Oh What A Nite

This was written by the group's baritone singer Marvin Junior and tenor John Funches, who sings lead on the track. The song is about a special night with a lady - one he'll always remember. It became a romantic standard and doo-wop classic.

The group - known as The Rays and The El Rays before settling on The Dells - formed in Harvey, Illinois in 1952, where they spent a few years singing at ice cream parlors and on street corners before getting a deal in 1955 with the esteemed Chicago label Chess Records to release a single, which flopped. The next year, they signed with Vee Jay and released "Oh What A Nite," which became a big hit, reaching #4 on the R&B chart. They toured the chitlin' circuit until 1958, which they got in a devastating car accident that put an end to the group until 1960, with John Carter replacing Funches. Back with Chess, they had a revival in the late '60s, scoring a #1 R&B hit with "Stay In My Corner" in 1968. In 1969, they re-recorded "Oh What A Night" at the behest of label owner Leonard Chess. Produced by Bobby Miller, this new version had a radically different arrangement and tempo, and even a new title: "Oh What A Night." It also went to #1 on the R&B chart and reached #10 on the Hot 100.

The 1969 version added a spoken intro, voiced by bass singer Chuck Barksdale, who didn't feature on the original version: Do you recall the night? That very, very special night Do you remember a girl? A very special girl Well to the old and to the new We rededicate this song to you