Gary Lewis & The Playboys
Gary Lewis and the Playboys were a pop/rock group fronted by musician Gary Lewis, son of comedian Jerry Lewis, which earned its most success as a 'swinging sixties' band. Releasing four gold albums as well as many hits, songs "Count Me In" and "This Diamond Ring" in particular continue to receive significant airplay. The group initially auditioned for a job at Disneyland, supposedly without telling Disneyland employees about Lewis' celebrity father. Read Full BioGary Lewis and the Playboys were a pop/rock group fronted by musician Gary Lewis, son of comedian Jerry Lewis, which earned its most success as a 'swinging sixties' band. Releasing four gold albums as well as many hits, songs "Count Me In" and "This Diamond Ring" in particular continue to receive significant airplay. The group initially auditioned for a job at Disneyland, supposedly without telling Disneyland employees about Lewis' celebrity father.
They were hired on the spot, audiences at Disneyland quickly accepting them and loving their good-time image, and the Playboys were soon playing to a full house every night. Band leader Les Brown had known Jerry Lewis for years, and he told record producer Snuff Garrett that the younger Lewis was playing at Disneyland. After listening to the band, Garrett liked their sound and thought using Gary's famous name might sell tons of records. Garrett took them into a recording studio with the song "This Diamond Ring" in a session financed by Jerry Lewis' wife Patti. However, according to Lewis, the Playboys werenโt allowed to play their instruments except on the backing tracks.
Garrett wanted to maximize the chances for a hit, so he insisted on using experienced studio musicians for the overdubs, which included guitar and keyboard solos, additional bass and drum overdubs, and timpani. These musicians included Tommy Allsup on guitar, Leon Russell on keyboards, Joe Osborn on bass, and Hal Blaine on drums. Session singer Ron Hicklin did the basic vocal track. Garrett then added Garyโs voice twice, added some of the Playboys and more of Hicklin. "When I got through, he sounded like Mario Lanza," Garrett commented.
Regarding the musicians who performed on "This Diamond Ring" and other tracks by the band, Gary Lewis told Songfacts, "The Playboys played on every track we ever did, the Wrecking Crew did solos and overdubs. I sang every song myself and had a backup singer that sang only harmonies with me. My producer Snuff Garrett can back up everything I've told you, and so can Leon Russell, who was the arranger of everything I did."
Garrett got airplay in New York City for "This Diamond Ring" by making a deal with WINS disc jockey Murray the K Kaufman, who ran a series of all-star concerts at theaters around the New York area, promising that if he played Lewisโ record, the Playboys would do his shows. Garrett then had Jerry Lewis use his contacts to get his son onto 'The Ed Sullivan Show', which often 'made' an artist. However, Sullivan had a general policy that all acts appearing on his show were to perform live (although one of his frequent guests, The Dave Clark Five, had lip-synched from their second appearance on, in early 1964). Since so many studio tricks had been used on the record, the Playboys could not re-create its sound. In compromise, Lewis sang along with pre-recorded tracks as the Playboys pretended to play their instruments. The January 1965 broadcast made Gary Lewis and the Playboys instant stars.
"This Diamond Ring" went all the way to #1, and pressing plants reportedly could not keep up with initial demand for the record. Successful touring and persistent airplay has made the tune a part of 60s music history, appearing in many multi-artist collections. However, only West and Lewis remained in the band by the end of 1965. Other members later included Tommy Tripplehorn (father of actress Jeanne Tripplehorn), Carl Radle, Jimmy Karstein, Dave Gonzalez, and "Myke".
In 1965, Gary Lewis was deemed 'Cash Box' magazine's "Male Vocalist of the Year," winning against nominees Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra. As a testament to his group's success, his was also the only 60s artist to have its seven single releases reach Billboard magazine's Top 10 on the Hot 100 chart (with "Count Me In" (#2), "Save Your Heart for Me" (#2), "Everybody Loves a Clown" (#4), "She's Just My Style" (#3), "Sure Gonna Miss Her" (#9), and "Green Grass" (#8) all hitting the upper reaches of the chart). Lewis was drafted into the U.S. Army in January 1967 and discharged in 1968. He immediately returned to recording but was unable to regain his group's earlier momentum. Lewis continued touring, eventually marketing the band as a nostalgia act.
