the Dells[1] and released in 1956, originally under the title "Oh What a Nite". It is said to have been inspired by a party, which had been held in the Dells' honor by some female friends of the group.[2]

Reception

The Dells' original 1956 recording on the Vee-Jay label peaked at #4 on the R&B singles chart. In 1969, they refashioned it as a soul song on the Cadet label. The August 2, 1969 edition of Record World gave it a "Four Star Pick" review, stating: "This old, old, old, oldie sounds newer than tomorrow, via the Dells chartbreaker express. All will dig."[3] The new "Oh, What a Night" was notably different from its original counterpart with an altered arrangement and tempo, and included a spoken recitation, in the introduction, from bass singer Chuck Barksdale. This new version reached #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and #1 on the Best Selling Soul singles chart.[4]

The 1969 version was ranked #260 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[5]

"Oh, What a Night" was subsequently recorded by Sly Stone & the Biscaynes (1978), Tracey Ullman (1983), Lester Bowie (1986), the Moonlighters (1988), Nick Kamen (1988), Barbara Jones (1995), Donnie & the Del Chords (1999), and Unisoghn (2001).

Personnel

1956 version

  • Lead vocals: Johnny Funches, Marvin Junior
  • Background vocals: Johnny Funches, Marvin Junior, Michael McGill, Chuck Barksdale, Verne Allison

1969 version

  • Lead vocals: Junior Marvin (Marvin Junior), Johnny Carter
  • Background vocals: Johnny Carter, Michael McGill, Chuck Barksdal, Verne Allison
  • Spoken intro: Chuck Barksdale
  • Producer: Bobby Miller

References

  1. 1 2 Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 11 - Big Rock Candy Mountain: Early rock 'n' roll vocal groups & Frank Zappa" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries. Track 5.
  2. ↑ "The Dells". Rockhall.com. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  3. ↑ "Record World" (PDF). Worldradiohistory.com. August 2, 1969. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  4. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 154.
  5. ↑ "The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". RollingStone.com. Archived from the original on December 28, 2006. Retrieved 2008-08-15.


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