"Long Lonely Nights" is a song that was originally released by Lee Andrews & the Hearts in 1957. Hit versions were also released by Clyde McPhatter, later in 1957, and Bobby Vinton in 1965. The song was written by Lee Andrews, though Larry Brown (as Abbott), Doug Henderson, and Mimi Uniman were given songwriter credit as well, in a practice that was common at the time.Warner, Jay (2006). American Singing Groups: A History from 1940s to Today, Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 102. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
1957 versions Lee Andrews & the Hearts' version was released as a single in 1957."This Week's R&B Best Buys", Billboard, July 29, 1957. p. 60. Retrieved March 24, 2018 It was originally released on the Philadelphia based Main Line Records label, before being released on the Chess label, which was able to give it wider distribution.Leszczak, Bob (2013). Who Did It First?: Great Rhythm and Blues Cover Songs and Their Original Artists, Scarecrow Press, p. 131. Retrieved March 25, 2018. It reached No. 45 on Billboards "Top 100 Sides" chart,"Top 100 Sides", Billboard, August 26, 1957. p. 88. Accessed October 19, 2015 and No. 11 on Billboards chart of "Most Played R&B by Jockeys"."Most Played R&B by Jockeys", Billboard, September 16, 1957. p. 58. Accessed October 19, 2015
Clyde McPhatter's version was released as a single in 1957. It reached No. 49 on Billboards "Top 100 Sides" chart,"Top 100 Sides", Billboard, September 30, 1957. p. 50. Accessed October 19, 2015 while reaching No. 1 on Billboards chart of "Most Played R&B by Jockeys", and No. 9 on Billboards chart of "R&B Best Sellers in Stores"."R&B Best Sellers in Stores", Billboard, August 5, 1957. p. 57. Accessed October 19, 2015 In 1958, McPhatter released the song on his album Love Ballads.
The song also reached No. 33 on the Cash Box Top 60 in 1957, in a tandem ranking of Lee Andrews & the Hearts, Clyde McPhatter, Kitty Kallen, and The Kings' versions, with Lee Andrews & the Hearts and Clyde McPhatter's versions marked as bestsellers,"The Cash Box Top 60 Best Selling Tunes on Records", Cash Box, August 17, 1957. p. 6. Retrieved March 24, 2018. while reaching No. 27 on Cash Boxs chart of "The Records Disc Jockeys Played Most"."The Records Disc Jockeys Played Most", Cash Box, September 14, 1957. p. 16. Retrieved March 24, 2018. It also reached No. 3 on Cash Boxs R&B Top 20, in a tandem ranking of Lee Andrews & the Hearts and Clyde McPhatter's versions."The Nation's R&B Top 20", Cash Box, September 7, 1957. p. 50. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
Bobby Vinton version
Bobby Vinton released the most widely successful version of "Long Lonely Nights" in 1965 as a single and on the album Bobby Vinton Sings for Lonely Nights. Vinton's version spent 7 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 17,Hot 100 - Bobby Vinton Long Lonely Nights Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved March 24, 2018. while reaching No. 12 on Record Worlds "100 Top Pops","100 Top Pops", Record World, April 10, 1965. Retrieved March 25, 2018. No. 14 on the Cash Box Top 100,"Cash Box Top 100", Cash Box, April 10, 1965. p. 4. Retrieved March 24, 2018. No. 5 on Billboards Middle-Road Singles chart,Adult Contemporary - Bobby Vinton Long Lonely Nights Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved March 24, 2018."Middle-Road Singles", Billboard, March 27, 1965. p. 64. Accessed October 19, 2015 and No. 5 on Canada's "RPM Play Sheet"."R.P.M. Play Sheet", RPM Weekly, Volume 3, Ed. 7, April 12, 1965. Accessed October 19, 2015
Other versions The Dells released a cover of "Long Lonely Nights" in 1970, as a single and on the album Like It Is, Like It Was. It spent four weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 74,Hot 100 The Dells Long Lonely Nights Chart History, Billboard.com. Accessed October 19, 2015 while reaching No. 27 on Billboards Soul Singles chart,"Soul Singles", Billboard, August 29, 1970. p. 29. Accessed October 19, 2015 No. 60 on Record Worlds "100 Top Pops","100 Top Pops", Record World, August 22, 1970. Retrieved March 25, 2018. No. 13 on Record Worlds "Top 50 R&B","Top 50 R&B", Record World, August 15, 1970. p. 31. Retrieved March 25, 2018. and No. 70 on the Cash Box Top 100."Cash Box Top 100", Cash Box, August 8, 1970. p. 4. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
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