Singers Cleveland Duncan, Curtis Williams, Dexter Tisby, and Bruce Tate, all students at Fremont High in Los Angeles, CA, formed the quartet in 1954. They broke up in 1959. Cleve Duncan sang lead on "Earth Angel."
The Penguins were one of a number of doo-wop groups of the period named after birds (such as The Orioles, The Flamingos, and The Crows).
The Penguins' single "Hey Senorita" was released on Doo-Tone Records in 1955 as the intended A-side, but a radio DJ flipped the record over to the B-side, "Earth Angel", which became far more popular. Their midtempo performance was a cross between rhythm and blues and the new rock and roll played by white performers and enjoyed by teenagers.
Coming off the success of "Earth Angel," The Penguins approached Buck Ram to manage them. Ram's primary interest was managing The Platters, who at that point had no hit singles but were a profitable touring group. With The Penguins in hand, Ram was able to swing a 2-for-1 deal with Mercury Records in which the company agreed to take on The Platters as a precondition for getting The Penguins (the group that Mercury really wanted). Ironically, The Penguins would never have a second hit single under the Mercury deal, while The Platters would be the label's most successful act.
The Penguins never had another national hit, but their 1957 cover of "Pledge of Love" reached #15 on the R&B chart.
For three decades, "Earth Angel" was almost always the #2 song on oldies station WCBS-FM's annual Top 500 countdown. (Another doo-wop favorite, The Five Satins' "In the Still of the Night" was the perennial #1 pick.)
The Penguins were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004. In 2004, "Earth Angel" was named #151 on Rolling Stone's Top 500 Songs Of All Time. "Earth Angel" was also one of The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Memories
The Penguins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thinking about you and the love we once knew
And each time I do
It brings back those memories of El Monte
Remember the dance i held you so tight
The Satins were singing
In The Still of the NightYou gave me your heart and your love undying
Now I'm alone i'm sitting here crying
If only they had those dances again
I'd know where to find you
And all my old friends
The Shields would sing
"You cheated you lied" and the Heartbeats
"You're a thousand miles away"
And the Medallions with "The Letter" and
"Sweet words of pismotality"
Marvin and Johnny with "Cherry Pie"
And then, Tony Allen with "Night owl"
And I, Cleve Duncan along with the Penguins
Will sing "Earth angel, earth angel
Will you be mine?" at El Monte
If I could go back to those days of the past
I'd show you a love a love that would last
Oh, I remember those wonderful dances
In El Monte
In El Monte earth angel, earth angel
Will you be mine? At El Monte
The lyrics of "Memories" by The Penguins weave a poignant narrative of longing, nostalgia, and heartache, encapsulating the singer's reminiscence of a lost love. The opening lines immediately set a melancholic tone as the singer finds themselves in solitude, battling feelings of sadness and nostalgia for a past relationship. The mention of "the love we once knew" suggests that the memories of this relationship are vibrant and deeply etched in their mind. This reflective journey takes a specific geographical reference to "El Monte," suggesting a place that harbors emotional significance for the singer. As they delve into their thoughts, the memories become intertwined with the essence of El Monteβa location that symbolizes romance, carefree dances, and shared moments of joy. This opening serves to establish a foundation of yearning as the singer navigates through the emotional weight of recollection.
In the second verse, the lyrics evoke vivid memories of physical closeness and intimate momentsβspecifically, a dance shared with a loved one, underscoring the emotional connection that was once alive. The mention of the iconic song "In the Still of the Night" by The Satins contrasts the present solitude with the joyous memories of nights filled with music and dance. This juxtaposition draws a sharp line between past happiness and current sorrow. The phrase "you gave me your heart and your love undying" emphasizes the depth of the love shared, which now feels lost to the passing of time. The emotion reaches a peak as the singer acknowledges their heartbreak, encapsulated in the poignant image of sitting alone and cryingβa vivid manifestation of loveβs absence.
As the song transitions into the nostalgia for the past gatherings and dances, the singer wishes for a return to a time when they could easily connect with their lost love and friends. The references to other groups and their popular songs convey the vibrant musical culture of the time, creating an almost dreamlike longing for the connections forged through music and dance. Each mentioned song not only serves as a cultural touchstone but also acts as a soundtrack to the intimate memories shared with the singer's love. This enumeration of musical acts emphasizes a collective memory, suggesting that the shared experiences with others in El Monte are equally significant as the romantic ones. The desire to rekindle those experiences illuminates the singer's deep yearning for reconnectionβboth with the love they lost and the community surrounding them.
