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The group formed in 19… Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple groups by this name.
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The group formed in 1946 at Armstrong High School in Washington, D.C., with members Harold Lucas, Billy Shelton, and Thomas Woods. John "Buddy" Bailey was added soon after, and they began calling themselves the "Four Clovers", with Bailey on lead. In perfecting their sound, the group pushed Shelton and Woods out in 1948, and brought in Matthew McQuarter and Harold Winley.
Their break came in 1950, when they were introduced to Lou Krefetz, who became their manager. They signed to New York's Rainbow Records and released two singles, "Yes Sir, That's My Baby" and "When You Come Back To Me". Soon after, Krefetz brought them to Atlantic Records' Ahmet Ertegun, and they were signed to Atlantic in 1951. At this point, Bill Harris was added as their guitarist. Their first appearance came in February of that year at the Apollo Theater.
Their very first Atlantic session produced their first big hit, "Don't You Know I Love You", which hit #1 on the national charts in June of 1951. "One Mint Julep" (written by Rudy Toombs) and "Fool Fool Fool" also went #1 in September. Bailey was drafted in 1952, and John Phillip was brought in to replace him. He stayed for just a few months, before leaving and being replaced by Charlie White, who had been in the Dominoes and the Checkers.
With personal problems, White was fired near the end of 1953. His replacement was Billy Mitchell. The group continued recording with Atlantic, without as much success as they'd previously seen. Buddy Bailey was discharged from the Army in May of 1954, and rejoined the group, making them a quintet. They continued in recording, and in 1955, found moderate success with "Devil or Angel".
Mitchell left in 1957 to do solo work, but rejoined shortly thereafter, opting to do both solo work and work with the Clovers. Their Atlantic contract expired, and Krefetz moved them to his own label, Poplar Records. Poplar was purchased by United Artists Records shortly thereafter. The group's work with United Artists put them in contact with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. After a few recordings there, they had their biggest hit, "Love Potion #9", which came in July of 1959, and featured Mitchell on lead.
Their UA contract expired in 1961, and they moved to Winley Records. With little success there, the group split. Lucas and Mitchell brought in new members James "Toy" Walton and Robert Russell, and recorded shortly for Atlantic. John Bailey recorded with his own Clovers group in 1962 for Winley (owned by Harold's brother Paul).
Mitchell left in 1962, and was replaced by Roosevelt "Tippie" Hubbard. They recorded as "Tippie and the Clovermen" and "Tippie and the Clovers" for Tiger Records, a subsidiary of Rust Records. John Bailey's group, by this time consisting of Nathaniel Bouknight, Peggy Winley Mills (sister of Paul and Harold), and Ann Winley, Paul's wife, recorded for another Paul Winley label, Porwin records. Near the end of 1963, the two groups came back together, into a Clovers trio featuring Harold Lucas, John Bailey, and the returning Harold Winley.
Following The Searchers' remake of "Love Potion #9" in 1965, some of the old Winley and Porwin tracks were leased to Pickwick International Records, who released them as the album The Original Love Potion #9 By The Clovers. Winley left for the second time in 1965. Bailey and Lucas recorded briefly for Atlantic with the returning Robert Russell and Jimmy Taylor. The sides were sold to Port Records and released with little success. Lucas and Bailey split that year.
Lucas and Russell brought back Tippie Hubbard and Toy Walton and, with fifth member Al Fox, recorded as "Tippie and the Wisemen" for Washington D.C.'s Shrine Records. With Fox out, the changed back to The Clovers. John Bailey also formed a Clovers group, who re-recorded "Devil or Angel" and "Love Potion #9" for Lana Records in 1965. To add to this confusion, Harold Winley started a third Clovers group in 1968, with members Bobby Adams, Johnny Taylor, and Ray Loper, and recorded for Josie Records.
Robert Russell died in 1969 and Lucas replaced him with John Bowie. They released a disco tune, "Bump Jive!", on D.C. based Alladin Records in 1975. Shortly after the recording, Toy Walton died, and was replaced by Johnnie Mason. Tippie Hubbard died in 1980 and was replaced by Steve Charles.
A reunion was planned in 1988 in Austin, Texas. Lucas brought his Clovers, as well as reuniting with John Bailey, Matthew McQuarter, and Harold Winley. Lucas' group also performed at a benefit concert later that year for Bill Harris, the groups long-time guitarist. Also in 1988, Lucas' group recorded for Ripete records, in Elliott, South Carolina.
Chuck Battle[1] replaced Charles around 1990. Harold Lucas became ill and stopped touring around 1993. His place was taken by Richard Merritt. Battle left in 1992 and was replaced by Preston Monroe, who was later replaced by David Warren. This lineup performed on the PBS special, Doo Wop 51. John Bowie died in 2002, and the group split.[2]
Following the 1988 reunion, Bailey and Winley joined Jimmy Nabbie's Ink Spots. Winley is still in that group. Prior to his death, Bailey also performed solo, sometimes backed up by The Calvanes, who feature former Bailey-Clovers member Bobby Adams. No remnants of the former Bailey groups or Winley's group exist.
The Clovers were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002.
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The Clovers is a celtic punk band from Japan[3].
Fool Fool Fool
The Clovers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fool, fool, fool that I was to fall for you
Oh what a fool I was, to think you could love me too.
