Dedicated to the One I Love

"Dedicated to the One I Love"
Single by The Shirelles
B-side	"Look a Here Baby"
Released	May 1959 1961(re-release)
Format	7" single
Genre	Pop, soul
Length	2:03
Label	Scepter
Writer(s)	Lowman Pauling, Ralph Bass
The Shirelles singles chronology
"Will You Love Me Tomorrow" (1960) "Dedicated to the One I Love" (1961) "Mama Said" (1961)

"Dedicated to the One I Love" is a song written by Lowman Pauling and Ralph Bass which was a hit for the "5" Royales, the Shirelles and the Mamas & the Papas.^[1] Pauling was the guitarist of the "5" Royales, the group that recorded the original version of this song, produced by Bass, in 1957. Their version was re-released in 1961 and charted at number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[2]

The Shirelles version

A cover version recorded by American girl group the Shirelles^[1] reached number 83 in 1959.^[3] In 1961, they re-released their version and it reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 2 on the R&B charts.^[4] The song was subsequently included on their 1961 album Tonight's the Night.

The Mamas & The Papas version

"Dedicated to the One I Love"
Single by The Mamas & the Papas
from the album The Mamas & The Papas Deliver
B-side	"Free Advice"
Released	1967
Format	7" single
Genre	Pop
Length	2:56
Label	Dunhill
Writer(s)	Lowman Pauling, Ralph Bass
Producer(s)	Lou Adler
The Mamas & the Papas singles chronology
"Look Through My Window" (1966) "Dedicated to the One I Love" (1967) "Creeque Alley" (1967)

A subsequent and more popular cover version by the Mamas & the Papas^[1] released on the Dunhill label went to number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967.^[5] This version also reached number 2 on the UK Singles Chart.^[6] The lead singer on the Mamas & the Papas version was Michelle Phillips. It was the first time that Phillips was given the lead over Cass Elliot. The song was also included on the group's 1967 album The Mamas & The Papas Deliver.

In 1992, the long-running CBS night time soap Knots Landing a show that Michelle Phillips starred in, named an episode, "Dedicated to the One I Love", in which the Mamas & the Papas version of the song is played in the background. ^[7]

The Mamas & the Papas version is played at the end of the last scene, and during the credits, of the 2014 movie The One I Love. In D-TV Disney, the Mamas and the Papas' version was set to Sleeping Beauty.

Other versions

• 1965: Johnny Preston released a version of the song as the B-side to his single, "Running Bear '65".^[8]
• 1965: Reparata and the Delrons covered the song on their LP Whenever a Teenager Cries.
• 1967: The Lettermen released a version of the song on their album, Spring!^[9]
• 1972: The Temprees' version reached #17 on the US R&B chart and #93 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[10]
• 1973: Ruben and the Jets released it on their album For Real!
• 1981: Bernadette Peters recorded a Hot 100 hit version, reaching #65.^[11]
• 1994: Bitty McLean recorded a reggae remake, which reached #6 on the UK Singles Chart.^[12]
• 1996: Linda Ronstadt made it the title song of her album, Dedicated to the One I Love.
• 1998: Tanya Stephens included the song on her album Ruff Rider.
• 2000: Holly Cole included the song on her album Romantically Helpless.
• 2013: Wilson Phillips included it on their album Dedicated.

Song in popular culture

• In 2005, the song was covered by the final 10 of the second season of New Zealand Idol.
• The song is used in the last scene and fade-out of the movie Morvern Callar (1995).
• In an episode of the television show China Beach, which has been described as a Vietnam-era version of M*A*S*H, the actress Chloe Webb, portraying a USO touring backup singer, offers a tender and emotional version of this song to a fatally injured soldier as a last request to help his death.
• Used during a scene in the 1986 film House.

References

1. Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 36 - The Rubberization of Soul: The great pop music renaissance. [Part 2] : UNT Digital Library" (audio). Pop Chronicles. Digital.library.unt.edu. Retrieved April 29, 2011.
2. The "5" Royales, "Dedicated to the One I Love" chart position Retrieved July 6, 2015
3. The Shirelles, "Dedicated to the One I Love" chart position Retrieved July 6, 2015
4. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 523.
5. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 392.
6. The Mamas & the Papas, "Dedicated to the One I Love" UK chart position Retrieved July 6, 2015
7. http://www.knotslanding.net/episodeguide/season13.htm
8. Johnny Preston, "Running Bear '65" single release Retrieved July 6, 2015
9. The Lettermen, Spring! Retrieved July 6, 2015
10. The Temprees, "Dedicated to the One I Love" chart positions Retrieved July 6, 2015
11. Bernadette Peters, "Dedicated to the One I Love" chart position Retrieved July 6, 2015
12. Bitty McLean, "Dedicated to the One I Love" chart position Retrieved July 6, 2015

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics