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.
Love For Sale
Jackie Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is the heavy tread of the heavy feet
That belong to a lonesome cop
I open shop
When the moon so long has been gazing down
On the wayward ways of a wayward town
That a smile becomes a smirk
I go to work
Love for sale
Appetizing young love for sale
Love that's fresh and still unspoiled
Love that's only slightly soiled
Love for sale
Who will buy? Who would like to sample my supply?
Who's prepared to pay the price for a trip to paradise?
Love for sale
Let the poets pipe of love in their childish way
I know every type of love better far than they
If you want the thrill of love, I've been through the mill of love
Old love, new love
Every kind but true love
For sale
Appetizing young love for sale
If you want to buy my wares
Follow me and climb the stairs
Love for sale
Love for sale
The song "Love For Sale" by Jackie Wilson is a jazz standard that delves into the world of prostitution. The lyrics describe the singer's willingness to sell "love" for a price, as he sets up shop when the streets are empty and the moon is out. The first verse paints a picture of a lonely cop patrolling the dark streets of a corrupt town, creating an eerie atmosphere. As he opens up shop, the singer is essentially advertising his services as a lover for clients willing to pay the price.
The chorus is a repeated refrain of "Love for sale", followed by a description of the type of love that the singer is offering. The specific phrasing of "appetizing young love for sale" creates a sense of a commodity, something that can be marketed and sold in a capitalist society. The line about love that is "only slightly soiled" suggests a level of honesty from the singer, acknowledging that the love he is selling is not completely pure or innocent. The final line of the chorus, "Who will buy?" is a rhetorical question posed to the listener, inviting them to consider whether they want to partake in this transaction.
The second verse takes a jab at traditional romantic love, with the singer claiming that he knows "every type of love" better than the poets who write about it. He claims to have experienced "old love, new love, every kind but true love", further emphasizing the transactional nature of his current profession. The song ends with a final plea to "buy my wares" and "climb the stairs", suggesting a physical location where these transactions take place.
Line by Line Meaning
When the only sound on the empty street
When there's nobody around and the only thing you can hear is the sound of footsteps
Is the heavy tread of the heavy feet
The only thing you can hear are the loud footsteps of a police officer
That belong to a lonesome cop
The only person you can see is a lonely police officer patrolling the streets
I open shop
This is the time to start selling my love and affection
When the moon so long has been gazing down
When the moon has been watching the town for a long time
On the wayward ways of a wayward town
On the crazy and unpredictable behavior of the people in this town
That a smile becomes a smirk
People are so jaded that they don't appreciate genuine happiness and optimism; instead, they have a cynical and sarcastic outlook
I go to work
Now is the time to sell my love and try to change people's perspective
Love for sale
I'm selling love
Appetizing young love for sale
I'm selling youthful and enticing love
Love that's fresh and still unspoiled
This love is new and hasn't been ruined yet
Love that's only slightly soiled
This love has been used, but only a little bit
Love for sale
Did I mention that I'm selling love?
Who will buy? Who would like to sample my supply?
Who wants to buy some love from me? You can try before you buy, if you want
Who's prepared to pay the price for a trip to paradise?
Who is willing to pay the cost of love, which can take you to a place of happiness and joy?
Love for sale
Just in case you forgot - I am selling love
Let the poets pipe of love in their childish way
The poets can talk about their idea of love in an immature way, but I know the truth about love
I know every type of love better far than they
I have an understanding of all the different kinds of love, better than any poet could
If you want the thrill of love, I've been through the mill of love
If you know what it's like to want to experience the excitement of love, I've been through all the ups and downs of love
Old love, new love
I've seen all different kinds of love
Every kind but true love
The one kind of love I haven't experienced yet is genuine and sincere love
For sale
Just a reminder, in case you're interested: love for sale!
If you want to buy my wares
If you're interested in purchasing my love,
Follow me and climb the stairs
Come with me upstairs
Love for sale
In case you missed it before, I'm selling love
Love for sale
Yes, I'm still selling love
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind