This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (May 2016) |
"Kisses Sweeter Than Wine" | |
---|---|
Single by the Weavers | |
A-side | "When the Saints Go Marching In" |
Written | 1950 |
Published | 1951 |
Released | July 1951 |
Recorded | June 12, 1951 |
Genre | |
Label | Decca |
Composer(s) | Traditional Irish (credited to "Joel Newman") |
Lyricist(s) | Pete Seeger, Lee Hays (under pseudonym "Paul Campbell") |
"Kisses Sweeter Than Wine" is a popular song, with lyrics written and music adapted in 1950 by Pete Seeger and Lee Hays of the Weavers. It became a US hit in a version recorded by the Weavers in 1951, and an even bigger hit in 1957 when recorded by Jimmie Rodgers. Frankie Vaughan also had a top ten hit with the song in the UK in 1958.
The tune was adapted from Lead Belly's "If It Wasn't for Dicky" (1937), which in turn was adapted from the traditional Irish folk tune "Drimindown / Drumion Dubh". The Weavers first released the song in 1951 as a Decca single, which reached number 19 on the Billboard chart and number 20 on the Cashbox chart in 1951.[1] Rodgers hit number 7 on the Billboard charts with the song in 1957, and Frankie Vaughan hit number 8 in the UK with it the following year.