The Clovers - Love Potion No. 9

The Clovers are an American rhythm & blues group. The group's origins, like those of so many R&B vocal outfits, goes back to the members' middle teenage years, during the mid-'40s when a initial trio was formed with only Harold "Hal" Lucas, remaining to the final line-up consisting of John "Buddy" Bailey, who eventually became their lead singer, Matthew McQuater, Harold Winley, and guitarist Bill Harris, joined in 1949.

Their very first big hit was "Don't You Know I Love You", which hit #1 on the national charts in June 1951. "One Mint Julep" (written by Rudy Toombs) and "Fool, Fool, Fool" also went #1 in September.

The Clovers' fortunes continued until Bailey was drafted during the summer of 1952, and the group didn't see any significant success again until the summer of 1953 when "Good Lovin'" charted at number two.

They charted again at number three in the spring of 1954 with "Lovey Dovey," and then Billy Mitchell came in as lead singer for "Your Cash Ain't Nothin' but Trash." Beginning in 1955, with Bailey's discharge from the army, he and Mitchell served as joint lead singers in the group.

The Clovers switched to a ballad style in 1955 with the release of "Blue Velvet," which was a modest success at number 14 on the R&B listings.

Their next single, "Devil or Angel," got to number three, but that marked the end of their run of hits on Atlantic.
Following its release, as the rock & roll boom solidified around white performers, guitar-based acts, and novelty tunes, the Clovers experienced a downturn in their fortunes. They ceased charting singles and after two more years of attempts at reviving their sales, Atlantic released the bluesy sleeper classic "Down in the Alley" (1957), one of the raunchiest songs of its period ever aimed at a mainstream audience, which even had the temerity to project its lustful observations slowly.

The group's last success was the biggest pop hit in the group's history, in the form of "Love Potion No. 9," sung by Billy Mitchell, and peaked at number 23 (which, oddly enough, was the same slot it occupied on the R&B charts).

The group was honored by the Rhythm-and-Blues Foundation in 1988 with a Pioneer Award; inducted into The Doo Wop Hall of Fame in 2001, inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002, inducted in the United in Group Harmony (UGHA) Hall of Fame, 2002.

"Love Potion No. 9" is a song written in 1959 by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. It was originally performed by the Clovers.

The song describes a man seeking help finding love, so he talks to a gypsy, who determines through palm reading that he needs "love potion number 9". The potion causes him to fall in love with everything he sees, kissing whatever is in front of him, eventually kissing the policeman on the corner, who breaks his bottle. Some radio stations banned the song, due to the lyrics involving "Kissing a cop". There are numerous covers of the songs from The Searchers to ACDC.