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The Chiffons Explained

The Chiffons
Background:group_or_band
Origin:The Bronx, New York, United States
Years Active:1960-present
Label:Laurie Records
Current Members:Judy Craig
Past Members:Patricia Bennett, Barbara Lee, Sylvia Peterson, Connie Harvey

The Chiffons was an all girl group originating from the Bronx area of New York in 1960.

Biography

The group was originally a trio comprising Judy Craig (lead singer), Patricia Bennett and Barbara Lee. They formed at James Monroe High School in The Bronx in 1960. At the suggestion of songwriter Ronnie Mack, Sylvia Peterson was added to the group in 1962. Peterson had previously sung with Little Jimmy & The Tops in 1959 when she was 14 years-old. This group had a local hit with "Puppy Love"V-Tone; Len; Swan. Sylvia is sharing the lead with Jimmy on the single's B-Side, "Say You Love Me". Peterson would later lend her leads to Chiffons' killer Bs like "Why Am I So Shy", "Strange, Strange Feeling", "The Real Thing" and the pseudonym sides as The Four Pennies, "My Block" and "When The Boy's Happy".

Another group from California also used the name "Chiffons" and recorded three singles, including a version of the Shirelles "Tonight's The Night". According to Craig and Bennett, the New York Chiffons have no connection to the other group.

The group hit the number one spot in the United States with their first single "He's So Fine", written by Ronnie Mack, and released on Laurie. George Harrison's 1971 song "My Sweet Lord" was musically similar, prompting a copyright infringement claim. The Chiffons went on to record "My Sweet Lord" in 1975. A judge later found that Harrison had unintentionally plagiarized the earlier song.[1]

Their first hit was followed by other notable tunes such as Gerry Goffin and Carole King's "One Fine Day", "Sweet Talkin' Guy" and "I Have A Boyfriend". Their Top 40 single "I Have A Boyfriend" was playing on Dallas station KLIF on November 22, 1963 and was interrupted by the first radio bulletins of the JFK assassination.[2] The group also released two singles in 1963 as The Four Pennies on the Laurie subsidiary, Rust Label.

Craig left the Chiffons in 1968 and they continued as a trio. In 1992, Lee died from a heart attack the day before her 45th birthday, and Craig returned to the group. Peterson retired shortly thereafter and was replaced by Connie Harvey. Harvey has since left to pursue a solo career and Bennett has retired from the group.

Currently Judy Craig performs as the Chiffons with her daughter and her niece at Dick Clark's American Bandstand Theater in Branson, Missouri and at selected Oldies shows. The Chiffons are part of the "Original Stars at American Bandstand" show.[3]

Discography (as The Four Pennies)

Singles

Discography (as the Chiffons)

Standard albums

  1. "He's So Fine"
  2. "Will You Love Me Tomorrow"
  3. "Oh My Lover"
  4. "Why Do Fools Fall in Love"
  5. "My Block"
  6. "ABC-123"
  7. "Lucky Me"
  8. "Why Am I So Shy"
  9. "See You in September"
  10. "Wishing"
  11. "Mystic Voice"
  12. "When I Go to Sleep at Night"
  1. "One Fine Day"
  2. "It's My Party"
  3. "The Loco-Motion"
  4. "Tonight I Met an Angel"
  5. "Only My Friend"
  6. "Da Doo Ron Ron"
  7. "I Wonder Why"
  8. "Foolish Little Girl"
  9. "I'm Going to Dry My Eyes"
  10. "Did You Ever Go Steady"
  11. "When Summer's Through"
  12. "Love Is Like a Merry Go Round"
  1. "Sweet Talkin' Guy"
  2. "Up On the Bridge"
  3. "Nobody Knows What's Going On"
  4. "Thumbs Down"
  5. "Just a Boy"
  6. "Down Down Down"
  7. "Out of This World"
  8. "My Boyfriend's Back"
  9. "Open Your Eyes"
  10. "March"
  11. "Keep the Boy Happy"
  12. "See You in September"
  1. "Secret Love"
  2. "You're The Love Of A Lifetime"
  3. "Soul"
  4. "I Don't Deserve A Boy Like You"
  5. "Strange Strange Feeling"
  6. "Now That You're My Baby"
  7. "The First And Last"
  8. "Remember Me Baby"
  9. "It Hurts To Be Sixteen"
  10. "Every Boy And Every Girl"

Compilations

Singles

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bright Tunes Music v. Harrisongs Music. 2007-09-05. 2002. Columbia Law School Arthur W. Diamond Law Library Music Plagiarism Project.
  2. Web site: The Chiffons, Sweet Talkin' Girls: The Best of the Chiffons. 2007-09-05. Rogers. Jude. 2006-12-15. The Guardian.
  3. Web site: Dick Clark's American Bandstand Theater - Shows. 2007-09-05. Straight from the golden era of rock to our stage come Fabian, Bobby Vee, The Chiffons, Brian Hyland and Chris Montez..

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