The band was formed as The Medallions in 1962 adding the "Swingin'" in 1965. In 1967, Brent Fortson and Steve Caldwell left the band and with six members of The Tassles out of North Carolina formed the Pieces of Eight. Johnny Cox and Hack Bartley replaced the two at saxophones.
Their first single, "I Wanna Be Your Guy", was inadvertently released under the name, "Swinging Medallions" instead of "Swingin' Medallions. It did not chart, but the second, "Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love)", written by Don Smith & Cyril Vetter and originally recorded by Dick Holler & the Holidays, reached #17 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1966, and propelled their full-length album to #88 on the Billboard 200. It was recorded at the Arthur Smith Studios in Charlotte, North Carolina. WIST radio jock Tom Gauger was called in to re-mix for release on Smash. The follow-up single "She Drives Me Out of My Mind", hit #71, but the next single, "Hey, Hey, Baby", did not chart. The band continued to be popular in the American South.
In the early-1960s,they frequently played at the Oporto Armory in Birmingham, Alabama where their songs got national airplay by Dave Roddy on WSGN. The band was also a popular attraction in Panama City Beach, Myrtle Beach, and Auburn University.
The band (with a shifting cast) continued to do reunion shows into the 2000s. On September 16, 2009, the band joined Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band during their concert at the Bi-Lo Center in Greenville, South Carolina for a performance of "Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love)".
One alumnus of the group, drummer Michael Huey, went on to become the staff drummer for the Bill Lowery Studios in Atlanta playing on hit records for the Winstons, Sami Jo, Johnny Nash, Joe South, Frankie Miller, Allen Toussaint, and others. Huey moved to Los Angeles in 1976 and played on numerous hit records and tours with Walter Egan ("Magnet and Steel"), Juice Newton, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, Etta James, Lindsey Buckingham, Michael Martin Murphey, Johnny Lee, and the Miami Vice television series, among others.
John McElrath died in June 2018.
Original members
John McElrath - keyboards
Jimbo Doares - guitar
Carroll Bledsoe - trumpet
Charles Webber - trumpet
Fredie Pugh, Sax
Brent Forston - saxophone, flute
Jimmy Perkins - bass guitar, voice
Joe Morris - drums
Perrin Gleaton
Discography
Albums
Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love) (Shout MGS-27083/SRS-67083, 1966)
Sun Sand and Sea (4 Sale DRP-7775, 1981)
It's All Right
Get U Some (USB Records, 1993)
Original Coors Beach Party No. 1 (Medallion, 1998)
Original Coors Beach Party No. 2 (Medallion, 2000)
Christmas Party (2001)
Round & Round (2003) (as Three Medallions)
Generations (2004)
Compilations
Anthology (Ripete 5145, 1997)
Singles
"Bye Bye, Silly Girl"/"I Want To Be Your Guy" (Dot 16721, 1965)
"Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love)"/"Here It Comes Again" (4 Sale 002, 1965)
"Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love)"/"Here It Comes Again" (Smash 2033, 1966)
"She Drives Me Out Of My Mind"/"You Gotta Have Faith" (Smash 2050, 1966)
"I Don't Want To Lose You Baby"/"Night Owl" (Smash 2075, 1966)
"I Found A Rainbow"/"Don't Cry No More" (Smash 2084, 1967)
"Turn On The Music"/"Summer's Not The Same This Year" (Smash 2107, 1967)
"Where Can I Go To Get Soul"/"Bow And Arrow" (Smash 2129, 1967)
"Hey, Hey, Baby"/"Sun, Sand, And Sea" (Capitol 2338, 1968)
"We're Gonna Hate Ourselves In The Morning"/"It's Alright (You're Just In Love)" (123 Records 1723, 1970)
"Rollin' Rovin' River"/"Don't Let Your Feet Touch The Ground" (123 Records 1732, 1970)
"I'm Gonna Make Her Mine"/"Barefootin'" (EBS 062085, 197?)
