10 Best Songs From The Moonglows

Photo: Chess Records, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Our 10 Best Songs From The Moonglows takes a look at one of the early bands of rock and roll formed in the 1950s. The band was fueled by five great vocalists including Harvey Fuqua, Bobby Lester, Alexander “Pete” Walton Prentiss Barnes, Danny Coggins and Billy Johnson on guitar. The band recorded and released many great singles and albums between the years 1953 and 1959. Their huge 1955 hit “Sincerely,” was featured in the legendary film Goodfellas. The band The Moonglows was voted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.

# 10 – Secret Love

We open up our Moonglows songs list with the group’s second single release of their career entitled “Secret Love.” The groups first single was a Christmas song entitled “Just a Lonely Christmas” released in 1953. The single “Secret Love,” was released in 1954. The song was written by Sammy Fain, and Paul Francis Webster.”Secret Love,” was originally composed for the motion picture Calamity Jane which starred Doris Day. The legendary film star would also have a number one hit single with the song. Nonetheless, The Moonglows recorded their own version in 1954 as a non album single. The song was released on Chance Records.

# 9 – I Was Wrong

Continuing with our top 10 songs from The Moonglows list we turn to the group’s great doo-wop classic entitled “I Was Wrong.” The song was released as the band’s third single release in 1954. The song was recorded with the Red Holloway Orchestra. It was released on Chance Records. The band had still not broken onto any of the pop charts but they were getting close. This may be doo-wop but there is a very strong soul and rock and roll spirit going on in this great song. Just take a listen and you will hear what we mean.

# 8 – 219 Train

In 1954, The Moonglows released their fourth single entitled “219 Train.” The band was working hard as their manager Alan Freed was trying hard to get the band to break onto the pop charts without any success. However their next single would be the one that would turn the band into a household name in the 1950s. Still the song “219 Train,” is a fabulous recording that we think you will enjoy.

# 7 – When I’m With You

In the number seven spot on our Moonglows songs list is the beautiful song entitled “When I’m With You.” The song was released in 1956. It was released as a single from the album entitled Look! It’s The Moonglows. The album was also released in 1956. The single “When I’m With You.” would become a top 20 hit in the United States Billboard R&B Charts. The song peaked at number fifteen.

# 6 – We Go Together

No this song “We Go Together” is not the same song that your thinking of from the 1978 film Grease that starred John Travolta and Olivia Newton John. This is a completely different song that was released by the Moonglows in 1956. The song was released on the album entitled Bunch of Goodies. It was a released as a single from the album where it did incredibly well. The song became the band’s third top 10 hit of their career as it peaked at number nine on the US Billboard R&B Charts in 1956.

# 5 – See Saw

At the halfway point of our Moonglows songs list we present the outstanding song “See Saw.” The band left their doo-wop roots on this one for a swinging country style r&b songs that was released on the album Rock, Rock, Rock” soundtrack. This was another great Moonglows song from 1956. The song broke into the US Billboard Hot 100. “See Saw,” peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song would also hit number six on the US Billboard R&B Charts.

# 4 – Most Of All

In the number four spot we turn to the very cool Moonglows single entitled “Most Of All.” The song was released as the follow up single to the biggest hit of their career entitled “Sincerely,” in 1955. The song “Most Of All,” would also be a huge hit as it peaked at number five on the Billboard R&B charts. However, this one failed to break into the Billboard Hot 100.

# 3 – Ten Commandments of Love

The song entitled “Ten Commandments of Love” was the last Moonglows single to chart of their career in the 1950s. The song was released in 1959. “Ten Commandments of Love” was released on the album entitled Look! It’s The Moonglows. Not only was it the band’s last big single it was also their second highest charting single of their career on the Billboard Hot 100 where it peaked at number 25. “Ten Commandments of Love” also became the group’s sixth single to break into the top 10 of the Billboard R&B charts where it peaked at number nine.

# 2 -Please Send Me Someone to Love

This is just one of the songs that everyone in the 1950s fell in love with. Released on the legendary label Chess records, home of Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, The Four Tops and so many more,the song “Please Send Me Someone to Love,” would hit number five on the Billboard R&B charts in 1955. The song was originally recorded by Percy Mayfield. It has been widely covered over the years by a diverse group of artists from Paul Butterfield to The Animals, to Fiona Apple.

# 1 – Sincerely

We close out our Moonglows songs list with the song that made the band famous. “Sincerely,”would become the band’s first single to break onto the Billboard music charts. It would become the band’s biggest hit of their career as it went all the way to number one on the Billboard R&B Charts. The song also peaked at number twenty on the Billboard Hot 100 making it their highest charting song on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. The song was written by Harvey Fuqua and Alan Freed.

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