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.
Without a world of warning
Gary Lewis & The Playboys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Listen close and I'll tell you what you gotta do;
Don't believe her lies,
Or fall for her alibies,
Without a word of warning she'll break your heart.
She's gonna make you think that you're the only one,
But you'll wake and find that she was just having fun.
If things are like they were
Without a word of warning she'll break your heart.
At night you'll hear her calling you
And wanting you, and needing you by her side.
Your heart will say "Go follow her.",
But watch it, sir; remember the nights I cried.
I give you this advice and it's for free,
Don't let her hurt you, buddy, like she hurt me.
She's lying from the start, she'll tear all your dreams apart.
Without a word of warning she'll break your heart.
In "Without a Word of Warning" by Gary Lewis & The Playboys, the lyrics warn the listener about a deceitful and manipulative woman, advising them to not fall for her lies and alibies. The song describes a personal experience where the singer has been hurt by this woman and wants to prevent others from going through the same pain.
The lyrics convey a sense of regret and caution, as the singer acknowledges that it is too late for them regarding this particular woman but wants to offer guidance to others. They emphasize the importance of not believing the woman's lies and not putting complete trust in her because, without any warning, she will break the listener's heart.
The song also portrays the emotional turmoil and confusion that can arise from being involved with such a woman. The singer describes how the woman presents herself as the listener's only love interest, but ultimately reveals that it was all a game to her. When she calls out to the listener, their heart may want to follow her, but the singer advises against it, reminding them of the pain and sadness they experienced themselves.
Overall, "Without a Word of Warning" is a cautionary tale about a woman who is skilled at manipulating others' emotions, urging the listener to protect themselves and not allow her to hurt them the way she hurt the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
It's too late for me, but, buddy not for you
I have already fallen victim to her deceit, but you still have a chance to avoid it
Listen close and I'll tell you what you gotta do
Pay attention to my advice, and let me guide you on how to protect yourself
Don't believe her lies
Do not trust the falsehoods she presents
Or fall for her alibies
Do not get caught up in the excuses she gives
Without a word of warning she'll break your heart
She will abruptly and mercilessly shatter your emotions without any prior indication
She's gonna make you think that you're the only one
She will manipulate your perception into believing you hold a unique place in her heart
But you'll wake and find that she was just having fun
Eventually, you will realize that she was merely toying with your feelings for her own amusement
If things are like they were
If her behavior remains consistent
Don't put all your trust in her
Do not place complete reliance on her
Without a word of warning she'll break your heart
She will devastate you emotionally without any advance notice
At night you'll hear her calling you
During lonely nights, her voice will tempt and beckon you
And wanting you, and needing you by her side
She will portray a desperate desire for your presence and dependence on you
Your heart will say 'Go follow her.'
Your emotions will tempt you to chase after her
But watch it, sir; remember the nights I cried
However, be cautious and recall the pain I endured during the sleepless nights filled with tears
I give you this advice and it's for free
I offer you this guidance without any expectation of repayment
Don't let her hurt you, buddy, like she hurt me
Do not allow her to inflict the same pain upon you that she inflicted upon me, my friend
She's lying from the start, she'll tear all your dreams apart
She begins her deception right from the beginning and will ruthlessly shatter all your aspirations
Without a word of warning she'll break your heart
She will mercilessly break your heart without issuing any forewarning
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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