Oh, What a Night (The Dells song)

"Oh What a Nite" redirects here. For other uses, see Oh, What a Night (disambiguation).

"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"
Released	August 1969
Recorded	1969
Genre	Doo-wop[1] soul[2]
Length	4:07
Label	Cadet 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.^[3]

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."^[4] 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.^[5]

The 1969 version was ranked #260 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.^[6]

"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 Barksdale, Verne Allison
• Spoken intro: Chuck Barksdale
• Producer: Bobby Miller

References

1. 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. Marsh, Dave (1989). The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. Plume. p. 209. ISBN 0-452-26305-0.
3. "The Dells". Rockhall.com. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
4. "Record World" (PDF). Worldradiohistory.com. August 2, 1969. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
5. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 154.
6. "The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". RollingStone.com. Archived from the original on December 28, 2006. Retrieved 2008-08-15.

External links

• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee page
• Songfacts: "Oh What a Nite" page
• Song review and list of albums the song appears on
• Change - Sharing Your Love (1982)
• Change information, bio, discography and track lists