They were discovered by Richard Barrett, lead singer of The Valentines and eventually signed to End Records. Their first single was "He's Gone" (Pop #71) in August 1957. In January 1958 they released their second single, "Maybe" (#15 Billboard Hot 100; #2 R & B chart). Several other singles were released on End, though none as successful as "Maybe."
The group was dropped by End in 1959, and Arlene Smith decided to go solo. Harris left to pursue a college education. In 1960, Annette Smith (no relation) replaced Arlene Smith, and the group went to Carlton Records, where they had their second huge hit with "Look in My Eyes" (#14 pop, #6 R&B). Several other singles followed and the group switched record labels several times. Personnel changed throughout the 1960s, with their final single released in 1970.
Arlene Smith fronted a new group of Chantels in the 1970s which featured up and coming Disco diva Carol Douglas for oldies shows and continues to perform. The remaining original Chantels reformed as well and hired Noemi (Ami) Ortiz as their new lead singer. On the PBS special Doo Wop 50, Smith reunited with the surviving original members of the Chantels and dedicated "Maybe" to Jackie Landry, who died in 1997.
The Chantels were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2001, they made the final ballot for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame[1], but did not get enough votes for induction. Despite continued appearances since then on Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ballots by 1950s doo-wop groups, the Chantels have not got enough votes to reach any subsequent ballot.
Albums
1959: The Chantels EP
1961: The Chantels On Tour
Singles
1957: "He's Gone"
1958: "Maybe"
1958: "Every Night (I Pray)"
1958: "I Love You So"
1959: "Summer's Love"
1961: "Look in My Eyes"
1961: "Well I Told You"
1961: "Eternally"
I Love You So
Chantels Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I love you so
I want you to know
I'm telling you, darling
I'll never let you go
I need you true
I'm telling you, darling
I'll never let you go
Well, you know
How much I love you
And that we'll never part
And you know that I need you
I'm keeping here in my heart
I love you so
I want you to know
I'm telling you, darling
I'll never let you go
I love you so
The Chantels' "I Love You So" is a classic love song that highlights a simple yet powerful message of undying affection. These lyrics express the singer's unconditional love for their partner and their pledge to hold on to their relationship forever. This is demonstrated in the opening line, "I love you so, I want you to know, I'm telling you, darling, I'll never let you go". Throughout the song, the singer continues to express their strong desire to be with their partner, highlighting their need for their love to be reciprocated in equal measure.
The lyrics are straightforward, with no complicated metaphors or symbolism, but they convey the deepness of the singer's feelings in a meaningful way. The lines "Well, you know, how much I love you, and that we'll never part, and you know that I need you, I'm keeping here in my heart" further express the singer's unwavering commitment to their significant other. The chorus, "I love you so, I want you to know, I'm telling you, darling, I'll never let you go" reinforces this message and serves as a declaration of their love forever.
The simplicity of the lyrics combined with the Chantels' soulful harmonies make this song a timeless classic. It has been covered and sampled by many artists, including Gloria Estefan, Bob Dylan, and Jay-Z, showing its lasting influence and popularity.
Line by Line Meaning
I love you so
My emotions for you are so deeply rooted and strong that mere words fail to fully express them
I want you to know
It's important to me that you understand the extent of my feelings for you
I'm telling you, darling
I want to reassure you of my sincerity
I'll never let you go
I'm committed to our relationship and don't want anything or anyone to come between us
I need you true
I require your love and loyalty to make our relationship sustainable
I hope you do too
I trust that you share my sentiments and want the same things in our relationship
Well, you know
I'm reminding you of what we share between us
How much I love you
The magnitude of my love for you is immeasurable
And that we'll never part
Our relationship is rock-solid, and I don't foresee us ever being apart
And you know that I need you
I depend on your presence in my life to make me happy
I'm keeping here in my heart
Your memory and presence are forever engraved in my heart
I love you so
I'm reiterating how strong and real my love for you is
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MORRIS LEVY, SONNY NORTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
The Influence Of Emme Kay
I love you so
I love you so
I want you to know
I'm telling you, darling
I'll never let you go
I need you true
I hope you do too
I'm telling you, darling
I'll never let you go
Well, you know
How much I love you
And that we'll never part
And you know that I need you
I'm keeping here in my heart
I love you so
I want you to know
I'm telling you, darling
I'll never let you go
I love you so
Thomas Lombardo
One of the best girl groups of all time. 💛
Still Standing
Perhaps the very best.
Darryl Evans
The great Arlene Smith was only 15 years old when she sang lead on this great song the best record The Chantels ever made Arlene Smith is a living legend .
Joyce Kavanaugh
Maybe
Rick rick
@Joyce Kavanaugh Maybe Baby
Doctor Feinstone
@Rick rick that was the crickets
childishStarnino
zero vulgarity but still a sultry vibe. love it.
Tyler Cosgrove
Absolutely!
Cheryl
This is still one of my favorite songs. Had it played at my wedding for the last dance. The 1st time I heard it was from the movie "look who's talking" . I was SO little... Loved it ever since.
Jamie O'rourke
It's also in mean streets