A Teenager in Love

"A Teenager in Love" is a song written by Doc Pomus and partner Mort Shuman. It was originally recorded by Dion and the Belmonts, and released in March 1959. It appeared on their album Presenting Dion and the Belmonts (1959).[1] It reached number 5 on the Billboard pop charts.[2]

"A Teenager in Love"
Single by Dion and the Belmonts
B-side"I've Cried Before"
ReleasedMarch 30, 1959
GenreDoo-wop
Length2:40
LabelLaurie
Songwriter(s)Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman
Dion and the Belmonts singles chronology
"Don't Pity Me"
(1958)		 "A Teenager in Love"
(1959)		 "Every Little Thing I Do"
(1959)

The song was covered by many different artists; in 1959, three different versions of the song charted simultaneously in the UK, the other two versions being by Marty Wilde and Craig Douglas, which reached No. 2 and No. 13 respectively on the British chart.[3]

Background

The song was written by the songwriting duo Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman commissioned by Laurie Records, originally intended for the doo-wop singing group The Mystics. Laurie Records, however, gave the song to Dion & The Belmonts instead to record, and Pomus and Shuman then quickly wrote another song, "Hushabye" for the Mystics.[4][5] Dion initially thought the song sounded "wimpy", but then realized the sound the song has when the Belmonts starting singing "ooh-wah" at the start of the song.[4] "A Teenager in Love" was released with "I've Cried Before" its B-side in April 1959,[6] and peaked at No. 5 in May.[7]

The song has appeared on multiple "best of" compilation albums by Dion and the Belmonts.[8]

Charts
Chart (1959) Peak
position
Canada (CHUM Hit Parade)[9] 2
UK Singles (OCC)[10] 28
US Billboard Hot 100[2] 5

Parodies

The Fugs parodied "A Teenager In Love" as "Septuagenarian in Love" on The Fugs Final CD Part 1.[11] This version turns the teenager into a senior citizen who is having trouble getting an erection. The Four Preps parodied the song in "More Money for You and Me".

References
  1. "Presenting Dion & The Belmonts - Dion & the Belmonts | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  2. "Dion Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  3. "Biography of Doc Pomus". Archived from the original on April 15, 2008. Retrieved March 26, 2008.
  4. Vickers, Graham (2013). Pomus & Shuman: Hitmakers Together & Apart. Omnibus. ISBN 9780857128003.
  5. Reynolds, Robert (2017). Vanilla Doo-Wop. p. 80. ISBN 9781365804601.
  6. "Distributor News". Billboard. April 6, 1959. p. 6.
  7. "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. May 18, 1959. p. 41.
  8. "A Teenager in Love - Dion & the Belmonts | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  9. "CHUM Hit Parade, week of May 25, 1959".
  10. "dion & The Belmonts: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  11. Pareles, Jon (October 9, 2004). "At a Reunion With the Fugs, Teenage Days Have Moved On". The New York Times. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
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