In early 1951, the Moonglows, mostly featuring Fuqua on lead vocals, began recording, first for Freed's Champagne record label and then for Chicago's Chance Records, achieving local success in the midwest with a bluesy sound. By mid 1954, the group had become more polished (as evidenced by their Lester-led cover of Doris Day's "Secret Love"), and signed with the bigger Chess Records label. Their first Chess record was also their first R&B hit, the Fuqua-penned "Sincerely" (1954), with a lead vocal by Lester (and covered for the pop market by The McGuire Sisters). "Sincerely" was followed by a series of original R&B hits in 1955 and 1956, including "Most of All", "In My Diary" (later recorded by The Spinners), "When I'm With You" (all led by Lester) and the uptempo "See Saw" (featuring Fuqua). 1957 saw the release of the Fuqua led "Please Send Me Someone to Love" (originally by Percy Mayfield in 1950).
Through this period, the group perfected their patented, breathy, "blow harmony," which inspired countless 1950s doo-wop groups and 1960s soul groups, and even the 1970s The Chi-Lites.
Generally, Fuqua sang lead on the uptempo and blues-based tunes, while Lester was the group's romantic lead. Occasionally, on songs like "We Go Together" (1956), they sang a duet lead. Fuqua and Lester also "Moonlighted" on the Checker Records label as the "Moonlighters", recording a local hit "Shoo-be-doo (My Lovin' Baby)" in 1955. The group appeared in Rock Rock Rock a movie produced by, and starring Alan Freed. The last recording by the original five was the hit "10 Commandments of Love" (released in early 1958). It featured Fuqua on lead, with Billy Johnson doing the spoken recitation. By 1957, Fuqua had begun to re-assert himself as lead vocalist and manager, with Lester being pushed to the background. This created a great deal of friction within the group.[citation needed]
Also in 1957, a Washington, D.C. based group known as The Marquees was struggling to make it. The members were Marvin Gaye, Reese Palmer, Chester Simmons, and James Knowland. They decided to give an impromptu audition to Fuqua, as the Moonglows had come to town for a concert. Fuqua was so impressed with them that he decided to fire the entire group and take on the Marquees as the "New Moonglows." Fuqua recorded with these four (later including fifth member Chuck Barksdale), as Harvey & The Moonglows through 1960, when the group dispersed. Gaye went on to a huge solo career.
Fuqua produced the Spinners in the early 1960s, even singing on a few of their records (but not 1961's "That's What Girls are Made For", which featured Bobby Smith imitating Harvey's style). Fuqua became a staff writer and record producer for Motown Records through the 1960s, and later road-managed Smokey Robinson. Lester returned to his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky and opened a nightclub. Barnes moved to Mississippi and retired from professional singing after an automobile accident in 1969.
Meanwhile, in 1964, Pete Graves restarted the Moonglows with Doc Green of The Drifters, George Thorpe, and Bearle Easton. This group recorded briefly for Lana Records, Times Square Records, and Crimson Records.
Yet another new Moonglows formed in 1970, featuring Lester and a Louisville group called the Aristocrats, who consisted of Lester's cousin Gary Rodgers, plus Albert Workman, Robert Ford, and Billy McPhatter (son of Clyde McPhatter). This group performed once in 1971 at a show in New York, but the Aristocrats decided to return to Louisville. Dallas, inspired by the reception his group received, reunited with Harvey Fuqua and Pete Graves, plus new members Doc Williams and Chuck Lewis, and the Moonglows were back.
They recorded an LP released on RCA Records in 1972, charting their last single, "Sincerely '72", a funky re-working of their 1954 hit.
This line-up split up after 1972, and Lester began singing with local Louisville singers again, including at times Rodgers, Ford, Robert Lee Davis, Bruce Martin, and Peter Lawford. This group recorded a mostly a cappella, live album Moonglows in 1979.
Lester died in his hometown of Louisville from cancer in 1980, and Billy McPhatter returned to the group, with Rodgers taking over most of the leads in what was now billed as "Bobby Lester's Moonglows." McPhatter was later replaced by Bobby Lester, Jr. Harvey reunited with the remainder of his 1972 Moonglows in 1983 for a Grammy performance (minus Lester, and Barksdale who had rejoined The Dells, and plus guitarist Johnson), and they toured until 1986 as Harvey & the Moonglows.
In 2000, Bobby Lester's Moonglows, consisting of Rodgers, Martin, Lawford, and Gene Kelly, appeared on the PBS special Doo Wop 50, backing up Harvey Fuqua on "Sincerely" and "10 Commandments of Love." Fuqua, now in his mid-70s, still sings occasionally, sometimes backed up by Lester's Moonglows, sometimes a 50s R&B group called the Magnificents, and sometimes by local "pick-up" groups. Fuqua also produces and manages gospel acts. Reese Palmer is a member of The Legendary Orioles, as well as leading a new version of The Marquees. Chuck Barksdale is still with the Dells. Billy Johnson died in Los Angeles in 1987, Gary Rodgers died in 2005, and Prentiss Barnes died in 2006.[1].
Harvey Fuqua passed away in 2010.
The Moonglows were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999. They were also inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 2000. "Sincerely" was named one of The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll.