Reissue Singles
"Baby Talk" (Jan and Dean)/"Double Shot Of My Baby's Love" (Collectables 3102)
"Mendocino" (Sir Douglas Quintet"/"Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love)" (Smash 1421)
"Polk Salad Annie" (Tony Joe White)/"Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love)" (Ripete 128)
"She Drives Me Out Of My Mind"/"Hey Hey Baby" (Ripete 143)
Double Shot
Swingin' Medallions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The worst hangover that I ever had
What happened to me last night
That girl of mine, she loved me so right (yeah) (oh, oh)
She loved me so long and she loved me so hard
I finally passed out in her front yard (whoo)
It wasn't wine that I had too much of
It was a double shot of my baby's love
Double shot of my baby's love, yeah yeah, yeah
Double shot of my baby's love, yeah yeah, yeah
A potion that I had too much of
It was a double shot of my baby's love
It was such a thrill it was hurtin' me (ooh)
I was sufferin' in ecstasy
She had me turnin' flips and-a shoutin' out loud (yah-hah)
A sip of her love and I was walkin' one a cloud
One night a week is-a plenty enough
It's a good thing for me they don't bottle that stuff (pop)
Well, my heart begins to fly like a dove
When I take a double shot of my baby's love
Double shot of my baby's love, yeah yeah, yeah
Double shot of my baby's love, yeah yeah, yeah
A potion that I had too much of
It was a double shot of my baby's love
Double shot of my baby's love, yeah yeah, yeah
Double shot of my baby's love, yeah yeah, yeah
Double shot of my baby's love, yeah yeah, yeah
Double shot of my baby's love, yeah yeah, yeah
The lyrics to Swingin' Medallions' song "Double Shot" tell the story of a man waking up with a severe hangover after a wild night with his girlfriend. He reminisces about how she "loved him so long and so hard" that he eventually passed out in her front yard. He discovers that what he drank was not wine, but rather a double shot of his girlfriend's love, which is described as a potent potion that has him "turnin' flips and-a shoutin' out loud". The man reveals that he can only handle one night a week of his girlfriend's love, but he continues to seek out the exhilaration it brings with a double shot of it.
The lyrics to "Double Shot" are full of innuendos and double entendres, making it clear that the song is about more than just a hangover. The references to flipping and shouting out loud suggest that the love shared between the man and his girlfriend is both physical and emotional, and that it brings him an intense sense of pleasure. However, the fact that he needs to limit himself to one night a week suggests that the intensity of their connection is also somewhat dangerous or addictive. Ultimately, the lyrics suggest that the man is willing to tolerate the morning-after consequences of a double shot of his girlfriend's love because he is so in love with her.
Line by Line Meaning
Woke up this morning, my head was so bad
I woke up feeling terrible this morning.
The worst hangover that I ever had
It was the worst hangover I have ever had.
What happened to me last night
I am not sure what happened last night.
That girl of mine, she loved me so right (yeah) (oh, oh)
My girlfriend and I had a wonderful time last night.
She loved me so long and she loved me so hard
My girlfriend was passionate and intimate with me.
I finally passed out in her front yard (whoo)
I was so exhausted that I fell asleep in her yard.
It wasn't wine that I had too much of
I did not drink too much wine last night.
It was a double shot of my baby's love
I had too much of my girlfriend's love and affection.
Double shot of my baby's love, yeah yeah, yeah
I had too much of my girlfriend's love and affection.
A potion that I had too much of
I had too much of my girlfriend's love and affection.
It was such a thrill it was hurtin' me (ooh)
Being with my girlfriend was so thrilling that it was overwhelming.
I was sufferin' in ecstasy
I was in a euphoric state, but it was causing me pain.
She had me turnin' flips and-a shoutin' out loud (yah-hah)
My girlfriend was making me so happy that I was shouting out loud and doing flips.
A sip of her love and I was walkin' one a cloud
Even just a little bit of my girlfriend's love made me incredibly happy.
One night a week is-a plenty enough
One night a week with my girlfriend is enough for me.
It's a good thing for me they don't bottle that stuff (pop)
I am glad that my girlfriend's love cannot be bottled and sold.
Well, my heart begins to fly like a dove
My heart fills with joy and happiness.
When I take a double shot of my baby's love
When I am with my girlfriend and experience her love and affection.
Double shot of my baby's love, yeah yeah, yeah
I had too much of my girlfriend's love and affection.
