Will You Love Me Tomorrow Explained
"Will You Love Me Tomorrow", sometimes known as "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow",[3] is a song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. It was first recorded in 1960 by the Shirelles; released as a single that November, it became the first song by an African-American girl group to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[4] It has since been recorded by many other artists, including King on her 1971 album Tapestry.
The Shirelles' version
Background
In 1960, the American girl group the Shirelles released the first version of the song as Scepter single 1211, with "Boys" on the B-side. The single's first pressing was labeled simply "Tomorrow", then lengthened later. When first presented with the song, lead singer Shirley Owens thought it was "too country", but relented after a string arrangement was added. Session musicians on the recording included Paul Griffin on piano and Gary Chester on drums. Owens recalled on Jim Parsons's syndicated radio program Shake Rattle Showtime that some radio stations had banned the record because they felt the lyrics were too sexually charged. The song is in AABA form.[5]
Release and legacy
In addition to reaching No. 1 in the United States, the song reached No. 2 on the Billboard R&B chart and No. 4 on the UK singles chart.[6] It reached No. 3 in New Zealand.[7]
The song was ranked at No. 126 on Rolling Stones list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Billboard named the song No. 3 on its list of the "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time" in 2017.[8]
In 1999, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.[9]
Chart history
Weekly charts
Certifications
Year-end charts
| Chart (1961) | Rank |
|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[14] | 20 |
| U.S. Billboard R&B [15] | 14 |
| U.S. Cash Box [16] | 3 |
|
Answer songs
Bertell Dache recorded an answer song entitled "Not Now Tomorrow, But Always" in 1960, which was arranged by King.
The Satintones, an early Motown group, also recorded an answer song called "Tomorrow and Always" (in two different versions), which used the same melody as the original but initially neglected to credit King and Goffin. Following a threat of litigation, later pressings of the record included proper credit. Eventually, it was withdrawn and replaced by the song "Angel" with the same "b" side.[17] The Satintones' versions are included in the box set The Complete Motown Singles, Volume 1: 1959–1961.
Carole King version
Background
In 1971, Carole King, who composed the music of the song, recorded a version of "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" for her second studio album Tapestry, with Joni Mitchell and James Taylor performing background vocals on separate audio channels. King's version of the song was taken at a considerably slower tempo. David Hepworth analyzed it as "less like the pleas for gentleness on the part of a trembling virgin and more like a mature woman requiring parity in a relationship."[18] It gained considerable album-oriented rock airplay due to the large-scale commercial success of the album.
The song became a feature of King's live shows. Taylor recreated his part during their joint arena-based Troubadour Reunion Tour of 2010.
In the 2013 Broadway musical , the song is featured in part four times: once during its writing, once during King recording a demo of it, then with the Shirelles performing it, and then King singing and playing it later during an especially bad time in her marriage with Goffin. No other song is featured as frequently in the musical.
Personnel
Notable cover versions
- The Four Seasons hit number 15 in Cash Box and number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 with the song in 1968.
- Linda Ronstadt released a version on her 1970 album Silk Purse. It reached number 98 in Cash Box and (Bubbled Under to) number 111 in Billboard.
- Roberta Flack's version hit number 76 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972 as "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow".
- Smokey Robinson recorded a cover of the song on his debut 1973 album "Smokey", which was later sampled in the multi-platinum certified and critically acclaimed track "Devil in a New Dress" by Kanye West.
- Melanie Safka reached number 82 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1973 and reached the top 40 in the United Kingdom in 1974.
- Dana Valery recorded a dance version that hit number 95 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1976.[19]
- Dave Mason recorded the song in 1978,[20] and had a number 39 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with his remake. It was his final top 40 hit on that chart.
- Ram & Tam had a hit on the UK reggae chart, reaching no. 25 with their version in late 1979.[21] [22]
- Dionne Warwick recorded her version for her 1983 album How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye, which featured the original Shirelles on guest vocals.
