Last Kiss
Encyclopedia
"Last Kiss" is a song that was released by Wayne Cochran
in 1961 on the Gala label. It was unsuccessful chartwise. Cochran subsequently re-recorded his song for the King label in 1963. The song was later revived by J. Frank Wilson
and the Cavaliers
, Wednesday
, Nickel Creek
, and several international artists, with varying degrees of success.
was initially inspired to write "Last Kiss" after having lived near a dangerous highway where several accidents had occurred yearly. Knowing that "Tragedy Songs" were big hits and selling lots of records, he got together with some of his friends at the time from Thomaston, Georgia
, United States
, to help him come up with a "teen tragedy" type song. Wayne's good friend Joe Carpenter, a guitar player that had played with Cochran, Randall Hoyal known locally for his song writing ability and Bobby McGlon a good friend of Randall's all got together and over time came up with the lyrics and the music to "Last Kiss". In the summer of 1961 Wayne singing vocals with Joe Carpenter on the guitar, Bobby Rakestraw on bass and Jerry Ripper playing the drums traveled to the University of Georgia
in Athens, Georgia
where they recorded the original version on the Gala Label. Unfortunately when the Gala label went to print, the names of Joe Carpenter, Randall Hoyal and Bobby McGlon were accidentally left off as co-writers. Wayne never had Gala change the label to include Joe, Randall and Bobby and to this day Wayne Cochran is the only one of the four to have ever received credit for writing the song "Last Kiss".
It has been long rumored that the song was based on the auto accident of Sixteen-year-old Jeanette Clark who was out on a date in Barnesville, Georgia on December 22, 1962, the Saturday before Christmas. She was with a group of friends in a 1954 Chevrolet. J. L. Hancock, also sixteen, was driving the car in heavy traffic and while traveling on Highway 341, collided with a Log Truck. Clark, Hancock, and another teenager were killed, and two other teens in the car were seriously injured. This could not be true - since the song was written and recorded in the summer of 1961.
On September 18, 1961 Billboard Music Week printed a review of the song "Last Kiss" and gave it 3 stars but said nothing about the song itself in the review.
However, when the same publication reviewed the B-side of "Last Kiss" — a song called "Funny Feeling" written by Joe Carpenter and Milt (Pete) Skelton — they gave it 4 stars and said, "Blues, chanted in relaxed style, with a funky guitar backing. Derivative but a good job."
, with the idea of having them cover the song. The song was recorded in a tense four-hour session and led to a disagreement leading to the departure of the lead guitarist, Sid Holmes. On a concert trip to Ohio
the band's car collided with a truck, killing Roush and severely injuring Wilson. In 1964, J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers had the first real commercial success with the song. The cover was released in June 1964 and reached the Top 10 in October. It eventually reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100
charts, and also earned the band a gold record.
The song was re-released (Virgo 506) at the end of 1973 and reached #92 in January 1974, spending a total of 5 weeks in Billboard's Hot 100. Coincidentally, J. Frank Wilson's version re-charted only 5 weeks after the version by Wednesday charted.
band Pearl Jam
.
found an old record of the song at the Fremont Antique Mall in Seattle, Washington. He convinced the rest of the band to try out the song and it was performed a few times on the band's 1998 tour
. The band eventually recorded the song at a soundcheck at Constitution Hall
in Washington, D.C.
and released it as a 1998 fan club Christmas single. The band spent only a couple thousand dollars mixing the song. Bassist Jeff Ament
said, "It was the most minimalist recording we've ever done."
. The cover was also featured on the 1999 charity compilation album, No Boundaries: A Benefit for the Kosovar Refugees
. The song helped earn around 10 million dollars for Kosovo relief.
The cover would end up reaching number two on the Billboard Hot 100
. This remains Pearl Jam's highest position on the Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at number four on the Top 40 Mainstream. The song peaked at number five on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number two on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. The "Last Kiss" single has been certified gold by the RIAA
.
Outside the United States, the single was released commercially in Australia
, Austria
, Japan
, Mexico
, South Africa
, and the United Kingdom
. In Canada
, the song reached the top ten on the Canadian Singles Chart
and became the band's highest charted song in Canada, and later it charted on the Canadian Rock Top 30 chart where it reached number four and stayed there for two weeks. "Last Kiss" also reached number 22 on the Canadian Year End Rock Top 50. "Last Kiss" reached the top 50 in the UK. "Last Kiss" peaked at number one on the Australian Singles Chart. It reached the top 80 in the Netherlands
and was a moderate top 20 success in New Zealand
.
