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 weren’t 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 Gary’s 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 Lewis’ 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 Raphaël 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.
The Loser
Gary Lewis & The Playboys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Miscellaneous
The Loser (with A Broken Heart)
THE LOSER (WITH A BROKEN HEART)
Gary Lewis & the Playboys
Have I got the right to call myself a man
Or will I go livin′ up to my name again?
When I get the chance to love I let it pass
CHORUS:
'Cause I'm a (loser) with a broken heart
(Loser) tearin′ me apart
(Loser) & The Loser is my name
When I use my heart just like a stepping stone
& When it′s torn apart I feel so all alone
Feelin' sorry for myself is all I do
Things don′t ever turn out like I want 'em to
(Chorus)
I′m not asking much from love
Not expecting much from love
If just once I could win
I could fall in love again
In the end I know that I will always choose
I have only one direction I can choose:
Stay & let me treat her like the fool I am
Have I got the right to call myself a man?
'Cause I′m a (loser) with a broken heart
(Loser) tearin' me apart (loser)
...& fade
From: Collins Crapo
In "The Loser (With A Broken Heart)," Gary Lewis expresses his feelings of despair and inadequacy in love. He questions whether he deserves to be called a man, as he continuously lets opportunities for love slip away. Lewis recognizes that he has a pattern of losing in love and has accepted the label of "loser." He acknowledges that he uses his heart as a stepping stone, which creates a sense of loneliness and self-pity within him. The chorus emphasizes his feelings of being torn apart, as his broken heart continues to weigh him down.
Lewis is not asking for much from love, just the chance to win and to fall in love again. However, he recognizes that he will always choose to stay and continue treating his partner poorly, acknowledging that he is a fool. The lyrics suggest that Lewis is trapped in a cycle of self-sabotage, and his expectations for love have become clouded by past failures. Overall, "The Loser (With A Broken Heart)" is a poignant reflection on the emotional turmoil that comes with failed relationships and the struggle to find love again.
Line by Line Meaning
Have I got the right to call myself a man
Am I deserving of the label 'man' or will my actions continue to prove me a failure?
Or will I go livin′ up to my name again?
Will I continue to live up to my reputation as a loser?
When I get the chance to love I let it pass
I often let opportunities for love slip away without taking action.
It's not the first I lost & it won′t be the last
I have experienced love that ended in loss before, and I know it will happen again in the future.
'Cause I'm a (loser) with a broken heart
I am a loser who is experiencing heartbreak.
(Loser) tearin′ me apart
The pain of losing is causing me emotional distress.
(Loser) & The Loser is my name
Being a loser and experiencing failure is a defining part of my identity.
When I use my heart just like a stepping stone
I often use my emotions and those of others as a means to an end, without considering the potential consequences.
& When it′s torn apart I feel so all alone
When my heart is broken, I feel isolated and alone in my pain.
Feelin' sorry for myself is all I do
I often wallow in self-pity rather than taking responsibility for my actions and trying to improve my situation.
Things don′t ever turn out like I want 'em to
I constantly experience disappointment and frustration when life doesn't meet my expectations.
I′m not asking much from love
I don't have high expectations for love and just want it to be simple and fulfilling.
Not expecting much from love
I'm not anticipating love to provide me with anything extraordinary or life-changing.
If just once I could win
If I could experience just one successful and fulfilling romantic relationship...
I could fall in love again
...I would be open to the possibility of falling in love again.
In the end I know that I will always choose
Ultimately, my actions will reflect my true character and tendencies.
Stay & let me treat her like the fool I am
I will likely choose to remain in a romantic relationship and continue to act irresponsibly and foolishly.
Have I got the right to call myself a man?
I am questioning my own worth as a person, and wondering if I even deserve to be called a man.
'Cause I′m a (loser) with a broken heart
Once again, I am acknowledging that I am a loser who is experiencing heartbreak.
(Loser) tearin' me apart (loser)
The pain of losing is continuing to cause me emotional turmoil.
Writer(s): Leon Russell, Don Nix
Contributed by Ethan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.