Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight
Encyclopedia
"Goodnight Sweetheart, Goodnight" is a popular
song
that was a hit during the mid 1950s.
It was written by Calvin Carter
and James "Pookie" Hudson in 1953.
It was originally recorded by the rhythm and blues
group, The Spaniels
, in 1954. The original version peaked at number five on the R&B Best Sellers chart . The best-selling version of the song was recorded by The McGuire Sisters
in 1954. It was also recorded in 1954 by country music
duo Johnnie & Jack
. The song became well known again in the late 1970s as the closing song performed by Sha Na Na
on their weekly variety show as well as its appearance in American Graffiti
and again in the late 1980s after its use in the major hit film Three Men and a Baby
. This song is completely different from the 1930s song sung by Rudy Vallee, among others. This song has the sub-title "it's time to go" with the now famous doo-wop bass line intro. This bass line was however not included in the McGuire Sisters' cover version, made to sell to white audiences. Dick Biondi plays the song at the end of every show on Chicago's 94.7 WLS-FM.
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
that was a hit during the mid 1950s.
It was written by Calvin Carter
Calvin Carter
Calvin Carter is the brother of the founder of Vee-Jay Records Vivian Carter. Born May 27, 1925. He joined the company in 1953 and became the principal producer, in charge of the recording sessions. He is a songwriter and composer of jazz and popsongs....
and James "Pookie" Hudson in 1953.
It was originally recorded by the rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
group, The Spaniels
The Spaniels
The Spaniels were an American R&B doo-wop group, best known for the hit "Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite".They have been called the first successful Midwestern R&B group...
, in 1954. The original version peaked at number five on the R&B Best Sellers chart . The best-selling version of the song was recorded by The McGuire Sisters
The McGuire Sisters
The McGuire Sisters were a singing trio in American popular music. The group was composed of three sisters: Christine McGuire , Dorothy McGuire , and Phyllis McGuire...
in 1954. It was also recorded in 1954 by country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
duo Johnnie & Jack
Johnnie & Jack
Johnnie & Jack was an American country music duo composed of Johnnie Wright and Jack Anglin . Between 1951 and 1962, the duo released several singles on the RCA Victor Records label, including their version of "Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite" which peaked at number four on the Best Seller charts,...
. The song became well known again in the late 1970s as the closing song performed by Sha Na Na
Sha Na Na
Sha Na Na is an American rock and roll group. The name is taken from a part of the long series of nonsense syllables in the doo-wop hit song "Get a Job", originally recorded in 1957 by the Silhouettes....
on their weekly variety show as well as its appearance in American Graffiti
American Graffiti
American Graffiti is a 1973 coming of age film co-written/directed by George Lucas starring Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark, Mackenzie Phillips and Harrison Ford...
and again in the late 1980s after its use in the major hit film Three Men and a Baby
Three Men and a Baby
Three Men and a Baby is a 1987 comedy film starring Tom Selleck, Steve Guttenberg, Nancy Travis , and Ted Danson, and directed by Leonard Nimoy, in his first non-Star Trek movie directorial role. It follows the mishaps and adventures of three bachelors as they attempt to adapt their lives to...
. This song is completely different from the 1930s song sung by Rudy Vallee, among others. This song has the sub-title "it's time to go" with the now famous doo-wop bass line intro. This bass line was however not included in the McGuire Sisters' cover version, made to sell to white audiences. Dick Biondi plays the song at the end of every show on Chicago's 94.7 WLS-FM.