Doo Wop

Here’s another classic golden oldie from the doo wop era. “Tears on My Pillow,” which was written by Sylvester Bradford and Al Lewis, has beautiful words of sadness and longing for beginning again. The original End Record single credits the group as The Imperials. Subsequent pressings feature lead “Little” Anthony Gourdine and  credits “Little Anthony  & The Imperials.” D.J. Alan Freed helped to promote the group on the air and gave Gourdine that nickname because of his youthful-sounding falsetto vocals. The nickname became an identifier. “Tears on My Pillow” went to #2 on the R&B Chart and #4 on the U.S. Pop Chart in 1959. It became a million seller. The B-Side featured the song “Two People in the World,” which was successful as well. The group members for this record were Jerome Anthony “Little Anthony” Gourdine, Clarence Collins, Tracy Lord, Ernest Wright, Jr., and Glouster “Nate” Rogers.

There have been many covers of the song, including versions by The McGuire Sisters, Sha Na Na, New Edition, Bobby Vee, Lou Christie, Martha and the Vandellas, Bobby Vinton, Johnny Tillotson, Neil Sedaka, Reba McEntire, and The Fleetwoods. Kylie Minogue’s version was an international success, going to #1 on the U.K. Chart.

Little Anthony and The Imperials, from New York, have enjoyed success and longevity as a group. They have a wide range of material in many genres (i.e., doo wop, r&b, soul) and great performances. Other popular songs from the group include “Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop,” “I’m on the Outside (Looking In),” “Goin’ Out of My Head,” “Hurt So Bad,” “Take Me Back,” and “Better Use My Head.”

Here are the lyrics to “Tears on My Pillow” by :

“You don’t remember me, but I remember you
‘Twas not so long ago, you broke my heart in two
Tears on my pillow, pain in my heart, caused by you, you

If we could start anew, I wouldn’t hesitate
I’d gladly take you back, and tempt the hand of fate
Tears on my pillow, pain in my heart, caused by you

Love is not a gadget, love is not a toy
When you find the one you love, she’ll fill your heart with joy

If we could start anew, I wouldn’t hesitate
I’d gladly take you back, and tempt the hands of fate
Tears on my pillow, pain in my heart, caused by you, you
Oh, wo, wo, wo, you, you”

For more songs by Little Anthony and The Imperials: “Two People in the World” and “Shimmy, Shimmy Ko-Ko Bop.” On Pass the Paisley, which is the sister site to The Daily Doo Wop, is “Going Out of My Head.”

For More Golden Oldies Music

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop, rock and roll, 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.

Please click here for the Daily Doo Wop YouTube channel, to which you can subscribe. Thank you for stopping by The Daily Doo Wop. Hope you enjoyed “Tears on My Pillow” by Little Anthony and The Imperials.