Gigolo (Mary Wells song)
Encyclopedia
"Gigolo" is a dance single written and produced by Fonce and Larry Mizell
and released by R&B singer Mary Wells
on the Epic Records
label. It was the former Motown
star's first single with the CBS-operated label and brought Wells brief renewed success on the Billboard
chart.
" on 20th Century Fox though she continued to score top 40 hits on the R&B chart in the late sixties and early seventies. By 1974, however, after the Bobby Womack
-produced "If You Can't Give Her Love" single flopped on Reprise
, Wells reluctantly retired to raise her four children that she had with second husband, musician Cecil Womack
. The couple divorced in 1977 and after being offered a deal with Epic Records in 1981, she returned to the studio to record her first album in thirteen years, In and Out of Love
. Among the singles was "Gigolo", a funky dance hit with the then-current sound mixing dance beats with funky riffs. The song talks about a man who only loves a girl for one night before moving to the next woman. The narrator contends she knew that her lover "wasn't going to stay" but assures that the man was "such a gentleman" and trying to explain her affection saying "even Cinderella had her gigolo". The song also featured a clever rap verse also performed by Mary.
chart. It also crossed over to #69 on the R&B singles chart. Though the song wasn't a bigger hit as it was initially promoted to be, it motivated Wells to return to performing and recording full time as she would until she was diagnosed with larynx cancer in 1990.
Mizell Brothers
The Mizell Brothers were a record producing team in the 1970s, consisting of Larry Mizell and Alphonso "Fonce" Mizell .-History:...
and released by R&B singer Mary Wells
Mary Wells
Mary Esther Wells was an American singer who helped to define the emerging sound of Motown in the early 1960s...
on the Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
label. It was the former Motown
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
star's first single with the CBS-operated label and brought Wells brief renewed success on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
chart.
Return from retirement
After leaving Motown Records in 1964, Mary Wells struggled to produce hits outside of the label only achieving once with "Use Your HeadUse Your Head
"Use Your Head" is a soulful pop song written by Barrett Strong, Wade Flemons and The Dells' Chuck Barksdale and released as a single by former Motown singer Mary Wells on the 20th Century Fox label.-Song information:...
" on 20th Century Fox though she continued to score top 40 hits on the R&B chart in the late sixties and early seventies. By 1974, however, after the Bobby Womack
Bobby Womack
Robert Dwayne "Bobby" Womack is an American singer-songwriter and musician. An active recording artist since the early 1960s where he started his career as the lead singer of his family musical group The Valentinos and as Sam Cooke's backing guitarist, Womack's career has spanned more than 40...
-produced "If You Can't Give Her Love" single flopped on Reprise
Reprise Records
Reprise Records is an American record label, founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operated through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:...
, Wells reluctantly retired to raise her four children that she had with second husband, musician Cecil Womack
Cecil Womack
In 1983, under the name of Womack & Womack, Cecil and Linda released a successful album, Love Wars, and continued to make albums until 1993. Their song "Love Wars" was covered by The Beautiful South for the 1990 compilation Rubáiyát. Their most successful single was "Teardrops" in 1988.-Albums:*...
. The couple divorced in 1977 and after being offered a deal with Epic Records in 1981, she returned to the studio to record her first album in thirteen years, In and Out of Love
In and Out of Love (Mary Wells album)
In and Out of Love is the tenth studio effort and first album in thirteen years for R&B/soul singer Mary Wells, released on the Epic label.-Coming out of retirement:...
. Among the singles was "Gigolo", a funky dance hit with the then-current sound mixing dance beats with funky riffs. The song talks about a man who only loves a girl for one night before moving to the next woman. The narrator contends she knew that her lover "wasn't going to stay" but assures that the man was "such a gentleman" and trying to explain her affection saying "even Cinderella had her gigolo". The song also featured a clever rap verse also performed by Mary.
Chart status
Released in late 1981, the single generated initial buzz in early 1982 where the song became a smash on the dance floor eventually reaching #2 on the Billboard disco chart and #13 on the Hot Dance Club PlayHot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart. It also crossed over to #69 on the R&B singles chart. Though the song wasn't a bigger hit as it was initially promoted to be, it motivated Wells to return to performing and recording full time as she would until she was diagnosed with larynx cancer in 1990.
Personnel
- Lead vocals by Mary Wells
- Background vocals by assorted singers
- Instrumentation by assorted musicians