You Lost the Sweetest Boy explained

You Lost the Sweetest Boy
Type:single
Artist:Mary Wells
Album:Mary Wells' Greatest Hits
A-Side:What's Easy for Two Is So Hard for One
Recorded:1963
Genre:Soul
Label:Motown
Producer:Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland
Prev Title:What's So Easy for Two Is So Hard for One
Prev Year:1963
Next Title:My Guy
Next Year:1964

"You Lost the Sweetest Boy" is a song written by Holland–Dozier–Holland and released as a single by Motown star Mary Wells. The song is most noted for the background vocals by The Supremes and The Temptations.[1]

Song information

In this song, the narrator of the song gets back at a girl whom she says always chased after other boys while supposedly with a boyfriend. The narrator ends up winning the girl's boyfriend's affections and before she knew it, the boyfriend had left her for the narrator causing her to chant, "you lost the sweetest boy that you had that time".

Cash Box described it as "an exciting gospel-like thumper...that has a happy romantic ending."[2]

Release and chart status

Released in late 1963, the single reached number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 10 on the R&B chart.[3]

Personnel

baritone saxophone solo[4]

Notes and References

  1. The Complete Motown Singles Vol 3: 1963 [CD liner notes]. New York: Hip-O Select/Motown/Universal Records.
  2. CashBox Record Reviews . September 14, 1963 . 8 . 2022-01-12 . Cash Box.
  3. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research .
  4. Web site: Obituary: Mike Terry. TheGuardian.com. December 2008.