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1957:

"Little Darlin'" by The Diamonds
"I was wrong to try to love two"

From the opening castanets and the “ay yi yi yi yi,” “Little Darlin’” is perhaps one of the most recognizable songs of early rock and roll. G & T recognized it as the #4 song of 1957. Entering the charts on March 16, it would rise to #2, making it The Diamonds biggest hit. They were a white Canadian group formed in 1953 that had had great success covering hits in 1956, notably “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” (Frankie Lyman and the Teenagers), “Church Bells May Ring” (The Willows), “Ka Ding Dong” (The G-Clefs). “Little Darlin’” was actually a “cover” also. The song was written by Maurice Williams and recorded by The Gladiolas in a small record shop in Nashville. With much better recording equipment, The Diamonds cut the record for Mercury and actually beat The Gladiolas version to most major markets with a better sounding record. But don’t feel too bad for Maurice Williams. He would have a #1 record in 1960 with the Zodiacs -- “Stay.” Replete with soaring falsettos, the “bomp bomp bomp, sha wada wada” background and the bass narrative, “please hold my hand” this is classic “doo-wop” rock and roll.

 

 

 

 

LYRICS:
Little darlin'
Oh little darlin'
Oh, where are you?

My lover, I was wrong
To try to love two
Know well that my love
Was just for you

My darling, I need you
To call my own and never do wrong
To hold in mine your little hand
I know too soon that all is so grand
Please hold my hand

My dear, I was wrong
To try to love two
Know well that my love
Was just for you

 

 

 

 

 

week debuted highest ranking Date Highest Rank Weeks in Top Twenty Weeks in Top Forty BillBoard Rank Cashbox Ranking GT rank
1957 3 16 2 1957 4 27 17 21 3 6 4