Well, the first time that I saw you, you looked so doggone sweet
When you walked down the street, I said 'There goes my meat.'
[Needless to say, Kay Starr's version didn't have this line.]
Oh what a fool I was, to think you could love me too.
I can't forget you darlin', though I'm left out in the cold.
I guess I still love you, and will always feel the same. [I know it doesn't
rhyme!]
Fool, fool, fool that I was to fall for you
Oh what a fool I was, to think you could love me too.
The Clovers' song "Fool Fool Fool" is a classic tale of unrequited love, and the singer is lamenting the foolishness of falling for someone who does not reciprocate their feelings. The song begins with the repetition of "Fool, fool, fool that I was to fall for you," emphasizing the regret and self-blame the singer feels. The lyrics indicate that the singer was swept off their feet by the subject's appearance when they first met them, saying "When you walked down the street, I said 'There goes my meat.'" This line is not present in Kay Starr's version, which implies that the Clovers' version may have been seen as more risqué or provocative at the time.
The chorus repeats the main theme of the song, with the singer acknowledging their own foolishness for thinking that the subject could love them too. The final lines emphasize the lasting pain of unrequited love, with the singer stating that they still love the subject and will likely always feel the same. Overall, the song is a bittersweet reminder of the pain of loving someone who does not love you back and the folly of ignoring the warning signs of a one-sided romance.
Line by Line Meaning
Fool, fool, fool that I was to fall for you.
Expressing regret and disappointment at having fallen in love with someone who didn't love them back in return.
Fool, fool, fool that I was to fall for you
Reiterating the regret and disappointment of having loved someone who didn't reciprocate their feelings.
Oh what a fool I was, to think you could love me too.
Reflecting on the mistake of assuming that the other person had mutual feelings of love and affection.
Well, the first time that I saw you, you looked so doggone sweet, When you walked down the street, I said 'There goes my meat.'
Describing the initial attraction towards the other person and the excitement of potentially having found someone to love.
I can't forget you darlin', though I'm left out in the cold. I guess I still love you, and will always feel the same.
Acknowledging that despite the heartache and rejection, the love for the other person still lingers and will likely never fade.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: AHMET ERTEGUN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@itsme-rr8wf
Fool, fool, fool that I was to fall for you.
Fool, fool, fool that I was to fall for you
Oh what a fool I was, to think you could love me too.
Well, the first time that I saw you, you looked so doggone sweet
When you walked down the street, I said 'There goes my meat.'
Fool, fool, fool that I was to fall for you
Oh what a fool I was, to think you could love me too.
I can't forget you darlin', though I'm left out in the cold.
I guess I still love you, and will always feel the
Same. Fool, fool, fool that I was to fall for you
Oh what a fool I was, to think you could love me too.
@deanadavidson4650
I was only 7 years old in 1974 the first time I heard the Clovers and after all the rock, rap, folk, R&B, anything I have ever loved since, these have been my favorite band my entire life. They are magic.
@ACOUSTIC_4LOVE
They Rocked. One of the Greatest Vocal groups. That early telecaster sounds so sweet & Bluesy
@fsiret291
2020 still sounds fantastic
@GreatGoogaMooga49
Definitely some of the best of the best. This is the real roots of 50's music. I had the pleasure of seeing THE CLOVERS back in the late 60's at a small club in Long Island. John "BUDDY" Bailey must have weighed 300lbs. He sang so soulful and from the heart. The bass and other group members were so smooth with perfect timing that they are still at the top of my list. Thanks for the live performances they are truly cherished!
@jamesbitetto6040
So professional and so perfect. Truly a gift from God to have a voice like this.
@FoxRunMan
A cool group making great music - they did not get the recognition they deserved. Thanks for posting this vintage video and for the background info on The Clovers.
@kingbee1500
The Clovers....smooth as glass! My parents, uncles/aunts and others of the older generations used to go see them, The Dominoes, The Ravens, Sonny Til and The Orioles, and all the top R&B and Blues shows when they came here to Louisville, which was quite often at the Lyric, National and Palace theaters active in the city. Despite being in a "border state," all the shows were totally integrated which led to Louisville having one of the earliest fulltime R&B radio stations (WLOU) in 1951.
@rashadbailey774
My grandfather was John Buddy Bailey. He's not in this video but he sang lead with the group for a very long time. I miss him so much.
@DaveDave65
He sure was. I only came across The Clovers in about 1989 when I was on a deployment but they've been under my skin ever since & they're very welcome there. What a wonderful thing to have a connection with through your grandfather. Best wishes from UK :)
@jamesbitetto6040
Wow! You are truly blessed because the Clovers were one of the finest groups that ever recorded. I probably would give everything I own to have a voice like John Buddy Bailey. Years ago I was speaking with Raymond Looper from the 5 keys and we were commenting on Mr Buddy Bailey's voice. I also have been blessed because I sang a song with the Harptones and they wanted me back. That was a big surprise for me because I am a high tenor but sang baritone for the fantastic Willie Winfield and his Harptones. Raul Cita was alive this time and the group consisted of Linda Champion, Lenny and of course Raul sang harmony and I was blown away by how incredible there harmony is live I still sing but time passes just to fast. Even my buddy George Grant of the Castels is gone and I never met more of a gentleman's gentleman. Willie Winfield is always a fantastic person who gives nothing but love.