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Save the Last Dance for Me

"Save the Last Dance for Me"
Single by The Drifters
from the album Save the Last Dance for Me
B-side "Nobody But Me"
Released August 1960
Format 7" (45 rpm)
Recorded 1958–1960
Genre R&B, Pop
Length 2:34
Label Atlantic
Writer(s) Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman
Producer(s) Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
The Drifters singles chronology
"Lonely Winds"
(1960)
"Save the Last Dance for Me"
(1960)
"I Count the Tears"
(1960)
"Garde-moi la dernière danse"
Garde-moi la dernière danse cover.jpg
Single by Dalida
from the album Garde-moi la dernière danse
Released 1961
Format Record
Recorded 1960-1961
Genre World music, Pop music, Exotica, Rock and roll
Length 2:48
Label Barclay
Writer(s) Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman
Dalida singles chronology
"Joyeux Noël"
(1960)
"Garde-moi la dernière danse"
(1961)
"Canta in Italiano"
(1961)
"Save the Last Dance for Me"
Single by Dolly Parton
from the album The Great Pretender
B-side "Elusive Butterfly"
Released December 1983
Recorded November 1983
Genre Country
Label RCA Nashville
Writer(s) Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman
Producer(s) Val Garay
Dolly Parton singles chronology
"Islands in the Stream"
(1983)
"Save the Last Dance for Me"
(1983)
"Downtown"
(1984)
"Save the Last Dance for Me"
Buble Save The Last.jpg
Single by Michael Bublé
from the album It's Time
Released April 4, 2006
Format CD single, DVD single, Digital download
Recorded 2002 - 2003
Genre Pop
Length 3:38
Label 143, Reprise
Writer(s) Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman
Michael Bublé singles chronology
"Home"
(2005)
"Save the Last Dance for Me"
(2006)
"Just in Time"
(2006)

"Save the Last Dance for Me" is the title of a popular song written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, first recorded in 1960 by The Drifters, with Ben E. King on lead vocals.

In a 1990 interview songwriter Doc Pomus tells the story of the song being recorded by the Drifters and originally designated as the B-side of the record. He credits Dick Clark with turning the record over and realizing Save The Last Dance was the stronger song. The Drifters' version of the song would go on to spend three non-consecutive weeks at #1 on the U.S. pop chart, in addition to logging one week atop the U.S. R&B chart. In the UK, the Drifters' recording reached #2 in December 1960. This single was produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, two noted American music producers who at the time had an apprentice relationship with a then-unknown Phil Spector. Although he was working with Leiber and Stoller at the time, it is unknown whether Spector assisted with the production of this record; however, many Spector fans have noticed similarities between this record and other music he would eventually produce on his own.Damita Jo had a hit with one of the answer songs of this era called "I'll Save The Last Dance For You". On September 9, 1965, the group performed the song live at the Cinnamon Cinder with Charlie Thomas lip-syncing the lyrics, along with fellow Drifters Johnny Moore and Eugene Pearson on backing vocals.

In the song, the narrator tells his lover she is free to mingle and socialize throughout the evening, but to make sure to save him the dance at the end of the night. During an interview on Elvis Costello's show Spectacle, Lou Reed, who worked with Pomus, said the song was written on the day of Pomus' wedding while the wheelchair-bound groom watched his bride dancing with their guests. Pomus had polio and at times used crutches to get around. His wife, Willi Burke, however, was a Broadway actress and dancer. The song gives his perspective of telling his wife to have fun dancing, but reminds her who will be taking her home and "in whose arms you're gonna be." Musicians on the Drifters' recording were: Bucky Pizzarelli, Allen Hanlon (guitar), Lloyd Trotman (bass), and Gary Chester (drums).


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