Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha
| "Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Sam Cooke | ||||
| B-side | "Little Things You Do" | |||
| Released | January 1959 | |||
| Recorded | January 7, 1959 | |||
| Studio | Radio Recorders (Hollywood, California) | |||
| Genre | R&B, cha-cha-cha | |||
| Length | 2:35 | |||
| Label | Keen | |||
| Songwriter | Sam Cooke | |||
| Producer | Bumps Blackwell | |||
| Sam Cooke singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha" (originally released as "Everybody Likes to Cha Cha Cha") is a song by American singer-songwriter Sam Cooke, released in January 1959. The song was one of Cooke's biggest successes on Billboard's Hot R&B Sides chart, peaking at number two; the song also charted at number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The song references the cha-cha-cha, a dance of Cuban origin that became popular in the United States in the late 1950s.
Background
[edit | edit source]The song originated from a Christmas 1958 party at Lou Rawls' stepfather's house. During the celebration, all began doing the cha-cha-cha, including Cooke's daughter, Linda.[1] When one of the kids called out, "Everybody, cha-cha-cha!", Cooke grabbed a sheet of paper and wrote down the lyrics while everyone else danced. The song was recorded the week after New Year's 1959.[1]
The song concerns Cooke and his girlfriend going to a dance in which all are doing the cha-cha-cha, a dance which his significant other doesn't know how to do. Cooke teaches his guest but by the end of the evening, she is "doing [the cha-cha-cha]" better than he is.[2]
Personnel
[edit | edit source]Credits adapted from the liner notes to the 2003 compilation Portrait of a Legend: 1951–1964.[1]
- Sam Cooke – vocals
- Adolphus Asbrook – bass guitar
- Charles Blackwell – drums
- Jack Costanza – bongos
- Rene Hall – guitar
- Mike Pacheco – congas
- Clifton White – guitar
- Backing vocals are provided by Darlene Love and The Blossoms[3]
Charts and certifications
[edit | edit source]Weekly charts
[edit | edit source]| Chart (1959) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100[4] | 31 |
| US Hot R&B Sides (Billboard)[4] | 2 |
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Guralnick, Peter (2005). Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke. New York: Back Bay Books, p. 268-69. First edition, 2005.
- ^ Guralnick, Peter, Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke, Little, Brown and Company, New York, 2005 p. 269-270
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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