Christopher John Farley
of Time
stated, "It's a spare, morose song with Vedder's voice warbling lovelorn over a straight-ahead drum beat. Going back to basics has put Pearl Jam back on top." Regarding the cover, guitarist Stone Gossard
said, "You can try album after album to write a hit and spend months getting drum sounds and rewriting lyrics, or you can go to a used record store and pick out a single and fall in love with it." Pearl Jam included "Last Kiss" on the 2003 B-side
s and rarities album, Lost Dogs
, and on the 2004 greatest hits album, rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991–2003).
and the Live at the Gorge 05/06
box set.
In the 1960s, the Mexican
rock singer Leopoldo Sanchez Labastida (Polo) recorded a cover of "Last Kiss" ("El Último Beso") in Spanish
, reaching number one on Mexican radio
, and the Peru
vian rock band Los Doltons recorded the song in Spanish, reaching number one on Peruvian radio. In the mid-1960s, the Colombia
n singer Alci Acosta
recorded a cover of "Last Kiss" that became a hit in his country. In the early 1970s, the Venezuela
n bands IMPALA and Los 007 recorded covers of "Last Kiss" in Spanish.
In late 1973, the Canadian
pop band Wednesday
recorded a cover of "Last Kiss", reaching number one on the Canadian Billboard charts and number 34 in the U.S. charts. In 1989, the Mexican pop-rock singer Gloria Trevi
included an extended Spanish version of "Last Kiss" on her first album, ¿Qué Hago Aquí?
, and it became popular on Mexican pop radio. The Filipino
rock band Kamikazee
recorded a cover of "Last Kiss" for its 2002 album, Kamikazee. The Canadian band The Havingas recorded a cover of "Last Kiss" for its 2007 album, Knockin on Heaven's Door.
In 2011, Trent Dabbs
recorded a cover of "Last Kiss" for the hit television series The Vampire Diaries
in Season 2 Episode 18: "The Last Dance".
Wayne Cochran
Wayne Cochran is an American soul singer, known for his outlandish outfits and white pompadour. He is sometimes referred to as The White Knight of Soul....
in 1961 on the Gala label. It was unsuccessful chartwise. Cochran subsequently re-recorded his song for the King label in 1963. The song was later revived by J. Frank Wilson
J. Frank Wilson
J. Frank Wilson was an American singer, the lead vocalist of J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers.-Career:Wilson joined the Cavaliers after his discharge from Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas in 1962....
and the Cavaliers
J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers
J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers were an American 1960s group, best remembered for their 1965 million selling record, "Last Kiss".-Career:The Cavaliers formed around 1955 with leader and guitarist Sid Holmes, bassist Lewis Elliott, saxophonist Rob Zeller, drummer Ray Smith and vocalist Alton...
, Wednesday
Wednesday (band)
Wednesday was a pop vocal group from Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. They scored a hit single in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1974 with their cover of the song "Last Kiss", which peaked at #34. That same year, they were nominated for the Canadian Juno Award for Most Promising Group. The single...
, Nickel Creek
Nickel Creek
Nickel Creek was an American progressive acoustic music trio consisting of Chris Thile , Sara Watkins and Sean Watkins . The band was founded in 1989 and released 6 albums between 1993 and 2006...
, and several international artists, with varying degrees of success.
"Original Version" by Wayne Cochran, Joe Carpenter, Randall Hoyal & Bobby McGlon - 1961
Wayne CochranWayne Cochran
Wayne Cochran is an American soul singer, known for his outlandish outfits and white pompadour. He is sometimes referred to as The White Knight of Soul....
was initially inspired to write "Last Kiss" after having lived near a dangerous highway where several accidents had occurred yearly. Knowing that "Tragedy Songs" were big hits and selling lots of records, he got together with some of his friends at the time from Thomaston, Georgia
Thomaston, Georgia
Thomaston is a city in and the county seat of Upson County, Georgia, United States. The population was 9,638 at the 2006 census. It is the principal city of and is included in the Thomaston, Georgia Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Gainesville,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, to help him come up with a "teen tragedy" type song. Wayne's good friend Joe Carpenter, a guitar player that had played with Cochran, Randall Hoyal known locally for his song writing ability and Bobby McGlon a good friend of Randall's all got together and over time came up with the lyrics and the music to "Last Kiss". In the summer of 1961 Wayne singing vocals with Joe Carpenter on the guitar, Bobby Rakestraw on bass and Jerry Ripper playing the drums traveled to the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
in Athens, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
where they recorded the original version on the Gala Label. Unfortunately when the Gala label went to print, the names of Joe Carpenter, Randall Hoyal and Bobby McGlon were accidentally left off as co-writers. Wayne never had Gala change the label to include Joe, Randall and Bobby and to this day Wayne Cochran is the only one of the four to have ever received credit for writing the song "Last Kiss".