Over and Over Again
The Moonglows Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gonna mail it to my local DJ
It's a rockin' rhythm record
I want my jockey to play
Roll over Beethoven, I gotta hear it again today
You know, my temperature's risin'
And the jukebox blows a fuse
And my soul keeps on singin' the blues
Roll over Beethoven and tell Tchaikovsky the news
I got the rockin' pneumonia,
I need a shot of rhythm and blues
I think I'm rollin' arthritis
Sittin' down by the rhythm review
Roll over Beethoven rockin' in two by two
Well, if you feel you like it
Go get your lover, then reel and rock it
Roll it over and move on up just
A trifle further and reel and rock it,
Roll it over,
Roll over Beethoven rockin' in two by two
Well, early in the mornin' I'm a-givin' you a warnin'
Don't you step on my blue suede shoes
Hey diddle diddle, I am playin' my fiddle,
Ain't got nothin' to lose
Roll over Beethoven and tell Tchaikovsky the news
You know she wiggles like a glow worm,
Dance like a spinnin' top
She got a crazy partner,
Oughta see 'em reel and rock
Long as she got a dime the music will never stop
Roll over Beethoven,
Roll over Beethoven,
Roll over Beethoven,
Roll over Beethoven,
Roll over Beethoven and dig these rhythm and blues
The Moonglows' "Over and Over Again" is a classic rock and roll song that pays homage to the great composers of classical music while also expressing a love for the new rhythm and blues sound. The song's narrator is going to write a letter to his local DJ to request that he play a "rockin' rhythm record." He can't get enough of the music and urges Beethoven to "roll over" so that he can hear it again.
As the song progresses, the singer describes his excitement at hearing the music, saying that his "temperature's rising" and his "heart's beating rhythm." He even thinks he has "rockin' pneumonia" and "rollin' arthritis" from dancing and listening to the music. He encourages others to get up and dance with their lovers, making it clear that the music will never stop as long as they have a dime to put in the jukebox.
The song captures the spirit of the early rock and roll era, with its lively beat and upbeat lyrics. It also shows a deep appreciation for the great composers of the past while embracing the new sound of rhythm and blues.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna write a little letter,
I am planning to write a short message
Gonna mail it to my local DJ
I will send it to the nearby disc jockey
It's a rockin' rhythm record
This is an energetic musical track
I want my jockey to play
I request the DJ to play it for me
Roll over Beethoven, I gotta hear it again today
I'm eager to listen to it again today, as if Beethoven needs to move over for this song
You know, my temperature's risin'
I am feeling increasingly excited
And the jukebox blows a fuse
The jukebox is malfunctioning due to the intensity of the music
My heart's beatin' rhythm
My heart rate is keeping pace with the music
And my soul keeps on singin' the blues
I am continually feeling the emotional impact of the music
Roll over Beethoven and tell Tchaikovsky the news
This music is so good that even Beethoven needs to move aside, and Tchaikovsky needs to know about it
I got the rockin' pneumonia,
I have an intense desire to hear more of this type of music
I need a shot of rhythm and blues
I require an injection of this type of music
I think I'm rollin' arthritis
I am so absorbed in the music that it feels like my joints are moving involuntarily
Sittin' down by the rhythm review
I am taking in the musical performance
Roll over Beethoven rockin' in two by two
The music is so good that everyone is dancing together in pairs
Well, if you feel you like it
If you enjoy this music
Go get your lover, then reel and rock it
Find your partner and dance passionately
Roll it over and move on up just
Keep dancing and moving forward
A trifle further and reel and rock it,
Take it a bit further and enjoy it more
Roll it over,
Keep the music going
Roll over Beethoven rockin' in two by two
The music is so good that everyone is dancing together in pairs
Well, early in the mornin' I'm a-givin' you a warnin'
I am preemptively cautioning you
Don't you step on my blue suede shoes
Do not damage my prized possessions
Hey diddle diddle, I am playin' my fiddle,
I will enjoy myself, regardless of what others do
Ain't got nothin' to lose
I have nothing to risk
Roll over Beethoven and tell Tchaikovsky the news
This music is so good that even Beethoven needs to move aside, and Tchaikovsky needs to know about it
You know she wiggles like a glow worm,
She dances sensually
Dance like a spinnin' top
She dances energetically, like a spinning top
She got a crazy partner,
Her partner is wild and exuberant
Oughta see 'em reel and rock
They're dancing so well, everyone should watch
Long as she got a dime the music will never stop
As long as she has enough money, the music will keep playing
Roll over Beethoven,
Keep the music going
Roll over Beethoven,
Keep the music going
Roll over Beethoven,
Keep the music going
Roll over Beethoven,
Keep the music going
Roll over Beethoven and dig these rhythm and blues
This music is so good that even Beethoven needs to move aside, and everyone needs to appreciate it
Lyrics © ENTERTAINMENT ONE U.S. LP, Royalty Network
Written by: Chuck Berry
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@margaretkowalkowski5653
This is a beautiful classic oldie!! Thanks for sharing and for keeping these precious beautiful songs alive!!! Best music 🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶 this side of heaven ❤❤❤❤
@davewallace8219
Great group! Lead singer is....golden!
@sheriorr2261
Why can't there still be groups and songs like this. They were truly gifted with voices and talented.
@MsBonnieBlue
The best ‘
@JukeboxBalowski
There are. But radio stations generally won't play them, people don't buy them or listen to them, and often don't support them in any way. So they're out there but they just don't get any support except from a few friends and a small handful of die-hard fans.
@carolynsparks6161
Love it.
@MsBonnieBlue
Love his voice!
@jaden3852
This is should got a grammy
@Jimfromearthoo7
Never realize how many
Moonglows songs I like
thanks for uploading this
one.👍🏻
@MsBonnieBlue
Love this !’