Feature Photo: Kapp Records, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Our Top 10 Top 10 Ruby & The Romantics Songs list takes a look at a band that were active and popular in the 1960s. They aren’t as well-remembered as some of their contemporaries, but they are extremely influential in their own right. To name some names, Ruby & The Romantics influenced the Temptations, the Carpenters, and both of the best-known Osmond siblings. In any case, Ruby refers to Ruby Nash, who didn’t start singing until she was a high school senior but more than managed to hold her own. Meanwhile, the Romantics refer to the other four members, some of whom sang with the Embers, the Supremes, and then the Feilos. All five members knew one another from growing up in Akron OH, so they got together in a very natural way. Subsequently, Ruby & The Romantics put out several hits before breaking up in 1971.
Top 10 Ruby & The Romantics Songs
#10 – Hurting Each Other
“Hurting Each Other” tends to be known because of The Carpenters’ version in 1971. However, the latter was far from being the first group to record the song. A swamp pop singer named Jimmy Clanton released the original in 1965. Ruby & The Romantics released their version in 1969, which holds up surprisingly well despite the formidable competition. Regardless, “Hurting Each Other” is what it sounds like. That is to say, a song that sees the singer lamenting a relationship in which both parties hurt each other even though they know they shouldn’t.
#9 – Does He Really Care For Me
Ruby & The Romantics were the first to sing “Does He Really Care For Me.” Later, it was covered by The Searchers, who are notable for being the second group from Liverpool to score a U.S. hit in 1964. This is a song with a very relatable subject matter. After all, we can’t exactly read each other’s minds. As a result, it is natural for us to wonder whether other people truly have the feelings they seem to have for us. Of course, it is possible to take this kind of thing too far. Still, to wonder is to be human.
#8 – When You’re Young and in Love
Interested individuals might remember “When You’re Young and in Love” because of the Flying Pickets version from 1984. Sadly, Ruby & The Romantics’ original take on the song never met with the same success. In their case, the song became a hit in Honolulu but failed to make much progress in other U.S. markets. Even so, it is worth a listen, particularly for those in a nostalgic mood for bygone times.
#7 – Your Baby Doesn’t Love You Anymore
“Your Baby Doesn’t Love You Anymore” was more of a success. Amusingly, it seems to have been something of an unexpected success. That is because Ruby & The Romantics released it as the B-side to their single “We’ll Meet Again,” meaning they expected it to be the less well-received song. Despite that, “Your Baby Doesn’t Love You Anymore” got a great deal more radio airplay on R&B stations than its A-side.
#6 – Hey There Lonely Boy
Ruby & The Romantics released “Hey There Lonely Boy” in 1963. It reached the number 27 position on the Billboard Hot 100 and the number 5 position on the Billboard Middle-Road Singles, thus making it one of their more notable songs. The song’s lyrics put a great deal of focus on the singer’s target of affection for obvious reasons. What is interesting is that they also emphasize the singer’s own status as a “lonely girl,” which is a neat reminder that we are never the only ones who feel what we feel.
#5 – I Cry Alone
“I Cry Alone” is yet another song with a very relatable set of lyrics. The singer is suffering from the breakdown of her relationship. She puts on a brave face whenever her friends visit to cheer her up. Unfortunately, she can’t maintain the facade when she is alone. Time blunts all heartbreak, but they are agonizing when they are immediate.
#4 – Our Everlasting Love
Anyone can say they have a great deal of love for their significant other. As a result, if people want to give their claims rhetorical weight, it is common for them to use nature metaphors. Here, the singer talks about her love lasting longer than the sea, the sky, and the very stars themselves. If one wants to be a killjoy, one can point out that none of these things are eternal, meaning her love isn’t eternal either. Still, it seems safe to say that her love will have had a pretty good run if it manages to go for a few billion years, which is the relevant scale when talking about the lifespan of the sun and other stars.
#3 – My Summer Love
“My Summer Love” utilizes a neat bit of contrast in its lyrics. It talks about a potential relationship in the context of seasons, which implies that it will change over time because the seasons change over time. However, the singer says that her “summer love” will last forever if it is reciprocated. Elsewhere, this might have turned into a jumbled metaphor. Here, Ruby & The Romantics handled it well enough that it comes off as bold and memorable, which isn’t the sort of thing anyone can just pull off.
#2 – Young Wings Can Fly (Higher Than You Know)
A lot of people are bold in their youth before becoming more risk-averse in old age. Not everyone fits into this pattern. Still, enough do that there is some basis for the stereotype. “Young Wings Can Fly High (Higher Than You Know)” urges young people to do exactly that. Love is one of the things it says they should take a chance on. However, the lyrics also hint at other dreams and aspirations.
#1 – Our Day Will Come
“Our Day Will Come” is Ruby & The Romantics’ single greatest hit. It reached the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100. Furthermore, it has inspired dozens of covers by some very well-known music acts including Cher, Pat Boone, and James Brown. One of the most successful covers belongs to Frankie Valli. The legendary singer had a top 20 hit with the song in 1975. Patti Austin also sang on the track with Frankie Valli.. The hopeful, uplifting message of “Our Day Will Come” remains a delight, not least because it is so relevant for everyone in every era.
Top 10 Ruby & The Romantics Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2022
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