In the final verses, the wish to return to the past encapsulates a universal sentiment of wishing for second chances in love. The singer's impulse to "show you a love that would last" illustrates a deep yearning for redemption, a desire to correct the mistakes of the past. The repeated invocation of "Earth angel" highlights the enduring affection the singer feels, invoking a prayer-like plea to reclaim that love. The song concludes with the intertwining of love, loss, and memory as the longing to revisit El Monte symbolizes a quest for happiness and reconciliation with one's past. In essence, the lyrics paint a nostalgic landscape of youthful love intertwined with the bittersweet realization of change over time, embodying a timeless exploration of memory, love, and the inexorable passage of time that shapes our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm all alone, feeling so blue
In solitude, I experience overwhelming sadness.
Thinking about you and the love we once knew
My thoughts drift to you and the deep affection we shared in the past.
And each time I do
Every time I reflect on our time together,
It brings back those memories of El Monte
It resurrects cherished recollections of our experiences in El Monte.
Remember the dance I held you so tight
Recall the moments at the dance where I embraced you closely.
The Satins were singing
The harmonious melodies of The Satins filled the air,
In The Still of the Night
Specifically singing the poignant tune titled 'In The Still of the Night.'
You gave me your heart and your love undying
You entrusted me with your heart and an everlasting love.
Now I'm alone I'm sitting here crying
Now, in my solitude, I find myself in tears.
If only they had those dances again
If only such joyful gatherings could return.
I'd know where to find you
I would be able to reconnect with you.
And all my old friends
And once again be surrounded by my cherished friends.
The Shields would sing
The group known as The Shields would perform,
'You cheated you lied' and the Heartbeats
With songs like 'You Cheated, You Lied' and the Heartbeats.
'You're a thousand miles away'
Echoing the sentiment of distance from a loved one.
And the Medallions with 'The Letter' and
The Medallions would include their hit 'The Letter' among the tunes.
'Sweet words of pismotality'
And sweet messages of affection would resonate.
Marvin and Johnny with 'Cherry Pie'
Marvin and Johnny would charm us with 'Cherry Pie.'
And then, Tony Allen with 'Night owl'
Followed by Tony Allen's smooth 'Night Owl.'
And I, Cleve Duncan along with the Penguins
I, Cleve Duncan, would perform alongside the Penguins.
Will sing 'Earth angel, earth angel Will you be mine?' at El Monte
We would serenade the crowd with 'Earth Angel' while reminiscing in El Monte.
If I could go back to those days of the past
If I had the chance to relive those earlier times,
I'd show you a love a love that would last
I would demonstrate a love that is enduring.
Oh, I remember those wonderful dances
Oh, how I recall the joyous dances we shared.
In El Monte
Right there in El Monte, where it all happened.
In El Monte earth angel, earth angel Will you be mine?
In El Monte, I yearn for the presence of my beloved, asking 'Will you be mine?'
Lyrics Β© CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BabyOatmeal
In 1960,Β Art LaboeΒ released one of the firstΒ oldiesΒ compilations,Β Memories of El Monte, a collection of songs by bands that used to play at the dances Laboe organized at El Monte Legion Stadium inΒ El Monte, California. At some point in the next few years, Ray Collins visited Frank Zappa at his house at 314 W. G Street inΒ Ontario, California.Β Frank told him that he and a friend had thought of writing a song entitled "Memories of El Monte." Ray had been to the dances at El Monte Legion Stadium and had played there with tenor saxophonistΒ Chuck Higgins. Ray sat down at Frank's piano, played the "Earth Angel" chord changes and immediately came up with the first lyrics for "Memories of El Monte."
Frank Zappa took the song to Art Laboe, who loved it. Laboe came up with the idea of adding a section that named doo-wop groups and having the Penguins impersonate their songs.
"Memories of El Monte" was recorded at Paul Buffβs Pal Recording Studio inΒ Cucamonga, CaliforniaΒ in 1963. The song was copyrighted on February 20, 1963. Meanwhile skip ahead to 1969 "Uncle Meat" song Dog Breath -Β
Cucuroo carucha (chevy '39)
Going to el monte legion stadium
Pick up on my weesa (she is so divine)
Helps me stealing hub caps
Wasted all the time
Fuzzy dice
Bongos in the back
My ship of love is
Ready to attack
@bien.mp4
When it transitioned to Earth Angel, it was so frickin satisfying.
@iperez63
So damm true!!!
@gordonglenn2089
So right. It gave me chills!
@LuneyTune72
FRANK ZAPPA AND RAY COLLINS WROTE THIS SONG!!! I love that the Penguins played it!
@nandobudds6604
YOU KNOW A CITY IS GANGSTA WHEN THERE'S AN OLDIES SONG ABOUT IT.
@richardtrejo8496
True thatπππππΌπ π€πβοΈπ’
@coryarnold3369
Didnt have anything to do with your idea of "gangster" back then...Whole different ball game.
@devinpaul9026
Back in them days a gangster wasn't nothin' but a regular dude that wasn't aftaid of a fight.
@David.lovesU
A nigga Riverside is where it's at
@brandonmack4404
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