The wispy innocence of the Poni-Tails' harmony ha… Read Full Bio ↴The Poni-Tails
The wispy innocence of the Poni-Tails' harmony has been heard on oldies radio for over thirty years thanks to one timely hit "Born Too Late." A record about an older boy, "Born Too Late" is a rock and roll classic, a "girl group goldie," and round the world favorite.
The trio of Toni Cistone (lead vocals), LaVerne Novak (high harmony), and Karen Topinka (low harmony) were students at Brush High School in Lynhurst, Ohio near Cleveland, when they started singing together in 1956. They performed at school functions and benefits, and it was at one of these shows that they were spotted by an attorney, John Jewitt, who gave them an introduction to music publisher Tom Illius. Illius liked the soft style of the trio and their original song "Que La Bozena." Illius took them to the local Point Records, who issued their first single "Your Wild Heart" in January, 1957. Unfortunately, even innocence white girls were subjected to being covered. "Your Wild Heart" became a hit for Mercury artist Joy lane (#20) while the Version by the Poni-Tails, named for the hairstyle they wore at the time, became an instant collectible.
With Illius managing the group they had one more single with Marc Records "Can I Be Sure".
Tony and LaVerne auditioned for a replacement for Karen when her father made her leave the group. They came up with former Regina High student Patti McCabe.
Illius got ABC Records' Don Costa , later to produce/arrange for Paul Anka, Frankie Avalon, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and found DCP Records; interested in the group. ABC released "It's Just My Luck To Be 15" by the end of 1957. It quickly disappeared.
With a similar theme "Born Too Late" made the Poni-Tails part of rock and roll history. It reached number seven on Billboard's Top 100 and number five in England. The group might have remained anonymous if ABC had had its way as they were promoting the other side "Come On Joey, Dance With Me". It was only after several Cleveland deejays pushed "Born Too Late," the other side, that the record took off.
The model of what parents of the 50s considered to be "the safe look" appearances on Dick Clark's American Bandstand by the Poni-Tails further fostered that image.
For the next two years the Poni-Tails attempted to recapture the magic of "Born Too Late". Despite its suggestive title "Seven Minutes To Heaven," their next single, only reached number 87 in December, 1958. Their last record to chart was "I'll Be Seeing You," a rockaballad that went down well at record hops as a "ladies choice" number, in late fall of 1959. "Who, When, and Why" was their last record in 1960.
ABC still wanted to renew their contract for another five years in 1960, but the Poni-Tails decided to call it a career and settle into family life.
"The three years were fun, but I just wanted to get out of the record business and get back to normal living." (Toni Cistone)
In 1991 LaVerne (Novak) Glivic was working for a real estate agent in Menor, Ohio, and had five grandchildren. Toni (Cistone) Costabile was working at a high school in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Patti (McCabe) Barnes died of cancer in January, 1989. Tom Illius went on to become a top executive with the William Morris Agency in Los Angeles.
Before We Say Goodnight
The Poni-Tails Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This kiss must be our last
Before we say goodnight
I told my folks
That I'd be home by 10:00
But hold my once again
Before we say goodnight
Through the night, I'll dream of you
And hope that you'll be dreaming, too
Dreaming of the night when we won't have to part
Ever again
Gee, it's hard to break away
But sweetheart, some sweet day
We won't ever have to say goodbye
Before we say goodnight
Gee, it's hard to break away
But sweetheart, some sweet day
We won't ever have to say goodbye
Before we say goodnight
The Poni-Tails’s song Before We Say Goodnight is a classic 50s doo-wop ballad that describes a tender moment shared by young lovers who know that they will soon have to part ways. The opening lyrics set the scene for the song by expressing how quickly the night has passed, and how the kiss the singer shares with her lover must mark their departure. As the singer reminisces about their time together, she mentions that she has lied to her parents for another chance to be with her lover. The chorus repeats the title of the song, indicating that the main focus of the song is the bittersweet moment of having to part ways for the night.
The second verse continues with the singer expressing her wish to sleep and dream of her lover, hoping that he will do the same. She then dreams of a future where they will not have to part ways before saying goodnight, an indication of how much she longs to be with him. The final verse echoes the same desire for a future without goodbyes, but this time the singer expresses her conviction that someday they will be able to stay together. In a way, the song is a hopeful expression of love and the desire for an eventual resolution to the separation faced by young couples.
Line by Line Meaning
Gee, the night blew by so fast
Wow, the night went by quickly
This kiss must be our last
We can only kiss one more time tonight
Before we say goodnight
We want to kiss before we go to bed
I told my folks
I informed my parents
That I'd be home by 10:00
I promised to return home at 10:00
But hold my once again
But let's embrace each other once more
Before we say goodnight
Before we end our time together for the evening
Through the night, I'll dream of you
I will think of you while I sleep
And hope that you'll be dreaming, too
And I hope you are thinking of me as well
Dreaming of the night when we won't have to part
Thinking of the night when we can stay together
Ever again
Forever
Gee, it's hard to break away
It's difficult to leave each other
But sweetheart, some sweet day
But someday
We won't ever have to say goodbye
We won't have to say farewell anymore
Before we say goodnight
Before we end our time together for the evening
Writer(s): The Poni-tails
Contributed by Victoria S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Philippe Renaud
Thank you Popsicle for streaming all this great music from a group that was all too quickly forgotten.
TheLimePopsicle
+Philippe Renaud You're welcome, Philippe!
Philippe Renaud
+TheLimePopsicle No problems! They were really great! Quick question: might you be able to upload a whole compilation of their songs ("greatest hits" type of thing)? I know it's easier said than done! Hey, thanks again!
TheLimePopsicle
Philippe Renaud Most of their recordings are posted on this channel.
Philippe Renaud
+TheLimePopsicle Thank you! I'll make sure to listen!
michael ball
To me they epitomize (excuse spelling) the late fifties, a feeling born of living then. This is one of my favorites, but all their singles, 'B' sides included are supported by good songs sung with the feelings of us teenagers. Not like the later conveyor belt of female groups generally in the later sixties. Thank you Philippe
Johnny Gainor
Interesting to me that they didn't really have one or two follow-up Hits after "Born too Late" hit the Pop Charts - I always wondered why their singles didn't seem to do terribly well - at any rate, this was a nice effort.
sarah plunkett
They were only kids so had to juggle it all with school, they made around 12 songs if you count b sides some of their daughters took on the groups name
Protoville
These girls really did have a nice sound.
Ken Newell
There is absolutely no comparison between popular music from the 50s/60s and the stuff that passes as "music" today. Back then there were very, very few (if any) studio-added enhancements: a singer or group had to be able to sing in tune in front of a live backing - who also had to be able to play their musical instruments. Today? Pop-songs created entirely on a computer by people who have no music skills what-so-ever. Many thanks to you and others who contribute pop-music from the past.