The Story Behind The Hit: Wedding Bell Blues

Wedding Bell Blues is a song written and recorded by Laura Nyro in 1966. However, it was the 5th Dimension's 1969 cover that became a big hit, reaching No. 1 on the U.S. pop singles chart. The song is about a woman whose boyfriend has not yet proposed to her, and she wonders, Am I ever gonna see my wedding day? The 5th Dimension's performance of the song was especially fitting as band members Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. were engaged at the time.

The song was written by Laura Nyro when she was 18

"Wedding Bell Blues" was written by Laura Nyro when she was just 18 years old. The song was released on her debut album, "More Than a New Discovery", in 1966 or 1967. Nyro wrote the song as a "mini-suite", featuring several dramatic rhythmic changes—a style she continued to explore in her future albums.

The song is about a woman whose boyfriend has not yet proposed to her. She loves him but is frustrated by the lack of commitment. The lyrics carry dual themes of adoring love and frustrated lament. The inspiration for the song came from an affair that actor and nightclub owner Bill Carter had in the 1950s with jazz singer Helen Merrill, the mother of Nyro's good friend, Alan Merrill. Nyro and Alan Merrill were so close that they considered each other cousins.

The original recording of "Wedding Bell Blues" was not as Nyro intended. Producer Herb Bernstein did not allow her to record her original arrangement, which led to Nyro disowning the entire album. The song was similar in content and arrangement to the later, more familiar, 5th Dimension version, which was a number-one hit in 1969. However, Nyro's version had a more soulful vocal line.

The song's title, "Wedding Bell Blues", became a popular phrase in American pop culture. It has been used for several books, a 1996 movie, and episodes of television shows.

It was inspired by an affair between Bill Carter and Helen Merrill

"Wedding Bell Blues" is a song written and recorded by Laura Nyro in 1966. The song was inspired by an affair between actor and nightclub owner Bill Carter and jazz singer Helen Merrill. Alan Merrill, Helen's son and a close friend of Nyro, described the relationship between Carter and his mother:

> Around 1958 or so my mom was dating a married man named Bill Carter, a b-film actor. He was married to Trink Wiman, heiress to the John Deere fortune. My mom and Bill co-owned a jazz club named The Night Owl (not the Greenwich Village rock venue) and were having a very passionate and public relationship.

Alan also confirmed that his mother's affair with Carter was the inspiration for Nyro's song:

> [Laura] listened to it as a child and later wrote about it. My mother could never marry Bill, and didn't. Her timing was bad. Seeing a married man was a big deal in the '50s, but that the wife was such a wealthy heiress upped the ante.

Nyro's song "Wedding Bell Blues" went on to become a number-one hit for the 5th Dimension in 1969.

The song was originally recorded by Nyro in 1966

"Wedding Bell Blues" was written and originally recorded by Laura Nyro in 1966. The song was released as a single in September 1966 and remained on Billboard's "Bubbling Under" chart for several weeks, peaking at No. 103.

Nyro wrote the song at the age of 18 as a "mini-suite". The lyrics were inspired by an affair between actor and nightclub owner Bill Carter and jazz singer Helen Merrill, the mother of Nyro's good friend Alan Merrill. The song originally featured several dramatic rhythmic changes, a trait Nyro would continue to explore in her future albums.

Nyro's recording of "Wedding Bell Blues" is similar in content and arrangement to the later version by The 5th Dimension, albeit with a somewhat more soulful vocal line. The song is written from the perspective of a woman whose boyfriend has not yet proposed to her, and she wonders, "Am I ever gonna see my wedding day?" The woman adores her man but feels frustrated by the lack of commitment.

The song was later covered by The 5th Dimension in 1969, becoming a big hit and reaching No. 1 on the U.S. pop singles chart. The group's version spent three weeks at No. 1 in November 1969 and was their second of five No. 1 songs on the U.S. adult contemporary chart. The song's success also made "Wedding Bell Blues" a popular phrase in American pop culture.

The 5th Dimension's 1969 cover became a No. 1 hit

The 5th Dimension's 1969 cover of "Wedding Bell Blues" became a No. 1 hit. The song was originally written and recorded by Laura Nyro in 1966, but it was the 5th Dimension's rendition that propelled it to mainstream success.

The 5th Dimension was an American vocal group whose music encompassed sunshine pop, pop soul, and psychedelic soul. Their cover of "Wedding Bell Blues" featured on their 1969 album "The Age of Aquarius." The song is written from the perspective of a woman urging her boyfriend to propose to her, singing, "Am I ever gonna see my wedding day?"

The song's popularity was bolstered by the fact that two members of the 5th Dimension, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., were engaged at the time. During television appearances, McCoo would sing directly to Davis, who would respond with quizzical looks, adding a layer of authenticity to the performance.

The success of "Wedding Bell Blues" cemented the 5th Dimension's status as a prominent musical act. The song spent three weeks at No. 1 on the U.S. pop singles chart in November 1969 and became one of the group's rare appearances on the U.S. R&B singles chart, peaking at No. 23. It was their second of five No. 1 songs on the U.S. adult contemporary chart.

The song's impact extended beyond the music industry, with the title becoming a popular phrase in American pop culture. "Wedding Bell Blues" showcased the talent of the 5th Dimension and solidified their place in musical history.

The song's title became a popular phrase in American pop culture

"Wedding Bell Blues" is a song written and recorded by Laura Nyro in 1966. The song was made famous by The 5th Dimension, whose version reached No. 1 on the U.S. pop singles chart in 1969. The song's lyrics are written from the perspective of a woman whose boyfriend has not yet proposed to her, and who wonders, "am I ever gonna see my wedding day?". The song's title, "Wedding Bell Blues", subsequently became a popular phrase in American pop culture.

The phrase "wedding bell blues" likely resonated with many people due to its catchy alliteration and its ability to succinctly capture the feelings of anxiety, sadness, and uncertainty associated with waiting for a marriage proposal. The phrase also evokes a sense of irony, as the image of wedding bells traditionally signifies joy and celebration, while the word "blues" suggests melancholy and sadness. This juxtaposition creates a memorable and intriguing phrase that can be used to describe a range of complex emotions.

The popularity of the song and its catchy title led to the phrase "wedding bell blues" being used in various forms of media. It has been used as the title of several books, a 1996 movie, and episodes of television shows. The enduring appeal of the song and its title demonstrates the impact that music can have on shaping pop culture and influencing the way we express our emotions.

The phrase "wedding bell blues" has become ingrained in American pop culture, and its usage continues to be a testament to the impact of Nyro's songwriting and the 5th Dimension's interpretation of the song. The phrase captures a specific emotional experience, giving a name to the complex feelings associated with waiting for a marriage proposal. By expressing these emotions so succinctly, the song and its title have left a lasting impact on American pop culture.

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