Sweets for My Sweet
"Sweets for My Sweet" is a song written by the songwriting team of Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, originally recorded by the Drifters. The Drifters version. The group's first single featuring Charlie Thomas on lead vocal, "Sweets for My Sweet" reached 16 on the "Billboard" Hot 100 and No. 10 on the R&B chart, in October 1961. This was one of the few post-1958 Drifters singles that did not feature a string section. The song has a strong piano and bongo- led Cuban-style cha-cha rhythm. It also featured Jimmy Radcliffe and four female  backup vocalists, all of whom would later have hit records, Cissy Houston, Doris Troy, Dionne Warwick, and Dee Dee Warwick. The recording also features an up in front piano provided by co-writer, Mort Shuman. Other musicians on the recording included George Barnes and Allan Hanlon on guitar, Abie Baker on bass, Ed Shaughnessy and Gary Chester on drums and Bobby Rosengarden and Ray Kessler on percussion. The Searchers version. In 1963, "Sweets for My Sweet" was released by Merseybeat band the Searchers as their debut single, reaching No. 1 on the UK Single Chart for two weeks that August . The Searchers' version was also issued in the US in 1964 but failed to chart. C. J. Lewis version. British reggae singer C. J. Lewis released his version of "Sweets for My Sweet" as his debut single in 1994. It reached No. 3 in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. The song was produced by Phillip Leo, who also produced Lewis' debut album, "Dollars". The female vocals are performed by singer Samantha Depasois. Critical reception. Pan-European magazine "Music & Media" wrote, "The Searchers 1963 classic is completely reworked in a dead trendy ragga version, which is so cheerful  that you can't believe storms and depression ever existed. Nobody will be surprised that it's heavily played on Bay Radio/St. Julian's on holiday island Malta." Alan Jones from "Music Week" said, "Yes, it is the old Searchers hit, and it sounds surprisingly good too considering it has been dragged uncompromisingly into the Nineties. Now an easy to swallow confection, part reggae, part jackswing, it slips down a treat." Chart performance. In addition to reaching No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart, "Sweets for My Sweet" also had big success in New Zealand, peaking for two weeks  at No. 3. After debuting at No. 6, it then spent a further 10 consecutive weeks inside the top 10. After dropping to No.11 the following week, it returned to No. 6. Six weeks later after fluctuating around the top 40, it returned for one final week in the top 10, at No. 10. At the end of 1994, the song was ranked No. 6 on New Zealand's year-end chart. "Sweets for My Sweet" was also a top-ten hit in Austria, Belgium, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. The track also charted in Australia and Germany. Music  video. The accompanying music video for "Sweets for My Sweet" was directed by Jerome Redfarne.