100 Records That Shook The World, #78

Will You Love Me Tomorrow

The Shirelles

One of the first of the late Fifties and early Sixties girl groups and among the few to write their own hits, the Shirelles were also one of the longest lasting. Their career began as 16 and 17 year old high school friends in Passaic, New Jersey in 1958. Originally signed to Tiara Records, which was owned by the mother of one of their friends, they generated enough interest for Decca Records to buy the masters and release their stuff nationally. However, after three singles, two of which failed to chart, they were dropped by Decca at the end of '58. In June of 1959 Florence Greenberg, the owner of Tiara Records and now Sceptor Records, brought in Luther Dixon to work with the girls and thus began their comeback. They released four more singles, with a modicum of success, but the next one was to seal their status as legends. A Gerry Goffin/Carole King composition, "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" was one that the girls initially balked at because they felt it was 'too white' and 'too country'. No problem. A reworked arrangement and that memorable string section made it into a monster. It shot to the top of the charts and has been recorded by dozens of artists, including Ms. King herself on her Tapestry album with a certain James Taylor and Joni Mitchell on backing vox, no less.

Let's sit back and enjoy this timeless classic.