The Book of Love (song)
"The Book of Love" (also titled "(Who Wrote) The Book of Love") is a rock and roll / doo-wop song, originally by The Monotones. It was written by three members of the group, Warren Davis, George Malone and Charles Patrick.
| "The Book of Love" | |
|---|---|
| Single by The Monotones | |
| from the album Who Wrote The Book Of Love | |
| B-side | "You Never Loved Me" |
| Released | February 1958 |
| Recorded | September 1957 |
| Genre | |
| Length | 2:24 |
| Label | Mascot (local release) Argo (nationwide release) |
| Songwriter(s) | Warren Davis George Malone Charles Patrick |
Lead singer Charles Patrick heard a Pepsodent toothpaste commercial with the line "wonder where the yellow went"/ when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent". From there he got the idea for the line, "I wonder, wonder, wonder who, who wrote the book of love", working it up into a song with Davis and Malone. The "boom" part of the song was a result of a kid kicking a ball against the garage while they were rehearsing. It sounded good, so they added it to the song.
In September 1957, the Monotones recorded "The Book of Love", which was released on the Mascot label in December that year. The small record company could not cope with its popularity, and it was reissued on Chess Records' subsidiary Argo label in February 1958. On the Billboard charts, "The Book of Love" peaked at No. 5 on the pop chart and No. 3 on the R&B chart.[1] Outside the US, the song reached No. 5 in Australia.
Cover versions
- In the UK, there was a successful cover version by The Mudlarks.
- In 1985, the song was covered on The 4 Seasons album, Streetfighter.
- In 1990, Ben E. King and Bo Diddley featuring Doug Lazy recorded a revamped rap version of "Book of Love" for the soundtrack of the film, Book of Love.
In popular culture
- The song was performed by rock and roll revival group Sha Na Na at Woodstock in 1969.
- The song is referenced in the lyrics to Don McLean's "American Pie" and in the lyrics of Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll".
- The song has been featured as a theme to the game show The Newlywed Game hosted by Paul Rodriguez (1988-1989).
- The song has been featured in multiple films including American Graffiti (1973), Christine (1983), Stand by Me (1986), Le Nouveau monde (1995) and in the video game Mafia II (2010).
- The '80s/'90s synthpop band Book of Love named themselves after the song for its imagery and romantic connotations.
References
- Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 410.
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