The Clovers

TRY MY LOVING ON YOU

Don’t You Know I Love You

Your Cash Ain’t Nothing But Trash

One Mint Julip

Blue Velvet

Devil or Angel

Love Potion Number 9 – United Artists, 1959, Lieber and Stoller

The Clovers were one of the earliest Doo Wop groups, formed in 1948 in Washington DC. The original members were Buddy Bailey, Matthew McQuater, Hal Lucas, Jr and Harold Winley. Bobby Mitchell replaced Buddy Bailey just before they signed to the new Atlantic label in 1950.

The Clovers had 13 Top Ten R ‘n B hits between 1951 to 1954. It was Ahmet Ertegun Atlantic Records founder that wrote and produced many of their early songs.

The Clovers did the original version of Love Potion Number 9. It was copied by and probably made more famous by the Coasters. In the early sixties every beat group in the UK appeared to have done this one! They were not averse to covering other artists songs themselves, however. Their version of Blue Velvet was a cover of the Tony Bennett original, later made more famous by Bobby Vinton.

Tippie and the Clovers had a big hit with Bossa Nova Baby (again written by Lieber and Stoller). My own favourite track was Devil or Angel – probably because I used to have it on an old 78 – an excellent slow doo wop ballad.

Song Lyrics: Love Potion Number 9 Lieber and Stoller

I took my troubles down to Madame Ruth

You know that gypsy with the gold-capped tooth

She’s got a pad down at 34th and Vine

Sellin’ little bottles of

Love Potion Number Nine

 I told her that I was a flop with chicks

I’d been this way since 1956

She looked at my palm and she made a magic sign

She said, “What you need is…

Love Potion Number Nine”

She bent down and turned around and gave me a wink

She said “I’m gonna make it up right here in the sink”

It smelled like turpentine and looked like India ink

I held my nose, I closed my eyes, I took a drink

I didn’t know if it was day or night

I started kissin’ everything in sight

But when I kissed the cop down at 34th and Vine

He broke my little bottle of

Love Potion Number Nine

Love Potion Number Nine

Love Potion Number Nine

Love Potion Number Nine

The Clovers – Wikipedia