Double shot of my baby's love, yeah yeah, yeah
I had too much of my girlfriend's love and affection.
Double shot of my baby's love, yeah yeah, yeah
I had too much of my girlfriend's love and affection.
Double shot of my baby's love, yeah yeah, yeah
I had too much of my girlfriend's love and affection.
Lyrics © RCS & VETTER MUSIC PUB. CO., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CYRIL E VETTER, DON M SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@333ohmy
LYRICS: Woke up this morning, my head was so bad
The worst hangover that I ever had
What happened to me last night
That girl of mine, she loved me so right (yeah) (oh, oh)
She loved me so long and she loved me so hard
I finally passed out in her front yard (whoo)
It wasn't wine that I had too much of
It was a double shot of my baby's love
Double shot of my baby's love, yeah yeah, yeah
Double shot of my baby's love, yeah yeah, yeah
A potion that I had too much of
It was a double shot of my baby's love
It was such a thrill it was hurtin' me (ooh)
I was sufferin' in ecstasy
She had me turnin' flips and-a shoutin' out loud (yah-hah)
A sip of her love and I was walkin' on a cloud
One night a week is-a plenty enough
It's a good thing for me they don't bottle that stuff (pop)
Well, my heart begins to fly like a dove
When I take a double shot of my baby's love
Double shot of my baby's love, yeah yeah, yeah
Double shot of my baby's love, yeah yeah, yeah
A potion that I had too much of
It was a double shot of my baby's love
Double shot of my baby's love, yeah yeah, yeah
Double shot of my baby's love, yeah yeah, yeah
Double shot of my baby's love, yeah yeah, yeah
Double shot of my baby's love, yeah yeah, yeah
@333ohmy
LYRICS: Woke up this morning, my head was so bad
The worst hangover that I ever had
What happened to me last night
That girl of mine, she loved me so right (yeah) (oh, oh)
She loved me so long and she loved me so hard
I finally passed out in her front yard (whoo)
It wasn't wine that I had too much of
It was a double shot of my baby's love
Double shot of my baby's love, yeah yeah, yeah
Double shot of my baby's love, yeah yeah, yeah
A potion that I had too much of
It was a double shot of my baby's love
It was such a thrill it was hurtin' me (ooh)
I was sufferin' in ecstasy
She had me turnin' flips and-a shoutin' out loud (yah-hah)
A sip of her love and I was walkin' on a cloud
One night a week is-a plenty enough
It's a good thing for me they don't bottle that stuff (pop)
Well, my heart begins to fly like a dove
When I take a double shot of my baby's love
Double shot of my baby's love, yeah yeah, yeah
Double shot of my baby's love, yeah yeah, yeah
A potion that I had too much of
It was a double shot of my baby's love
Double shot of my baby's love, yeah yeah, yeah
Double shot of my baby's love, yeah yeah, yeah
Double shot of my baby's love, yeah yeah, yeah
Double shot of my baby's love, yeah yeah, yeah
@davidmartin7889
In the fall of 1965, the sister of one of my students at the now defunct Blue Ridge School for Boys in Hendersonville, NC, needed a date for their homecoming at Brenau College in Gainesville, GA, so I volunteered. This unknown group out of Atlanta (I was told) was the warm-up for the lead attraction, The Lettermen. They were still a littel ragged with it, but they played "Double Shot" and I loved it. Later in the set they played it again at my request. Only later did they record it and it became something of a national hit. I felt good about encouraging them with the song. I enjoyed their performance better than The Lettermen's.
@dab7271
Crazy how back in 1966 when this first came out, it was considered shockingly vulgar. These days I’m pretty sure it would be considered nothing!
@highstick100
This is neat...I'm from that era and recently learned that my minister's wife is the daughter of the original drummer!!
@vickifaurot4376
This song was playing on the juke box when I met my one true love
@Steven-ij1sk
Sounds alot like 96 Tears in a cool sort of melody ✌️
@samuelpajoa215
Great Song! Love sixty music. 😎 great party song.
@paulettegoltz8004
Summer of 66, best summer ever!
@vickifaurot4376
I totally agree.
@martyarnold2837
GREAT DRINKING SONG FOR US NORTH PENN 1966 SENIORS !