"Puppy Love" is a popular song written by Canadian-American singer Paul Anka in 1960 for Annette Funicello, a Mouseketeer, on whom he had a crush. Anka's version reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 behind Percy Faith's "Theme from A Summer Place", No. 4 on the Canadian CHUM Charts, and No. 33 on the UK Singles Chart.
Donny Osmond version
Twelve years later, the song was revived by Donny Osmond. It was released on February 19, 1972, and reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 on April 1, 1972. It peaked at No. 1 on both the Canadian RPM singles chart during April 15–29, 1972, and the UK Singles Chart during July 8 – August 5, 1972. Billboard ranked this version as the No. 67 song for 1972.Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1972 It was certified Gold by the RIAA on March 24, 1972. It also topped the Mexican charts in 1972.
On March 15, 1972, DJ Robert W. Morgan played the Donny Osmond version for 90 minutes straight on KHJ in Los Angeles. After receiving numerous calls from listeners, LAPD raided the station studios. The officers left without making arrests.
Osmond grew to loathe the record and by the early 1980s had begun openly mocking the song in his concerts. His contemporary performances of the song have been more earnest, albeit with some reluctance and mainly only as fan service.
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1972)PeakpositionAustralian (Kent Music Report)1Canada RPM Top Singles1Mexico (Billboard Hits of the World)1New Zealand (Listener)1South Africa (Springbok)11US Billboard Hot 1003US Cash Box Top 1003
Year-end charts Chart (1972)RankAustralia (Kent Music Report)1Canada Top Singles (RPM)6UK1972 in British music#Best-selling singles3US Billboard Hot 10067US Cash Box47
Certifications CountryCertificationSalesUnited StatesGold1,000,000
S Club Juniors version
In 2002, British pop group S Club Juniors covered "Puppy Love" and released it as a double A-side single alongside a cover of "Sleigh Ride", the 1948 song written by Leroy Anderson and Mitchell Parish. "Puppy Love" / "Sleigh Ride" was released on December 9, 2002, as the fourth single from the group's debut album, Together (2002). It peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart.
Composition Calvin Goldspink sang lead vocals for "Puppy Love". The other members, Frankie Sandford, Aaron Renfree, Stacey McClean, Rochelle Wiseman, Daisy Evans, Hannah Richings and Jay Asforis had backing vocals.
Music videos The video for "Puppy Love" features Goldspink looking through a Rachel Stevens calendar and making a snow statue shaped like her whilst the others are playing in the snow. Later the group are indoors decorating the house with decorations before finding their presents where Goldspink finds a present for him from Stevens: a puppy. At the end of the video, words come up saying: "Remember a dog is for life, not just for Christmas".
The video for "Sleigh Ride" features clips from the previous video with the group playing in the snow and the lyrics to song appear to sing-a-long to.
Track listings UK CD single "Puppy Love" "Sleigh Ride" "Sleigh Ride" (karaoke version) "Puppy Love" (video)
UK cassette single "Puppy Love" "Sleigh Ride" "Puppy Love" (karaoke version)
Credits and personnel
"Puppy Love" Credits are lifted from the Together album booklet.
Studio Mastered at Transfermation (London, England)
Personnel Paul Anka – writing Paul Gendler – guitars Nick Ingman – string and brass arrangement Isobel Griffiths Ltd. – string contracting Jewels & Stone – production Tim "Spag" Speight – mixing Richard Dowling – mastering
"Sleigh Ride" Credits are lifted from the UK CD single liner notes.
Studio Mastered at Transfermation (London, England)
Personnel Leroy Anderson – writing Mitchell Parish – writing James Nisbet – guitars Nick Ingman – string and brass arrangement Isobel Griffiths Ltd. – string contracting Jewels & Stone – production Tim "Spag" Speight – mixing Richard Dowling – mastering
Charts Chart (2002) Peakposition Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) See last week column. 16
See also List of number-one hits of 1972 (Mexico)
References