Love Potion No. 9 (song)

"Love Potion No. 9"
Single by The Clovers
B-side "Stay Awhile"
Released 1959
Length 2:02
Label United Artists
Writer(s) Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
"Love Potion Number Nine"
Single by The Searchers
from the album Meet the Searchers
B-side "Hi-Heel Sneakers"
Released 1963
Genre Rock and roll
Length 2:05
Label Kapp KJB-27
Writer(s) Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
The Searchers singles chronology
"When You Walk in the Room"
(1964)		 "Love Potion Number Nine"
(1964)		 "What Have They Done to the Rain"
(1964)

"Love Potion No. 9" is a song written in 1959 by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. It was originally performed by The Clovers,[1] who took it to #23 on the US charts that year.[2] On the R&B chart, The Clovers version also peaked at #23.[3]

History

The song describes a man seeking help to find love, so he talks to a Gypsy who determines, by means of palmistry, that he needs "love potion number 9". The potion, an aphrodisiac, causes him to fall in love with everything he sees, kissing whatever is in front of him, eventually kissing a policeman on the street-corner, who breaks his bottle of love potion.

In one recorded version of the ending of the song, The Clovers used the alternative lyrics:

"I had so much fun that I'm going back again,
I wonder what'll happen with Love Potion Number Ten?"[1]

That version was used for the sound track to the film "American Graffitti" (1973)

The "kissing a cop" lyric led to the song being banned by some radio stations. The lyrics also have the narrator describe himself as being "a flop with chicks since 1956"; later recordings of the song have often changed the year to suit the year of recording or the age of the performer. A notable exception is the Australian alternative rock band Tlot Tlot's recording, which leaves the year in the song as 1956. It also uses the alternative Love Potion No. 10 lyrics.

Cover versions

In popular culture

Parodies

References

  1. 1 2 Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 14 - Big Rock Candy Mountain: Rock 'n' roll in the late fifties. [Part 4] : UNT Digital Library" (audio). Pop Chronicles. Digital.library.unt.edu. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
  2. ↑ The Clovers' charting singles Retrieved February 7, 2012.
  3. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 124.
  4. ↑ "Searchers, The - Love Potion Number Nine / Hi-Heel Sneakers at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  5. ↑ "Love Potion #9", Canadian Chart Position Retrieved January 10, 2015
  6. ↑ American Graffiti Original Soundtrack Retrieved February 7, 2012.

External links

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