I Sold My Heart to the Junkman
Encyclopedia
"I Sold My Heart to the Junkman" is a 1962 hit single by The Blue Belles
, written by Jimmie Thomas
. The song is notable for having been originally recorded by another group (The Starlets
) and conflicting schedules leading the future Patti LaBelle and the Blue Belles group to claim the song as their own. Before either group recorded it as a high-energy rocker, however, it appeared as a slow ballad late in the 1940s sung by the Basin Street Boys, and in 1957, recorded by The Silhouettes (of "Get a Job" fame) with The Dave McRae Orchestra on Ace Records.
The Starlets were riding high with their top forty single, "Better Tell Him No". That year, while on tour, they were convinced by Newtown Records president Harold Robinson to appear in a recording schedule where they recorded two songs. One of which was "I Sold My Heart to the Junkman". After recording the songs, Robinson released the song on his label but instead of crediting the Starlets, instead credited a Philadelphia
-based girl group named The Ordettes, who had changed their name to The Blue Belles - after a threat from another record boss, the name was altered to Patti LaBelle
and Her Blue Belles.
The song eventually reached number fifteen on the Billboard Hot 100
thanks to promotion of the song by the Blue Belles, who made their first television appearance on American Bandstand
in mid-1962. It's unknown as to whether Robinson erased the original lead vocal from the song and added in Patti LaBelle's lead vocal, or whether the Starlets themselves were replaced by session singers. Nevertheless the Starlets' manager sued Robinson for ownership of the song, with the girls each winning $5,000 from the suit. Despite this, however, it's still isn't clear as to how the song was released.
Ironically when the Blue Belles recorded their own version shortly before promoting it, both the Starlets and Blue Belles' versions were strikingly similar to each other. The Starlets didn't fully recover from the "Junkman" scandal and after a half-year of new recordings, split in 1963. Meanwhile, the newly christened Patti LaBelle and the Blue Belles went on to national fame that year with their hit, "Down the Aisle (The Wedding Song)".
To this day, "I Sold My Heart to the Junkman" is credited to Patti LaBelle and the Blue Belles.
Labelle
Labelle is an American all female singing group who were a popular vocal group of the 1960s and 1970s. The group was formed after the disbanding of two rival girl groups in the Philadelphia/Trenton areas, the Ordettes and the Del-Capris, forming as a new version of the former group, later changing...
, written by Jimmie Thomas
Leon René
Leon René was an American music composer of R&B and rock and roll songs in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. He sometimes used the songwriting pseudonym Jimmy Thomas. He also established several record labels...
. The song is notable for having been originally recorded by another group (The Starlets
The Starlets
The Starlets were an American girl group from Chicago, Illinois.The group came together in 1961, and auditioned for a Chicago songwriter, Bernice Williams. Williams wrote them the tune "Better Tell Him No", which was released on Pam Records that year. The record peaked at #38 on the Billboard Hot...
) and conflicting schedules leading the future Patti LaBelle and the Blue Belles group to claim the song as their own. Before either group recorded it as a high-energy rocker, however, it appeared as a slow ballad late in the 1940s sung by the Basin Street Boys, and in 1957, recorded by The Silhouettes (of "Get a Job" fame) with The Dave McRae Orchestra on Ace Records.
History
In 1962, Chicago-based girl groupGirl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
The Starlets were riding high with their top forty single, "Better Tell Him No". That year, while on tour, they were convinced by Newtown Records president Harold Robinson to appear in a recording schedule where they recorded two songs. One of which was "I Sold My Heart to the Junkman". After recording the songs, Robinson released the song on his label but instead of crediting the Starlets, instead credited a Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
-based girl group named The Ordettes, who had changed their name to The Blue Belles - after a threat from another record boss, the name was altered to Patti LaBelle
Patti LaBelle
Patricia Louise Holte-Edwards , better known under the stage name, Patti LaBelle, is a Grammy Award winning American singer, author and actress who has spent over 50 years in the music industry...
and Her Blue Belles.
The song eventually reached number fifteen on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
thanks to promotion of the song by the Blue Belles, who made their first television appearance on American Bandstand
American Bandstand
American Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer...
in mid-1962. It's unknown as to whether Robinson erased the original lead vocal from the song and added in Patti LaBelle's lead vocal, or whether the Starlets themselves were replaced by session singers. Nevertheless the Starlets' manager sued Robinson for ownership of the song, with the girls each winning $5,000 from the suit. Despite this, however, it's still isn't clear as to how the song was released.
Ironically when the Blue Belles recorded their own version shortly before promoting it, both the Starlets and Blue Belles' versions were strikingly similar to each other. The Starlets didn't fully recover from the "Junkman" scandal and after a half-year of new recordings, split in 1963. Meanwhile, the newly christened Patti LaBelle and the Blue Belles went on to national fame that year with their hit, "Down the Aisle (The Wedding Song)".
To this day, "I Sold My Heart to the Junkman" is credited to Patti LaBelle and the Blue Belles.