Love Potion No. 9 (song)

"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 number 23 on the US as well as R&B charts that year.[2][3]

"Love Potion No. 9"
Single by The Clovers
B-side"Stay Awhile"
ReleasedJuly 1959
RecordedJune 8, 1959
StudioCapitol Studios, New York City, NY
GenreDoo-wop
Length2:02
LabelUnited Artists
Songwriter(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"
ReleasedNovember 1964
StudioPye Studios, London, England
GenreRock and roll
Length2:05
LabelKapp KJB-27
Songwriter(s)Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
Producer(s)Tony Hatch
The Searchers singles chronology
"When You Walk in the Room"
(1964)		 "Love Potion Number Nine"
(1964)		 "What Have They Done to the Rain"
(1964)

The song was recorded by the Searchers in 1964. Their version reached number three on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number two on Cash Box during the winter of 1965.[4]

Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass did an instrumental version (side 2, track 1) on his 1965 album Whipped Cream and Other Delights.

The Coasters released a version in December 1971 with "D. W. Washburn" on the B-side. It reached No. 76 on the Billboard Pop chart and No. 96 on the Cash Box chart.

History

The song describes a man seeking help to find love. He enlists the help of 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:[1]

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

The narrator describes 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. An 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. The recording by the Searchers also leaves the year as 1956.

The song was the basic premise of the 1992 film of the same name starring Sandra Bullock and Tate Donovan.

Charts
Chart (1965) Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[5] 6
New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade)[6] 4
US Billboard Hot 100[7] 3
US Cash Box Top 100 2
West Germany (Official German Charts)[8] 23

Later versions

The heavy metal band Tygers of Pan Tang recorded "Love Potion No. 9" in 1982. Their version charted in the UK, reaching No. 45 in 1982.[9] The song was also released as a single by indie band The Wallies in 2020.

References
  1. 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. "Cash Box Top 100 1/23/65". tropicalglen.com. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  5. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5573." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  6. Flavour of New Zealand, 11 February 1965
  7. "The Searchers Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  8. "Offiziellecharts.de – The Searchers – Love Potion Nr. 9". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 10, 2018. To see peak chart position, click "TITEL VON The Searchers"
  9. "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. 1982-03-27. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
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