Church Bells May Ring Explained

Church Bells May Ring
Type:	single
Artist:	The Willows
Cover:	The_Willows_Church_Bells_78.jpg
B-Side:	Baby Tell Me
Genre:	Doo-wop
Label:	Melba
Prev Title:	So Help Me
Prev Year:	1954
Next Title:	This Is the End
Next Year:	1956

"Church Bells May Ring" is a song written by The Willows, with songwriting credits also given to Morty Craft; Craft, a veteran arranger and talent scout, owned Melba Records, the label the Willows recorded for, and as often happened in the 1950s, label executives would give themselves a songwriting credit. There is little evidence Craft wrote the song, and according to the band members, he only paid them $200, despite the fact that the song sold well.^[1] The Willows were formed in New York City in 1952. Their original name was the Five Willows, and their song was originally called "Church Bells Are Ringing."^[2] "Church Bells May Ring" reached number 11 on the U.S. R&B chart and number 67 on the U.S. pop chart in 1956.^[3]

Neil Sedaka played chimes on the song.^{[4] [5]}

Other charting versions

• The Diamonds released a version of the song as a single which reached number 14 on the U.S. pop chart in 1956.^[6]
• The Willows re-released a version of the song as a single which reached number 114 on the U.S. pop chart in 1961.^[7]

Other versions

• The Cadets released a version of the song as the B-side to their 1956 single "Heartbreak Hotel".^[8]
• Sunny Gale released a version of the song as a single in 1960, but it did not chart.^[9]
• The Four Seasons released a version of the song on their 1964 album Dawn (Go Away) and 11 Other Great Songs.^[10]
• The Shirelles released a version of the song on their 1964 album The Shirelles Sing the Golden Oldies.^[11]

Notes and References

1. Al Leichter. "The Willows Take Off, But Only Briefly." Staunton (VA) News-Leader, July 30, 1993, p. 27.
2. Joel Whitburn. Top Pop Singles, 1955-1999. Record Research, Menomonee Falls WI, 2000, p. 706.
3. Web site: The Top 100 for the Survey Week Ending April 18, Billboard, April 28, 1956, p. 48. books.google.com. 28 April 1956 . 13 July 2023.
4. Web site: The Willows, "Church Bells May Ring" Single Release. Discogs.com. August 23, 2018.
5. Web site: Obituary: Ralph Martin, original member of the Willows. Goldminemag.com. 6 April 2010 . 28 April 2021.
6. Web site: The Diamonds, "Church Bells May Ring" Chart Position. Musicvf.com. August 23, 2018.
7. Web site: The Willows, "Church Bells May Ring" Chart Position. Musicvf.com. August 23, 2018.
8. Web site: The Cadets, "Heartbreak Hotel" Single Release. Discogs.com. August 23, 2018.
9. Web site: Sunny Gale, "Church Bells May Ring" Single Release. Discogs.com. 1960 . August 23, 2018.
10. Web site: The Four Seasons, Dawn (Go Away) and 11 Other Great Songs. Discogs.com. 1964 . August 23, 2018.
11. Web site: The Shirelles, The Shirelles Sing the Golden Oldies. Discogs.com. 1964 . August 23, 2018.