It has been long rumored that the song was based on the auto accident of Sixteen-year-old Jeanette Clark who was out on a date in Barnesville, Georgia on December 22, 1962, the Saturday before Christmas. She was with a group of friends in a 1954 Chevrolet. J. L. Hancock, also sixteen, was driving the car in heavy traffic and while traveling on Highway 341, collided with a Log Truck. Clark, Hancock, and another teenager were killed, and two other teens in the car were seriously injured. This could not be true - since the song was written and recorded in the summer of 1961.
On September 18, 1961 Billboard Music Week printed a review of the song "Last Kiss" and gave it 3 stars but said nothing about the song itself in the review.
However, when the same publication reviewed the B-side of "Last Kiss" — a song called "Funny Feeling" written by Joe Carpenter and Milt (Pete) Skelton — they gave it 4 stars and said, "Blues, chanted in relaxed style, with a funky guitar backing. Derivative but a good job."
J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers version
"Last Kiss" caught the attention of record promoter Sonley Roush. Roush brought the song to a group that he managed, J. Frank Wilson and the CavaliersJ. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers
J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers were an American 1960s group, best remembered for their 1965 million selling record, "Last Kiss".-Career:The Cavaliers formed around 1955 with leader and guitarist Sid Holmes, bassist Lewis Elliott, saxophonist Rob Zeller, drummer Ray Smith and vocalist Alton...
, with the idea of having them cover the song. The song was recorded in a tense four-hour session and led to a disagreement leading to the departure of the lead guitarist, Sid Holmes. On a concert trip to Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
the band's car collided with a truck, killing Roush and severely injuring Wilson. In 1964, J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers had the first real commercial success with the song. The cover was released in June 1964 and reached the Top 10 in October. It eventually reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
charts, and also earned the band a gold record.
The song was re-released (Virgo 506) at the end of 1973 and reached #92 in January 1974, spending a total of 5 weeks in Billboard's Hot 100. Coincidentally, J. Frank Wilson's version re-charted only 5 weeks after the version by Wednesday charted.
Pearl Jam version
"Last Kiss" was also covered by the American rockRock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
.
Origin and recording
The idea to cover "Last Kiss" came about after vocalist Eddie VedderEddie Vedder
Eddie Vedder is an American musician and singer-songwriter who is best known for being the lead singer and one of three guitarists of the alternative rock band Pearl Jam. He is widely considered a cultural icon of alternative rock.He is also involved in soundtrack work and contributes to albums...
found an old record of the song at the Fremont Antique Mall in Seattle, Washington. He convinced the rest of the band to try out the song and it was performed a few times on the band's 1998 tour
Yield Tour
The Yield Tour was a concert tour by the American rock band Pearl Jam to support its fifth album, Yield.-History:Pearl Jam promoted Yield with tours in Oceania, and North America in 1998. Following the tour of Australia and before its summer tour of North America began, drummer Jack Irons left the...
. The band eventually recorded the song at a soundcheck at Constitution Hall
DAR Constitution Hall
DAR Constitution Hall is a concert hall in Washington, D.C. It was built in 1929 by the Daughters of the American Revolution to house its annual convention when membership delegations outgrew Memorial Continental Hall. Later, the two buildings were connected by a third structure housing the DAR...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and released it as a 1998 fan club Christmas single. The band spent only a couple thousand dollars mixing the song. Bassist Jeff Ament
Jeff Ament
Jeffrey Allen Ament is an American musician who serves as the bassist for the American rock band Pearl Jam. Along with Stone Gossard, Mike McCready, and Eddie Vedder, he is one of the founding members of Pearl Jam...
said, "It was the most minimalist recording we've ever done."
Release and reception
In the following year the cover of "Last Kiss" began to be played by radio stations and was ultimately put into heavy rotation across the country. By popular demand the cover was released to the public as a single on June 8, 1999, with all of the proceeds going to the aid of refugees of the Kosovo WarKosovo War
The term Kosovo War or Kosovo conflict was two sequential, and at times parallel, armed conflicts in Kosovo province, then part of FR Yugoslav Republic of Serbia; from early 1998 to 1999, there was an armed conflict initiated by the ethnic Albanian "Kosovo Liberation Army" , who sought independence...
