Down the Aisle (The Wedding Song)

"Down the Aisle (The Wedding Song)" is a doo-wop ballad recorded and released by girl group Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles in 1963. The song became a hit success for the Philadelphia-based vocal group following the controversial release of their "debut hit", 1962's "I Sold My Heart to the Junkman".

"Down the Aisle (The Wedding Song)"
Single by Patti LaBelle And Her Blue Belles
Released1963
Recorded1963, Philadelphia, PA
Genre
LabelCameo-Parkway Records
Songwriter(s)Robert L Martin [2]

Background

By 1963, the controversy over the hit song, "I Sold My Heart to the Junkman", which was credited to the Bluebelles singing group but was rumored to be recorded by another group, had died down. Despite getting credit for "Junkman", the group failed to find a follow-up hit with songs such as "Go On" and "Cool Water".[3] Finally, Newtown released their next single, which is dedicated to a wedding day.

The song is notable for lead singer Patti LaBelle singing in a high whistle register vocal near the end of the song while backed up by her lower-octave singing partners. The group recorded an alternate version that same year.

Credits

Chart performance
Charts Peak

Position

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 37
U.S. Billboard R&B chart[4] 14
U.S Cashbox Top 100[5] 39
U.S Cashbox Top 50 R&B[6] 8

The song was one of the first Bluebelles songs to be given massive play on both AM pop and rhythm and blues radio stations. The song later became a favorite for "blue night basement parties" and slow dances. .[7]

Year-end charts 1964 Rank
U.S. Cashbox Top R&B Records[8] 40
  • The song is heard in the 1995 film, Stonewall

References
  1. Breihan, Tom (July 3, 2019). "The Number Ones: Labelle's "Lady Marmalade"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 22, 2023. In 1963: the bluesy and gospel-infused matrimony anthem "Down The Aisle (The Wedding Song)," #37.
  2. "ASCAP Repertory entry for song". ASCAP. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  3. "Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles". Retrieved 2009-08-03.
  4. "Billboard Chart History". Billboard.
  5. "Cashbox magazine". 23 November 1963. Archived from the original on 2012-10-10.
  6. "Cashbox magazine". November 9, 1963.
  7. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 336.
  8. "CashBox Magazine". December 26, 1964.
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