Sweets for My Sweet

For the album by the Sweet Inspirations, see Sweets for My Sweet (album).

"Sweets for My Sweet" is a song written by the songwriting team of Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman,^[1] originally recorded by American doo-wop and R&B/soul vocal group the Drifters.

"Sweets for My Sweet"
Single by the Drifters
from the album Save the Last Dance for Me
B-side	"Loneliness or Happiness"
Released	1961
Genre	R&B, doo-wop
Length	2:32
Label	Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman
The Drifters singles chronology
"Please Stay" (1961) "Sweets for My Sweet" (1961) "Room Full of Tears" (1961)

The Drifters version

The group's first single featuring Charlie Thomas on lead vocal, "Sweets for My Sweet" reached No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 10 on the R&B chart, in October 1961.^[2] 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.^[3]

The Searchers version

"Sweets for My Sweet"
Single by the Searchers
from the album Meet The Searchers
B-side	"It's All Been a Dream"
Released	1963 (1963)
Genre	Merseybeat
Length	2:31
Label	Pye (7N15533)[4]
Songwriter(s)	Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman[4]
Producer(s)	Tony Hatch[4]
The Searchers singles chronology
"Sweets for My Sweet" (1963) "Sugar and Spice" (1963)

In 1963, "Sweets for My Sweet" was released by English Merseybeat band the Searchers as their debut single, reaching No. 1 on the UK Single Chart for two weeks that August.^[4][5] According to Bill Harry, Dusty Springfield considered the Searchers' recording of the song to be "the best record to come out of Liverpool" as of July 1963.^[6] This version was also issued in the US in 1964 but failed to chart.

C. J. Lewis version

"Sweets for My Sweet"
Single by C. J. Lewis
from the album Dollars
B-side	"Sweets for My Sweet" (ska 7-inch)
Released	April 11, 1994 (1994-04-11)[7]
Genre	Reggae fusion
Length	4:33 (12-inch) 3:24 (7-inch)
Label	Black Market International MCA
Songwriter(s)	Doc Pomus Mort Shuman
Producer(s)	C. J. Lewis Phillip Leo
C. J. Lewis singles chronology
"Sweets for My Sweet" (1994) "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" (1994)
Music video
"Sweets for My Sweet" on YouTube

British reggae singer C. J. Lewis released his version of "Sweets for My Sweet" as his debut single in April 1994 via Black Market International and MCA. 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 (1994). The female vocals are performed by singer Samantha Depasois. Jerome Redfarne directed the song's music video.

Critical reception

Pan-European magazine Music & Media noted that here, 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."^[8] Alan Jones from Music Week wrote, "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."^[9] Pete Stanton from Smash Hits gave Lewis' version four out of five, adding, "Though CJ's a bit of a star in the reggae charts he has yet to set the proper charts alight — but Sweets should do that." He also remarked that the singer "has reggaed it up and turned it into a groovy, radio-friendly bopper."^[10]

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.^[11]

Track listings

• 7-inch vinyl, UK (1994)^[12]

1. "Sweets for My Sweet" (7-inch version)
2. "Sweets for My Sweet" (ska 7-inch)

• CD single, Europe (1994)^[13]

1. "Sweets for My Sweet" (original 7-inch) – 3:24
2. "Sweets for My Sweet" (ska 7-inch) – 3:47
3. "Sweets for My Sweet" (original 12-inch) – 4:33

• CD single, UK (1994)^[14]

1. "Sweets for My Sweet" (original 7-inch) – 3:24
2. "Sweets for My Sweet" (ska 7-inch) – 3:47
3. "Sweets for My Sweet" (original 12-inch) – 4:33
4. "Sweets for My Sweet" (ska straight mix) – 4:01
5. "Sweets for My Sweet" (dub mix 1) – 4:01
6. "Sweets for My Sweet" 8original dub) – 3:23

