Lover Please

"Lover Please"
Single by Clyde McPhatter
from the album Lover Please!
B-side	"Let's Forget About the Past"
Released	February 1962 (1962-02)
Genre	Rock and roll[1]
Length	1:52
Label	Mercury
Songwriter(s)	Billy Swan
Producer(s)	Shelby Singleton
Clyde McPhatter singles chronology
"Your Second Choice" (1961) "Lover Please" (1962) "Little Bitty Pretty One" (1962)

"Lover Please" is a 1962 song written by Billy Swan and first recorded by the Rhythm Steppers in 1960. It is most known for the version performed by Clyde McPhatter on his 1962 album Lover Please!^[2] which set it up to reach No.7 on the U.S. pop chart.^[3] Overseas, it reached No.6 in Norway. The song ranked No.41 on Billboard magazine's Top 100 singles of 1962.^[4]

Other charting versions

• The Vernons Girls, in 1962, which reached No.16 on the UK Singles Chart.^[5]
• Bobby G. Rice, in 1971, went to No.46 on the U.S. country chart.^[6]
• Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge released a version in 1975. It sat at No.42 on the adult contemporary chart^[7] and was featured on their 1974 album Breakaway. Their recording won the Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 18th Annual Grammy Awards in 1976.
• Cindy Church, in 1997, settled at No.44 on the Canadian country chart.

Other versions

• Arthur Alexander - on his 1962 album You Better Move On.^[8]
• The Marvelettes - on their 1962 album The Marvelettes Sing.^[9]
• Swan included it on his 1974 album I Can Help.^[10]
• Orion recorded it for his 1979 album Reborn.^[11]
• Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers - on their 1979 album Back in Your Life.^[12]
• Status Quo released their take as part of the 1990 single "The Anniversary Waltz (Part Two)".^[13]
• Kinky Friedman - on his 2007 live album Live from Austin TX.^[14]
• Colin Linden & Luther Dickinson, with The Tennessee Valentines, released a cover on their 2019 album Armour.^[15]

References

1. Breihan, Tom (June 13, 2019). "The Number Ones: Billy Swan's "I Can Help"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 20, 2023. When Swan was in high school, he wrote a rock 'n' roll song called "Lover Please," which the former Drifters singer Clyde McPhatter took to #7 in 1962.
2. "Clyde McPhatter, Lover Please!". Discogs. 1962. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
3. "Clyde McPhatter, "Lover Please" Chart Position". Retrieved March 5, 2019.
4. "Top 100 Singles of 1962", Billboard, Section II, December 29, 1962. p. 82. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
5. "The Vernons Girls, "Lover Please" Chart Position". Retrieved March 5, 2019.
6. "Bobby G. Rice, "Lover Please" Chart Position". Retrieved March 5, 2019.
7. "Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge, "Lover Please" Chart Position". Retrieved March 5, 2019.
8. "Arthur Alexander, You Better Move On". Discogs. 1962. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
9. "The Marvelettes, The Marvelettes Sing". Discogs. 1962. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
10. "Billy Swan, I Can Help". Discogs. 1974. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
11. "Orion, Reborn". Discogs. 1979. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
12. "Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers, Back in Your Life". Discogs. 1979. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
13. "Status Quo, "The Anniversary Waltz (Part Two)" Single Release". Discogs. 1990. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
14. "Kinky Friedman, Live from Austin TX". Discogs. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
15. Graff, Gary (January 28, 2018). "Colin Linden & Luther Dickinson Talk Joint Album 'Amour': Hear 'Lover Please,' Feat. Billy Swan (Exclusive)". billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2019.