Does anyone know the original version of "Last Kiss"?

Question

Pertaining to the original version. Who wrote it? Who sang it? (If not the writer). What year was it released? Was it inspired by a personal experience of the writer?

I would also like to know if the remake was by Pearl Jam or was it an Eddie Vedder solo? If an E.V. solo, did any other members of P.J. play on the cut? What year was this version released and what was the name of the album?

Complete answers to all of the questions gets immediately chosen, if not, most thorough answer before voting. (This question will not be left to the voters).

Answer 1

This is a question I can answer with real authority. I am a diehard Pearl Jam fan from way back.

"Last Kiss" was written by Wayne Cochran in 1962. He recorded the first version of the song with his band, Wayne Cochran & the C.C. Riders, and had a local hit with it in Georgia. The song was inspired by a real car accident in Georgia that killed a teenaged couple.

The song was covered by J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers in 1964. Their version hit #2 on the Top 40.

In 1973, Canadian group Wednesday recorded a cover of "Last Kiss" that (barely) made the US Top 40.

Sometime in the late '90s, Vedder happened upon a copy of the 1964 version of "Last Kiss" at a secondhand sale and purchased it. He has said that he remembered hearing the Wednesday version of the song as a kid (he would have been 8 or 9 at the time) but hadn't realized it was a cover of an older song. He was inspired to learn the song, and had the rest of Pearl Jam learn it too.

Pearl Jam began including "Last Kiss" in some of their concert performances. The version that was eventually released as a single was actually recorded live at a sound check in 1998. I believe everyone in the band was involved in this performance. It certainly was not Vedder alone.

Pearl Jam's version of "Last Kiss" first appeared on their annual fan club single, a Christmas gift to all their fan club members. These Christmas singles are often covers of older songs. Some rock DJs are Pearl Jam fan club members and always play the Christmas singles once or twice on the air around the time they come out, but none had previously generated much listener interest.

Not so with "Last Kiss". Radio stations were flooded with requests to hear the song again. Pearl Jam initially refused to release the song as a commercial single, but it began climbing the charts based on heavy radio airplay alone. Pearl Jam eventually changed their mind and agreed to release the song as a charity single in 1999. It was also included on the benefit CD "No Boundaries: A Benefit for the Kosovar Refugees" (this is a CD with various artists contributing songs, not a Pearl Jam album). The song was one of the biggest hits of the year and made it to #2 on the charts, Pearl Jam's highest charting single ever.

Interestingly, "Last Kiss" is one of the only singles in recent years to become a hit purely because radio listeners really liked it. Record companies usually have people promote a new single to radio stations and convince them to give it lots of airplay. This was not the case with "Last Kiss", which would never have been played more than a couple of times on the air if not for popular demand.

"Last Kiss" has never appeared on a new Pearl Jam studio album. The band did later include it on their B-side collection "Lost Dogs" (2003) and their greatest hits compilation, "Rearviewmirror" (2004).

Speaking of B-sides, the B-side to Pearl Jam's "Last Kiss" single was a live cover of another '60s song, "Soldier of Love". Some Pearl Jam fans consider this to be the better song on the single.

Answer 2

Last Kiss Original

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Does anyone know the original version of "Last Kiss"?
Pertaining to the original version. Who wrote it? Who sang it? (If not the writer). What year was it released? Was it inspired by a personal experience of the writer? I would also like to know if the remake was by Pearl Jam or was it an Eddie Vedder solo? If an E.V. solo, did any other members of...

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Does anyone know the original version of "Last Kiss"?
Pertaining to the original version. Who wrote it? Who sang it? (If not the writer). What year was it released? Was it inspired by a personal experience of the writer?

I would also like to know if the remake was by Pearl Jam or was it an Eddie Vedder solo? If an E.V. solo, did any other members...

Answer 5

Last Kiss, written by Wayne Cochran in 1962, based on true events. Made most popular by J. Frank Wilson & The Cavaliers, all the way to #2 on the top 40 in 1964. Remade in 1974 by Wednesday, and hit #18 on top 40, remade again in 1999 by Pearl Jam.

Answer 6

Last Kiss Song

Answer 7

it was popularized in the 60's by j frank wilson and the cavaliers
here's a more thorough answer
http://www.jimbowieband.com/Lyrics/last_kiss.htm

i love the old version of it, except for the bad opera back up sounding singers. it sounds like they go flat in one verse really really badly

i think that the full pearl jam did the remake, a holiday album in 98. http://www.pearljam.com/releases/release.php?release=Xmas98

Answer 8

Ricky Nelson

Answer 9

what he said, but i just wanted to give you a link to this site. I love using it and it is very useful for questions like your's, I found out many things I never new.