"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
Clyde Lensley McPhatter (November 15, 1932 – June 13, 1972) was an American rhythm and blues, soul, and rock and roll singer. He was one of the most widely imitated R&B singers of the 1950s and early 1960sPalmer, Robert (1981)"Roy Brown, a Pio ...
on his 1962 album ''Lover Please!''
which set it up to reach No.7 on the
U.S. pop chart. Overseas, it reached No.6 in
Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard also form part of the Kingdom of ...
. The song ranked No.41 on
''Billboard'' magazine's
Top 100 singles of 1962.
Other charting versions
*
The Vernons Girls, in 1962, which reached No.16 on the
UK Singles Chart.
*
Bobby G. Rice, in 1971, went to No.46 on the
U.S. country chart.
*
Kris Kristofferson
Kristoffer Kristofferson (June 22, 1936 – September 28, 2024) was an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He was a pioneering figure in the outlaw country movement of the 1970s, moving away from the polished Nashville sound and toward a m ...
and
Rita Coolidge
Rita Coolidge (born May 1, 1945) is an American recording artist. During the 1970s and 1980s, her songs were on ''Billboard'' magazine's pop, country, adult contemporary, and jazz charts, and she won two Grammy Awards with fellow musician and th ...
released a version in 1975. It sat at No.42 on the
adult contemporary chart and was featured on their 1974 album ''
Breakaway''. Their recording won the
at the
18th Annual Grammy Awards
The 18th Annual Grammy Awards were held February 28, 1976, and were broadcast live on American television. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1975.
Award winners
*Grammy Award for Record of the Year, Record of the Year ...
in 1976.
*
Cindy Church, in 1997, settled at No.44 on the
Canadian country chart.
Other versions
*
Arthur Alexander
Arthur Alexander (May 10, 1940 – June 9, 1993) was an American country-soul songwriter and singer. Jason Ankeny, music critic for AllMusic, said Alexander was a "country-soul pioneer" and that, though largely unknown, "his music is the stuf ...
- on his 1962 album ''You Better Move On''.
*
The Marvelettes
The Marvelettes were an American girl group formed in Inkster, Michigan, Inkster, Michigan in 1960, consisting of schoolmates Gladys Horton, Katherine Anderson, Georgeanna Tillman, Juanita Cowart (now Cowart Motley), and Georgia Dobbins, who was ...
- on their 1962 album ''The Marvelettes Sing''.
*Swan included it on his 1974 album ''I Can Help''.
*
Orion recorded it for his 1979 album ''Reborn''.
*
Jonathan Richman &
The Modern Lovers
The Modern Lovers were an American rock band formed in Natick, Massachusetts in 1970 by Jonathan Richman. The original band existed from 1970 to 1974 but their recordings were not released until 1976 or later. It featured Richman and bassist ...
- on their 1979 album ''Back in Your Life''.
*
Status Quo
is a Latin phrase meaning the existing state of affairs, particularly with regard to social, economic, legal, environmental, political, religious, scientific or military issues. In the sociological sense, the ''status quo'' refers to the curren ...
released their take as part of the 1990 single "
The Anniversary Waltz (Part Two)".
*
Kinky Friedman - on his 2007 live album ''Live from Austin TX''.
*
Colin Linden &
Luther Dickinson, with The Tennessee Valentines, released a cover on their 2019 album ''Armour''.
References
1960 songs
1962 singles
1971 singles
1975 singles
1990 singles
1997 singles
Clyde McPhatter songs
Bobby G. Rice songs
Kris Kristofferson songs
Rita Coolidge songs
Arthur Alexander songs
The Marvelettes songs
The Modern Lovers songs
Status Quo (band) songs
Billy Swan songs
Mercury Records singles
Monument Records singles
Vertigo Records singles
Songs written by Billy Swan
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