The Chanters formed in late 1957 out of a group of friends in Queens, New York. This locale was far removed from the R&B centers in Harlem and Bedford-Stuyvesant, and allowed for more original sounds from groups like the Rivileers, the Cleftones, and the Videos.
The two oldest members of the Chanters, Fred Paige (first and second tenor) and Bud Johnson, Jr. (second and first tenor) were in high school; the others — Larry Pendergrass (lead), Elliot Green (baritone) and Bobby Thompson (bass) — were in junior high.
Paige, Thompson and Johnson first started singing together informally, until Bud's father, baritone saxman and bandleader Albert "Bud" (or "Budd") Johnson, Senior, talked them into forming a full group. Finally, Bud, Sr. took them to see Andy Gibson, an a&r man at King Records’ Deluxe subsidiary. Gibson signed the group (and also produced their session.)
While Bud Johnson’s parents encouraged them to be singers, the relative obscurity of the Chanters is due to the fact that their parents felt they were too young to be performers. They appeared only in the New York area and even then, not at any theaters or clubs.
In the early 60s, the Chanters enjoyed a resurgence of airplay. This prompted DeLuxe to re-release some of the group’s sides in 1961. In spite of this, the group disbanded, possibly never cashing in at all at the birth of the oldies craze.
--Paraphrased from article by Marv Goldberg
No No No
The Chanters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[CHORUS]
No, no, no
Don't kiss me anymore
No, no, no
I told you once before
No, no, no
No, no, no
Means yes, yes, yes
I love you
And no one else will do
My heart sings
Don't ever say we're through
Please don't leave
Our love was meant to be
Please be mine
You know I love you
With all my heart
Please don't say that
We will ever part
Your kisses thrill me
When you are in my arms
Kiss me, darling
I'm lost in your charms
[Repeat CHORUS]
Bom bom bom...
[Repeat CHORUS]
The lyrics to The Chanters' song "No, No, No" are a classic example of the popular trope in early rock and roll music of playing with the idea of saying "no" when you really mean "yes." The song is a plea from the singer to their lover not to kiss them anymore, but it's revealed in the chorus that this actually means "yes, yes, yes." The singer's heart sings for their lover and they ask them to stay, expressing how much they love them and how much their kisses thrill them. The repetition of the chorus throughout the song, with its insistent "no's" and contradictory meaning, adds to the playful and flirtatious tone of the song.
Beyond its playful lyrics, "No, No, No" is a fun and catchy doo-wop song that showcases the vocal skills of The Chanters. The song was released in 1958 and charted at #47 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it one of the group's most popular songs. It has since been covered by numerous artists, including The Angels and Jackie DeShannon. The song's upbeat tempo and finger-snapping rhythm make it a favorite for dancing and singing along.
Overall, "No, No, No" is a delightful example of early rock and roll music, with its upbeat tempo, catchy lyrics, and playful use of language. It's a song that captures the fun and energy of the genre, and its popularity over the years is a testament to its enduring appeal.
Line by Line Meaning
No, no, no
I do not want you to kiss me anymore
Don't kiss me anymore
I have had enough of your kisses
I told you once before
I mentioned this before, please respect my wishes
Means yes, yes, yes
I want you to understand that my refusal actually means the opposite
I love you
I have strong feelings of affection towards you
And no one else will do
I desire you and only you
My heart sings
I am overcome with positive emotions towards you
Don't ever say we're through
Please do not end our relationship
Please don't leave
I want you to stay with me
Our love was meant to be
Our relationship was destined to happen
Please be mine
I want to be in a committed romantic relationship with you
You know I love you
I feel you already understand that I have romantic feelings towards you
With all my heart
My love towards you is all-embracing and intense
Please don't say that
I do not want to hear any words that may signal the end of our relationship
We will ever part
I cannot imagine losing you from my life
Your kisses thrill me
I feel a great deal of pleasure and excitement when you kiss me
When you are in my arms
I feel safe, secure and comforted when we are intimately connected
Kiss me, darling
Please continue to express your love for me through kisses
I'm lost in your charms
Your seductive qualities totally captivate me
Writer(s): Kenny Roberts
Contributed by Liliana D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@njplr
What leaves me floored, in 2013, is how damn good this song is, and yet it was just one of hundreds - THOUSANDS - of doo wop songs being put out in those Glory Days. An under-rated, under-appreciated, and definitely UNDER-PLAYED little gem. Thank you for posting.
@pauluap1000
we were so spoiled
@rem-so1ly
@@pauluap1000 Yes, So many great records came out every day back then but never got the exposure they deserved, leaving them for fans and collectors to discover years later
@UncleFuzzy420
You have hit the nail directly on the head. This was the greatest era ever for music, There were so many groups, no one could keep track. Regional and local groups produced the music of our era. No one will ever convince me otherwise.
@leehen400
Lead singer sounds kind of like Frankie Lymon (and the Teenagers). Love Doo Wop. The best. Thanks for posting.
@langdjango2873
Sounds to me more like Frankie's little brother, Louis Lymon and The Teenchords.
@mattezhackblip
Lang django I agree! Lewis Lymon’s twin, haha.
@ijustgottahotdog
@@mattezhackblip Were the Lymon brothers related to Larry Pendergrass?
@mattezhackblip
@@ijustgottahotdog No, not at all. They only had one thing in common, they all lived in NYC. The Lymon Brothers in Harlem, Larry in Jamaica, Queens.
@julierobinson3633
I must admit I thought it was Lewis Lymon, or Frankie at first...