Doo Wop Classics

There’s some fine doo wop singing in  “Goodnite Sweetheart, Goodnite” by The Spaniels. This is one of the best-loved golden oldies and was written by Calvin Carter and Thornton James “Pookie” Hudson in 1953, and, by 1954, it went to #5 on the R&B Chart and #24 on Variety’s Pop Chart. The song was featured in the films American Graffiti and Three Men and a Baby. Sha Na Na performed it as the closing song on their weekly variety show. There was also a cover by the McGuire Sisters.

The original Spaniels group was from Gary, Indiana. The name for the group came from one of their wives, who said they sounded like a bunch of dogs. That certainly is not true of this record! While recording, they had lead vocalist Pookie Hudson on one microphone and the rest of the group on another. They changed members over the years, but on this record were Hudson, Ernest Warren, Willie C. Jackson, Opal Courtney, Jr., and Gerald Gregory.

Here are the lyrics to “Goodnite Sweetheart, Goodnite” by The Spaniels:

“Goodnight sweetheart, well, it’s time to go
Goodnight sweetheart, well, it’s time to go
I hate to leave you but I really must say
Oh, goodnight sweetheart, goodnight
Goodnight sweetheart, well, it’s time to go
Goodnight sweetheart, well, it’s time to go
I hate to leave you I really must say
Goodnight sweetheart, goodnight
Well, it’s three o’clock in the morning
Baby, I just can’t treat you right
Well, I hate to leave you, baby
Don’t mean maybe because I love you so
Goodnight sweetheart, well, it’s time to go
Goodnight sweetheart, well, it’s time to go
I hate to leave you but I really must say
Oh goodnight, sweetheart, goodnight
Mother, oh, and your father
Won’t like it if I stay here too long
One kiss in the dark
And I’ll be going, you know I hate to go
Goodnight sweetheart, well, it’s time to go
Goodnight sweetheart, well, it’s time to go
I hate to leave you I really must say
Oh goodnight, sweetheart, goodnight ”

The Spaniels were  among the first artists signed to Vee-Jay Records. The label specialized in blues, jazz, rhythm & blues, and rock and roll. Their recording artists included, among many others, John Lee Hooker, The Dells, The El Dorados, Jerry Butler, Gene Chandler, The Four Seasons, The Beatles (after acquiring the rights to some early recordings from EMI), Little Richard, Wynton Kelly, and Dick Gregory (a comedy album).

For More Golden Oldies Music

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop music, rock and roll hits, R&B, or rockabilly songs that were hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday Night, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

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