In total, Gary Lewis and his band has had eight gold singles, 17 top 40 hits, and four gold albums. In addition to playing on 'The Ed Sullivan Show', he appeared on 'American Bandstand', 'Shindig!', 'Hullabaloo', 'The Sally Jessy Raphaรซl Show', 'The Tonight Show', 'The Mike Douglas Show', 'Nashville Now', and Wolfman Jack's famous program. Gary Lewis has also appeared and performed on many of his father's Labor Day telethons for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
They were hired on the spot, audiences at Disneyland quickly accepting them and loving their good-time image, and the Playboys were soon playing to a full house every night. Band leader Les Brown had known Jerry Lewis for years, and he told record producer Snuff Garrett that the younger Lewis was playing at Disneyland. After listening to the band, Garrett liked their sound and thought using Gary's famous name might sell tons of records. Garrett took them into a recording studio with the song "This Diamond Ring" in a session financed by Jerry Lewis' wife Patti. However, according to Lewis, the Playboys werenโt allowed to play their instruments except on the backing tracks.
Garrett wanted to maximize the chances for a hit, so he insisted on using experienced studio musicians for the overdubs, which included guitar and keyboard solos, additional bass and drum overdubs, and timpani. These musicians included Tommy Allsup on guitar, Leon Russell on keyboards, Joe Osborn on bass, and Hal Blaine on drums. Session singer Ron Hicklin did the basic vocal track. Garrett then added Garyโs voice twice, added some of the Playboys and more of Hicklin. "When I got through, he sounded like Mario Lanza," Garrett commented.
Regarding the musicians who performed on "This Diamond Ring" and other tracks by the band, Gary Lewis told Songfacts, "The Playboys played on every track we ever did, the Wrecking Crew did solos and overdubs. I sang every song myself and had a backup singer that sang only harmonies with me. My producer Snuff Garrett can back up everything I've told you, and so can Leon Russell, who was the arranger of everything I did."
Garrett got airplay in New York City for "This Diamond Ring" by making a deal with WINS disc jockey Murray the K Kaufman, who ran a series of all-star concerts at theaters around the New York area, promising that if he played Lewisโ record, the Playboys would do his shows. Garrett then had Jerry Lewis use his contacts to get his son onto 'The Ed Sullivan Show', which often 'made' an artist. However, Sullivan had a general policy that all acts appearing on his show were to perform live (although one of his frequent guests, The Dave Clark Five, had lip-synched from their second appearance on, in early 1964). Since so many studio tricks had been used on the record, the Playboys could not re-create its sound. In compromise, Lewis sang along with pre-recorded tracks as the Playboys pretended to play their instruments. The January 1965 broadcast made Gary Lewis and the Playboys instant stars.
"This Diamond Ring" went all the way to #1, and pressing plants reportedly could not keep up with initial demand for the record. Successful touring and persistent airplay has made the tune a part of 60s music history, appearing in many multi-artist collections. However, only West and Lewis remained in the band by the end of 1965. Other members later included Tommy Tripplehorn (father of actress Jeanne Tripplehorn), Carl Radle, Jimmy Karstein, Dave Gonzalez, and "Myke".
In 1965, Gary Lewis was deemed 'Cash Box' magazine's "Male Vocalist of the Year," winning against nominees Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra. As a testament to his group's success, his was also the only 60s artist to have its seven single releases reach Billboard magazine's Top 10 on the Hot 100 chart (with "Count Me In" (#2), "Save Your Heart for Me" (#2), "Everybody Loves a Clown" (#4), "She's Just My Style" (#3), "Sure Gonna Miss Her" (#9), and "Green Grass" (#8) all hitting the upper reaches of the chart). Lewis was drafted into the U.S. Army in January 1967 and discharged in 1968. He immediately returned to recording but was unable to regain his group's earlier momentum. Lewis continued touring, eventually marketing the band as a nostalgia act.
In total, Gary Lewis and his band has had eight gold singles, 17 top 40 hits, and four gold albums. In addition to playing on 'The Ed Sullivan Show', he appeared on 'American Bandstand', 'Shindig!', 'Hullabaloo', 'The Sally Jessy Raphaรซl Show', 'The Tonight Show', 'The Mike Douglas Show', 'Nashville Now', and Wolfman Jack's famous program. Gary Lewis has also appeared and performed on many of his father's Labor Day telethons for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
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This Diamond Ring
Gary Lewis & The Playboys Lyrics
Who wants to buy this diamond ring?