. The cover was also featured on the 1999 charity compilation album, No Boundaries: A Benefit for the Kosovar Refugees
No Boundaries: A Benefit for the Kosovar Refugees
No Boundaries: A Benefit For The Kosovar Refugees was released on June 15, 1999 by Epic Records featuring a handful of various artists to help raise money for ethnic Albanians sent by aeroplane to Australia during the Kosovo War. It was released in Australia on June 21, 1999 and that also has music...
. The song helped earn around 10 million dollars for Kosovo relief.
The cover would end up reaching number two on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. This remains Pearl Jam's highest position on the Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at number four on the Top 40 Mainstream. The song peaked at number five on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number two on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. The "Last Kiss" single has been certified gold by the RIAA
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
.
Outside the United States, the single was released commercially in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. In Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the song reached the top ten on the Canadian Singles Chart
RPM (magazine)
RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,...
and became the band's highest charted song in Canada, and later it charted on the Canadian Rock Top 30 chart where it reached number four and stayed there for two weeks. "Last Kiss" also reached number 22 on the Canadian Year End Rock Top 50. "Last Kiss" reached the top 50 in the UK. "Last Kiss" peaked at number one on the Australian Singles Chart. It reached the top 80 in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and was a moderate top 20 success in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Christopher John Farley
Christopher John Farley
For the late comedian and SNL actor, see Chris Farley.Christopher John Farley is a Jamaican-born American journalist, columnist, and author.-Early life and education:...
of Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
stated, "It's a spare, morose song with Vedder's voice warbling lovelorn over a straight-ahead drum beat. Going back to basics has put Pearl Jam back on top." Regarding the cover, guitarist Stone Gossard
Stone Gossard
Stone Carpenter Gossard is an American musician who serves as the rhythm and lead guitarist for the American rock band Pearl Jam. Along with Jeff Ament, Mike McCready, and Eddie Vedder, he is one of the founding members of Pearl Jam...
said, "You can try album after album to write a hit and spend months getting drum sounds and rewriting lyrics, or you can go to a used record store and pick out a single and fall in love with it." Pearl Jam included "Last Kiss" on the 2003 B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
s and rarities album, Lost Dogs
Lost Dogs (album)
Lost Dogs is a two-disc compilation album by the American alternative rock band Pearl Jam, released on November 11, 2003 through Epic Records. The album has been certified gold by the RIAA in the United States.-Overview:...
, and on the 2004 greatest hits album, rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991–2003).
Live performances
Pearl Jam first performed its cover of "Last Kiss" live at the band's May 7, 1998 concert in Seattle, Washington at ARO.space. Live performances by Pearl Jam of "Last Kiss" can be found on various official bootlegsPearl Jam Official Bootlegs
The Pearl Jam "Official" Bootlegs are a large, continually growing series of live albums by the American alternative rock band Pearl Jam. Pearl Jam noted the desire of fans to own a copy of the shows they attended and the popularity of bootleg recordings...
and the Live at the Gorge 05/06
Live at the Gorge 05/06
Live at the Gorge 05/06 is a seven-disc live box set by the American alternative rock band Pearl Jam, released on June 26, 2007 through Rhino/WEA. The box set documents the band's 2005 and 2006 shows at The Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington....
box set.
Track listing
- "Last Kiss" (Wayne CochranWayne CochranWayne Cochran is an American soul singer, known for his outlandish outfits and white pompadour. He is sometimes referred to as The White Knight of Soul....
) – 3:15 - "Soldier of Love (Lay Down Your Arms)Soldier of Love (Lay Down Your Arms)"Soldier of Love " is a 1962 song, written by Buzz Cason and Tony Moon, originally recorded by soul artist Arthur Alexander, appearing as a B-side to his single "Where Have You Been"...
" (Buzz CasonBuzz CasonBuzz Cason is an American rock singer, songwriter, producer and author....
, Tony Moon) – 2:54- Recorded live on September 19, 1998 at Constitution HallDAR Constitution HallDAR Constitution Hall is a concert hall in Washington, D.C. It was built in 1929 by the Daughters of the American Revolution to house its annual convention when membership delegations outgrew Memorial Continental Hall. Later, the two buildings were connected by a third structure housing the DAR...
in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
.
