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.
Close Friends
The Poni-Tails Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ahh, ahh
I hope that you don't tell
Close friends
Ahh, ahh
I think we're doing well
I love you darling
I need you darling
Every minute of the day
I'm sorry now
For the things I didn't do
Just being close friends.
Ahh, ahh,
I ask you not to say
Ahh, ahh
Don't think of us that way
So baby, please come back
To me, someday
You went away
You left me all alone and blue
You won't believe this
But I'm still in love with you
I'm sorry now
For the things I didn't do
Or must we spend our lives
Just being close friends
The Poni-Tails' song Close Friends is about a love story between two individuals who are close friends, but the girl wants something more. She loves the boy more than she can say and needs him every day, but she never did anything to convey her true feelings. She hopes that they are doing well in their current situation and asks the boy not to tell anyone about their deepening emotional state. She doesn't want anyone to think of them in any other way, worried that it might ruin their friendship. However, she wants him to come back to her, as she is still in love with him, even after he left her alone.
The song depicts the confusion and dilemma of two people who are in love with each other but are unable to express their feelings. They fear losing each other's companionship, and the fear of rejection is still holding them back. The song leaves listeners with a sense of melancholy as they question whether the two individuals will ever move past their hesitation and become more than close friends.
Overall, The Poni-Tails' Close Friends is a bittersweet love story that many people can relate to, depicting the complexities of love, friendship, and fear.
Line by Line Meaning
Close friends
Acknowledging the relationship.
Ahh, ahh
Sultry background vocals.
I hope that you don't tell
Asking for confidentiality in this relationship.
Close friends
Showing that their bond is more than just casual.
Ahh, ahh
Continued sultry background vocals.
I think we're doing well
Feeling positive about the state of the relationship.
I love you darling
Expressing deep feelings of love and affection.
More than I can say
Explaining how the extent of love cannot be conveyed through words alone.
I need you darling
Admitting to needing the other person for emotional support.
Every minute of the day
Describing the constant longing for the other person.
I'm sorry now
Apologizing for past mistakes.
For the things I didn't do
Regretting missed opportunities in the relationship.
Just being close friends.
Realizing that their relationship might not progress beyond a platonic friendship.
Ahh, ahh,
Continued sultry background vocals.
I ask you not to say
Requesting the other person to keep this relationship a secret.
Don't think of us that way
Trying to convince the other person to not view their relationship as romantic.
So baby, please come back
Pleading for the other person to return to them.
To me, someday
Expressing a hopeful future for their relationship.
You went away
Reflecting on a time when they were separated from the other person.
You left me all alone and blue
Feeling sad and lonely due to the other person's absence.
You won't believe this
Surprising the other person with a confession.
But I'm still in love with you
Admitting the persistence of strong romantic feelings for the other person.
I'm sorry now
Again, apologizing for past mistakes.
For the things I didn't do
Reiterating regret for missed chances in the relationship.
Or must we spend our lives
Questioning the possibility of a romantic future together.
Just being close friends
Acknowledging that being platonic friends might be their only option going forward.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KRIS DAVID KOHLS, MARK CHAVEZ, DAVID CLARK DE ROO, MIKE RANSOM, TIMOTHY SEAN FLUCKEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
michael ball
Love the Poni-Tales, Evocative of the fifties, melody and teenage angst all the way, i love the sound and their songs, or i should say their interpretation. Never tire of listening to them
Gregory Miller
The piano accompaniment of the 50's is something I have loved even back in the late 50's, my mom said I would drop my toys to keep time with the piano in the songs being played back then. Didn't know what made the sound until high school. Our concert band at Salina Central was playing Put Your Head On My Shoulder, I noticed the girl playing the piano in this manner. It still takes me back, love it along with the voices of these three girls!
madminute
Agreed, also I like the excellent up-right bass player hitting those low bass notes with perfection and keeping perfect timing for everyone involved at the session.
DC
I know Born To Late was the favourite amongst fans! But this was my favourite of their songs
Awesomedia B2B Growth Marketing Agency
HQ Chants version is good too
ARTA'-'MAN
♥.♥
It was nice, thanks...
Lillian Lopez
Lyrics:
Close friends
Ahh, ahh
I hope that you don't tell
Close friends
Ahh, ahh
I think we're doing well
I love you darling
More than I can say
I need you darling
Every minute of the day
I'm sorry now
For the things I didn't do
Just being close friends.
Ahh, ahh,
I ask you not to say
Ahh, ahh
Don't think of us that way
So baby, please come back
To me, someday
You went away
You left me all alone and blue
You won't believe this
But I'm still in love with you
I'm sorry now
For the things I didn't do
Or must we spend our lives
Just being close friends
merry ☀️
Romantic
Zev Feldman
sweet
merry ☀️
Baby Come Back