She took it off her finger, now it doesn't mean a thing
This diamond ring doesn't shine for me anymore
And this diamond ring doesn't mean what it meant before
So if you've got someone whose love is true
Let it shine for you
This stone is genuine like love should be
And if your baby's truer than my baby was to me
This diamond ring can mean something beautiful
And this diamond ring can mean dreams that are coming true
And then your heart won't have to break like mine did
If there's love behind it
This diamond ring can mean something beautiful
And this diamond ring can mean dreams that are coming true
And then your heart won't have to break like mine did
If there's love behind it
This diamond ring doesn't shine for me anymore
And this diamond ring doesn't mean what it meant before
So then your heart won't have to break like mine did
If there's love behind it
Lyrics ยฉ Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: AL KOOPER, BOB BRASS, IRWIN LEVINE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
L.Russell Brown
@Devin Bret Dead wrong
Written by
Irwin Levine who also wrote
Our love becoming a thing of the past a hit for the Shirells
AND
BLACK PEARL
A million seller for Sonny Charles and the Checkmates
AND
CANDIDA a million seller for Tony Orlando
And KNOCK THREE TIMES
A ten million seller for Tony Orlando AND
TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE
The most recorded song in history with 4000 versions AND
STEPPIN OUT GONNA BOOGIE TONIGHT
A MILLION SELLER FOR G
TONY ORLANDO
AND WHO'S IN THE STRAWBERRY PATCH WITH SALLY
A MILLION SELLER FOR TONY ORLANDO
AND
I WOKE UP IN LOVE THIS MORNING
A MILLION SELLER FOR DAVID CASSIDY
AND
CAN'T WE Talk it over in bed
A million seller for Olivia newton john
So tell me who wrote this song
Irwin Levine or
Foul Kooper
Tarantulisimo
Gary Lewis โ vocals, drums
Dave Walker โ lead guitar, vocals
Dave Costell โ guitar
Al Ramsay โ bass
John R. West โ keyboards
Ron Hicklin โ lead vocal overdubs & background vocals
Leon Russell โ keyboards, arrangements
Hal Blaine โ drums
Tommy Allsup โ guitar
Mike Deasy โ guitar
Joe Osborn โ bass
Al Kooper, Bob Brass, Irwin Levine - songwriters
Snuff Garrett - producer
Over the years, there has been much discussion & debate regarding the roles of various musicians used on these recording sessions. According to Gary Lewis, The LA Wrecking Crew only did overdubs and/or solos: "So we went into the studio, we cut the basic track. The only other person from The Wrecking Crew that we had in there while we were doing the basic track was Hal Blaine, and he played the tympanis on 'Diamond Ring' ". However, Snuff Garrett says that The Wrecking Crew played everything on this track, as well as on the entire album: "I didn't use The Playboys at all except as overtones." There is also a question regarding whether or not Carol Kaye contributed bass. We will never know the truth (even though my money is on The Wrecking Crew), so let's just enjoy the masterful end result....
L.Russell Brown
@PimpMaster
Irwin Levine
Who wrote this song
The night before went to see the show Oliver
In the show Oliver sings
WHO WILL BUY THESE BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS
The next day
Levine wrote
WHO WANTS TO BUY
THIS DIAMOND RING
ๆจๅ่ฐทๅฒไน
Lyrics:
Who wants to buy this diamond ring
She took it off her finger, now it doesnโt mean a thing
This diamond ring doesnโt shine for me anymore
And this diamond ring doesnโt mean what it means before
So if youโve got someone whose love is true
Let it shine for you
This stone is genuine like love should be
And if your babyโs truer than my baby was to me
This diamond ring can mean something beautiful
And this diamond ring can mean dreams that are coming true
And then your heart wonโt have to break like mine did
If thereโs love behind it
This diamond ring can mean something beautiful
This diamond ring can mean dreams that are coming true
And then your heart wonโt have to break like mine did
If thereโs love behind it
This diamond ring doesnโt shine for me anymore
And this diamond ring doesnโt mean what it meant before
So if youโve got someone whose love is true
Let it shine for you
This diamond ring doesnโt shine for me anymore
And this diamond ring doesnโt mean what it meant before
So if youโve got someone whose love is true
Let it shine for you โฆ
MikeMicable
Such a sad song, but I love the melody. Anyone still listening in 2020?!
Russ Redfern#16
Had it lp and cd . Sounds great compared to this low fidelity YouTube
Joseph Shipley
I'm listening in 2022!
Regina Whitlock
Yes I remember it from the sixties just now googled it
chrisbacos
Listening in 2022
TheConfusedVampire
2022! ๐
Michael Bruns
25 years and i can still see and hear my 6 year old daughter, sitting in the back seat of my 1978 Impala, smiling a mile wide while singing this song. Along with our cassette player. She turned 31 yesterday. Like seriously wow.
John Stoppi
Back in 1998, I was a teenager hanging out at the bowling alley back when they had nighttime bowling. This song was grooving in the background. I wasnโt fully listening to it, but I remembered the bass groove and the melody.
I always remembered the song, and hoped to find it as I got into oldies and Motown. I never heard the song again, despite searches and asking people.
This song was just playing on Sirius, 23 years later, and, when I heard it, I said to myself โthis was the song from the bowling alley.โ Indeed, it sounds better than when I originally heard it. It makes you appreciate the easy identification of music now.
A true diamond in the rough with 23 years of love behind it.
Papa Smurph
Ain't that the truth
ThePhyrexianHipster
Is it right when I say that this band is highly underrated?