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1994) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[15] 45 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[16] 9 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[17] 9 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[18] 13 Europe (European AC Radio)[19] 15 Europe (European Dance Radio)[20] 18 Finland (IFPI)[21] 11 Germany (GfK)[22] 28 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[23] 7 Ireland (IRMA)[24] 6 Italy Airplay (Music & Media)[25] 6 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[26] 3 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[27] 4 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[28] 3 Scotland (OCC)[29] 15 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[30] 16 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[31] 6 UK Singles (OCC)[32] 3 UK Dance (Music Week)[33] 6 UK Club Chart (Music Week)[34] 44

Year-end charts Chart (1994) Position Belgium (Ultratop)[35] 58 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[36] 60 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[37] 88 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[38] 48 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[39] 59 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[40] 6 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[41] 92 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[42] 28 UK Singles (OCC)[43] 41

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[44]	Platinum	10,000*
* Sales figures based on certification alone.

Other cover versions

• In the UK, Tina Charles remade "Sweets for My Sweet" in 1977 in tandem with "Love Bug". The track was included on her album Rendezvous and issued as a single reaching No. 26;^{[citation needed]} however the single edit only featured one chorus from "Sweets for My Sweet" at its close.
• The only US remake of "Sweets for My Sweet" to reach the Hot 100 or any Billboard chart to date is that by Tony Orlando which reached No. 54 and No. 20 on the Hot Adult Contemporary chart in 1979.^[45]

References

1. "Doc Pomus - Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved June 27, 2007.
2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 173.
3. "IN THE CAN : FEBRUARY 1961". Members.home.nl. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
4. Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. pp. 72–3. ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
5. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 153. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
6. Harry, Bill (July 6, 1963). "Northern beat scene" (PDF). Record Mirror: 6. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
7. "Single Releases" (PDF). Music Week. April 9, 1994. p. 24. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
8. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 22. May 28, 1994. p. 9. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
9. Jones, Alan (April 2, 1994). "Market Preview: Mainstream – Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 12. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
10. Stanton, Pete (March 16, 1994). "New Singles". Smash Hits. p. 53. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
11. "c.j. lewis - sweets for my sweet". YouTube. Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
12. Sweets for My Sweet (UK 7-inch single sleeve). C. J. Lewis. Black Market International, MCA Records. 1994. BMI 017.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
13. Sweets for My Sweet (European CD single liner notes). C. J. Lewis. Black Market International, MCA Records. 1994. MCD 31588.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
14. Sweets for My Sweet (UK CD single liner notes). C. J. Lewis. Black Market International, MCA Records. 1994. BMITD 017.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
15. "CJ Lewis – Sweets for My Sweet". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
16. "CJ Lewis – Sweets for My Sweet" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
17. "CJ Lewis – Sweets for My Sweet" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
18. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 21. May 21, 1994. p. 22. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
19. "Adult Contemporary Europe Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. August 6, 1994. p. 14. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
20. "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. May 21, 1994. p. 30. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
21. Week 23, 1994.
22. "CJ Lewis – Sweets for My Sweet" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
23. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (02.6.–08.6. '94)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). June 2, 1994. p. 20. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
24. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sweets for My Sweet". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
25. "Regional Airplay: South" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 29. July 16, 1994. p. 31.
26. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 26, 1994" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
27. "CJ Lewis – Sweets for My Sweet" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
28. "CJ Lewis – Sweets for My Sweet". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
29. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
30. "CJ Lewis – Sweets for My Sweet". Singles Top 100. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
31. "CJ Lewis – Sweets for My Sweet". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
32. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
33. "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. April 23, 1994. p. 30. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
34. "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). April 9, 1994. p. 4. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
35. "Jaaroverzichten 1994" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
36. "1994 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 52. December 24, 1994. p. 12. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
37. "Árslistinn 1994". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1995. p. 25. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
38. "Jaarlijsten 1994" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
39. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1994" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
40. "End of Year Charts 1994". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
41. "Årslista Singlar, 1994" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
42. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1994" (in German). Retrieved September 20, 2019.
43. "Top 100 Singles 1994". Music Week. January 14, 1995. p. 9.
44. "New Zealand single certifications – C.J. Lewis – Sweets for My Sweet". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
45. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 186.