Wilson's solo career begin with 1957's "Reet Petite", written by the then unknown Berry Gordy, Jr. and recorded on the Brunswick Records label with whom Wilson would remain throughout his career. He had his first top 40 hit in 1958 with "To Be Loved". At the end of that year he had his first big success with "Lonely Teardrops" that went to #7 on the charts. The song, also written by Berry Gordy, Jr. became his signature tune. That same year saw Wilson release his first LP titled He's So Fine.
Wilson's brand of pop-soul and R&B helped him cross over to the mainstream, having several pop hits. His dynamic stage performances earned him the nickname "Mr. Excitement". His performance of "Lonely Teardrops" on the Ed Sullivan Show is considered one of its classics. In the 1960s, Wilson continued to record singles, many of them operatic, such as "Danny Boy" or "Night", others were up-tempo and exciting, such as "Baby Workout" in 1963. Although married to Frida Hood since 1951, Wilson was a notorious womanizer and was shot and wounded by one of his alleged lovers, Juanita Jones, on February 15 1961 in a jealous rage as he returned to his apartment with another woman, fashion model Harlean Harris, an ex-girlfriend of singer Sam Cooke. As a married man conducting extra-marital affairs, his management decided, as a way not to damage his career, to concoct a story that Jones was an obsessed fan who threatened to shoot herself, and that Wilson's intervention concluded in him being shot. Astonishingly, the story was accepted, and no charges were brought against Juanita Jones. He was divorced from Frida in 1965, and married Harlean Harris from 1967 until his death in 1984.
His career began to suffer in the mid-60s, though he managed a brief revival by collaborating with Carl Davis, a legendary Chicago producer. This resulted in two hits, "Whispers" and "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher". The revival was short-lived, though, and Wilson rarely charted in the 1970s. Wilson suffered a massive heart attack while playing a Dick Clark show at the Latin Casino in New Jersey on September 29, 1975, falling head-first to the stage; he was singing "Lonely Teardrops". A comatose Wilson lived in a hospital until his death in 1984 at age 49. His medical costs were paid for by Dick Clark. In 1985, successful soul/funk band The Commodores, recorded "Nightshift" which was a song in memory of Wilson, as well as soul singer Marvin Gaye, who died in the same year as Wilson.
Van Morrison also recorded a tribute song called "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile)" on his 1972 hit album Saint Dominic's Preview. This song was later covered by Dexy's Midnight Runners. When the track was performed on the British TV show Top of the Pops, a picture of Wilson was intended to be used in the background - but an intentional joke by the band and the production staff meant that a picture of darts player Jocky Wilson was used instead. Wilson is mentioned in the rap song "thugs mansion" Tupac and Nas. The exact quote is, "Seen a show with Marvin Gaye last night, it had me shook Drinkinn peppermint Schnapps, with Jackie Wilson, and Sam Cooke".
Wilson scored a posthumous hit when "Reet Petite" reached number one in the United Kingdom in 1986. The following year,he also hit the UK charts again with "I Get The Sweetest Feeling"(No.3), and "Higher and Higher"(No.11). He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987; that same year, he was portrayed in the Richie Valens biopic La Bamba by Howard Huntsberry.
Wilson is interred in the Westlawn Cemetery in Wayne, Michigan.
Alone At Last
Jackie Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Together locked in a sigh
The musics soft, lights are low
The mood is one all lovers know
Oh, my darling at last we are one
The trip to heaven's begun
I kiss your fingertips, your eyes, your lips
Oh what exciting moments we share when we're
Oh, my darling, at last we are one
The trip to heaven's begun
I kiss your fingertips, your eyes, your lips
Oh what exciting moments we share when we're
All alone
At last
The song Alone at Last by Jackie Wilson is a romantic love song that speaks of a long-awaited moment when the couple is finally alone together in a romantic setting. The lyrics speak of the ambiance of the moment with the soft music, dim lights, and the feeling of being in heaven. The couple is portrayed as being deeply in love, and their long-awaited intimacy is finally satisfying their hearts with excitement and joy.
Throughout the song, Jackie Wilson sings with his smooth and captivating voice that perfectly captures the romanticism and sensuality of the moment. The lyrics are simple, yet deep and intense, which makes them easily relatable to anyone who has experienced such a setting. Wilson's singing and the music build up to the phrase "Alone at last," which is the climax of the song, emphasizing the importance of the moment and the deep love between the couple.
Overall, Alone at Last is a song that celebrates the long-awaited moment of intimacy between two people deeply in love. It captures the romantic ambiance with its soft music and dim lighting, and the lyrics express the depth of love and excitement that occurs when lovers are left alone together.
Line by Line Meaning
Alone at last, you and I
Our private moment has finally arrived, and we can be together without any distractions or interruptions.
Together locked in a sigh
We are so connected that we share the same breath, and our emotions are intertwined.
The music's soft, lights are low
The ambiance is perfect for a romantic setting, with gentle music and dim lighting to set the mood.
The mood is one all lovers know
The feeling we have is unmistakably a romantic one, that every true love knows and recognizes instantly.
Oh, my darling, at last we are one
We have truly become one entity, joined together by our love and desire for each other.
The trip to heaven's begun
Our passion and connection is so strong that we are transported to a higher state of being, like heaven on earth.
I kiss your fingertips, your eyes, your lips
I want to savor every part of you, from your delicate fingertips to your soulful eyes to your tender lips.
Oh, what exciting moments we share when we're all alone at last
Being together in this intimate setting, with no one else around us, is an exhilarating and thrilling experience that we will always cherish.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CYNTHIA DE MARI BIGGS, REX K. RIDEOUT, RONNIE GARRETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mike Vallen
True talent...pure and natural...the incomparable Jackie Wilson .
Mike Vallen
as a former NYC radio station recording engineer I met Jackie Wilson in 1964 and became a lifetime friend and fan and never tire of his extraordinary talent.Jackie Wilson was a rare and gifted artist and may never be duplicated .
Jorge Mario Rodas
Jackie Wilson's voice really does justice to this great song, so it is a delight to hear it again, 62 years later.
Aslan Lion
When he sang songs like this one, Danny Boy and Night, I could listen to him all day long. Never will there ever be another voice like his, he could change ranges in the blink of an eye. Gone but never forgotten.
francis mcaskill
What a voice never to be duplicated!!
g bridgman
It never ceases to amaze me how much work went into recording a 3 minute pop tune back in these days with full orchestration. Today's electronically generated stuff is just a bunch of noise. I don't know how anyone makes any sense of it.
Douglas Gill
I bought this single in 1960, I was just 14 years of age. I am now 74 and I still love it as I did back when I bought it.
Jorge Mario Rodas
Preciosa canción basada en una composición del genial Tchaikovsky. La voz de Jackie Wilson es excelente y es una de esas canciones del recuerdo que todavía me gusta escuchar. Me trae tantos recuerdos de mi ya lejana juventud.
Gailc
Absolutely. Been a fan since he first hit the airways. His voice lost to us too soon. Thank the Lord for the recordings.
Leslie Doty-Munson
Those golden pipes. We all knew he was singing about love in such a passionate way.