- Laura Brannigan did a cover of this song on her album Self Control (1984).
- Amy Winehouse sang a version for the 2004 film , which was included on the European edition of the soundtrack album. The song also appeared on Winehouse's posthumous album in 2011. Kelly Clarkson was inspired by Winehouse's style to perform the song herself on The Kelly Clarkson Show.[23]
- Leslie Grace released a bachata version in 2012 which became her debut single. Her version peaked at number one on the Billboard Tropical Songs chart and number one on the Latin Airplay chart, becoming the youngest female artist to do so.[24] She also released a dance version for her self-titled album, Leslie Grace.
- Taylor Swift performed the song in King's honor at the 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.[25]
See also
Notes and References
- Book: Breihan, Tom. The Shirelles - "Will You Love Me Tomorrow. November 15, 2022. The Number Ones: Twenty Chart-Topping Hits That Reveal the History of Pop Music. Hachette Book Group. New York. 28.
- Book: Hutcheon, David. Robert . Dimery . 2015 . 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die. The Shirelles - "Will You Love Me Tomorrow. Universe. New York. 111.
- News: Martin. Chilton . Gerry Goffin: 10 great songs . January 16, 2020 . . June 20, 2014 . Among the musicians who have recorded the song, which is sometimes called Will You Still Love me Tomorrow[...].
- Book: Bronson, Fred. The Billboard Book of Number One Hits. Billboard Books. New York City. 1992. 978-0823076772.
- Book: Covach, John. 2005. Form in Rock Music: A Primer. Deborah. Stein. Engaging Music: Essays in Music Analysis. Oxford University Press. New York City. 70. 0-19-517010-5.
- Web site: Official Charts Company . Officialcharts.com . February 15, 1961 . March 24, 2020.
- Web site: Flavour of New Zealand, 6 April 1961. Flavourofnz.co.nz. October 27, 2023.
- 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks. Billboard. July 11, 2017.
- Web site: GRAMMY Hall Of Fame | Hall of Fame Artists | GRAMMY.com. grammy.com.
- Web site: Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada . Collectionscanada.gc.ca . January 23, 1961 . May 21, 2024.
- Web site: Billboard Magazine, June 19, 1961 . books.google.com . June 19, 1961 . August 2, 2024.
- Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 -
- Web site: Cash Box Top 100 Singles, February 4, 1961. Cashboxmagazine.com. October 27, 2023.
- Web site: Top 100 Hits of 1961/Top 100 Songs of 1961 | Music Outfitters. Musicoutfitters.com. October 27, 2023.
- Web site: The Top 100 R&B Singles of 1961 - RYM/Sonemic. Rateyourmusic.com.
- Web site: Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 30, 1961. Tropicalglen.com. October 27, 2023.
- Web site: Satintones* – Angel / A Love That Can Never Be . .
- Book: Hepworth, David. Never a Dull Moment: 1971 - The Year That Rock Exploded. New York. Henry Holt and Company. 2016. 25–26. 9781627793995.
- Web site: Dana Valery - Chart Singles Discography. Musicvf.com. July 23, 2022.
- Web site: www.discogs.com. Discogs.com. August 3, 2023.
- James Hamilton's Disco Page - RAM & TAM: ‘Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow’ (HAWK HSP 8)
- Music Week, December 15, 1979 - Page 32 DISCS, RAM & TAM New Single "WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME TOMORROW" in the reggae charts at no. 25
- Watch Kelly Clarkson Channel Amy Winehouse in Kellyoke Cover of 'Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow' . Mier . Tomás . November 18, 2020 . . December 3, 2023.
- Leslie Grace Youngest Woman To Top Latin Airplay Chart. October 16, 2012. October 21, 2012. Ramirez. Rauly. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media.
- Graff . Gary . Taylor Swift Helps Induct Carole King, Sings 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow' at Rock Hall Ceremony . Billboard . October 30, 2021.