- Recorded live on September 19, 1998 at Constitution Hall
Peak positions
| Chart (1999) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
1 |
| Canadian RPM RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... Singles Chart Canadian Singles Chart The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays.... |
1 |
| Canadian RPM Rock/Alternative Chart RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
4 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
2 |
| US Modern Rock Tracks | 2 |
| US Top 40 Mainstream | 4 |
| US Adult Top 40 Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks Adult Top 40 is a variation on the United States Billboard charts... |
5 |
| US Mainstream Rock Tracks | 5 |
| US Top 40 Tracks Top 40 Tracks Top 40 Tracks is a defunct airplay chart from Billboard Magazine. It was created in 1998, when Billboard Magazine changed the airplay profile of The Hot 100 Airplay to include more R&B, Country, and Rock stations to its profile . To preserve the notion of the former chart, Top 40 Tracks was... |
6 |
| US Top 40 Adult Recurrents | 15 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
19 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
42 |
| Dutch Singles Chart MegaCharts MegaCharts is responsible for the composition and exploitation of a broad collection of official charts in the Netherlands, of which the Mega Top 50 and the Mega Album Top 100 are the most known ones. Mega Charts also provides information to the Stichting Nederlandse Top 40, of which the Dutch Top... |
77 |
End of year charts
| End of year chart (1999) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 23 |
| Canadian RPM Singles Chart | 23 |
| Canadian RPM Rock Chart | 22 |
Other cover versions
The song has a long tradition in Latin American popular music.In the 1960s, the Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
rock singer Leopoldo Sanchez Labastida (Polo) recorded a cover of "Last Kiss" ("El Último Beso") in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, reaching number one on Mexican radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
, and the Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
vian rock band Los Doltons recorded the song in Spanish, reaching number one on Peruvian radio. In the mid-1960s, the Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n singer Alci Acosta
Alci Acosta
Alci Acosta Alci Acosta Alci Acosta (born Alcibiades Alfonso Acosta Cervantes, 5 November 1938 is a Colombian singer and pianist, best known for his bolero performances.----- Career :...
recorded a cover of "Last Kiss" that became a hit in his country. In the early 1970s, the Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n bands IMPALA and Los 007 recorded covers of "Last Kiss" in Spanish.
In late 1973, the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
pop band Wednesday
Wednesday (band)
Wednesday was a pop vocal group from Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. They scored a hit single in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1974 with their cover of the song "Last Kiss", which peaked at #34. That same year, they were nominated for the Canadian Juno Award for Most Promising Group. The single...
recorded a cover of "Last Kiss", reaching number one on the Canadian Billboard charts and number 34 in the U.S. charts. In 1989, the Mexican pop-rock singer Gloria Trevi
Gloria Trevi
Gloria Trevi is a Mexican pop-rock singer-songwriter. She was described as the "Supreme Diva of the Mexican Pop" by the music channel VH1 and sold over 20 million records.-Biography:...
included an extended Spanish version of "Last Kiss" on her first album, ¿Qué Hago Aquí?
¿Qué Hago Aquí?
...Qué Hago Aquí? was the debut studio album by Mexican Pop rock singer Gloria Trevi. It was produced by Sergio Andrade and originally released in 1989 by Sony International. The album became massively popular with the mainstream Mexican audience because of songs like "Dr. Psiquiatra",...
, and it became popular on Mexican pop radio. The Filipino
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
rock band Kamikazee
Kamikazee
Kamikazee is a Filipino rock band formed in 2000. The band is composed of Jay Contreras, Jomal Linao, Led Tuyay, Puto Astete and Bords Burdeos.- History :...
recorded a cover of "Last Kiss" for its 2002 album, Kamikazee. The Canadian band The Havingas recorded a cover of "Last Kiss" for its 2007 album, Knockin on Heaven's Door.
In 2011, Trent Dabbs
Trent Dabbs
Trent Dabbs is an American singer-songwriter who was raised in Jackson, but has been based in Nashville for his professional career. He co-founded the musical collective Ten Out of Tenn in 2005. Dabbs has released six solo albums and a self-titled collaboration album with Ashley Monroe since his...
recorded a cover of "Last Kiss" for the hit television series The Vampire Diaries
The Vampire Diaries
The Vampire Diaries is a young adult vampire horror series of novels written by L. J. Smith. The story centers around Elena Gilbert, a high school girl torn between two vampire brothers. The series was originally a trilogy published in 1991, but pressure from readers led Smith to write a fourth...
in Season 2 Episode 18: "The Last Dance".