"Gonna Make You an Offer You Can't Refuse" is a song written in 1973 by John Worth,[4] a pseudonym used by John Worsley (also known as Les Vandyke). It was originally sung by the American soul singer Jimmy Helms,[5] and the track was arranged by Mike Moran.[2] The single was issued by Cube Records in the UK.[2]
| "Gonna Make You an Offer You Can't Refuse" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Jimmy Helms | |
| B-side | "Words and Music"[2] |
| Released | February 1973[1] |
| Recorded | 1973 |
| Genre | Philadelphia soul[3] |
| Length | 3:37[4] |
| Label | Cube Records - BUG27 |
| Songwriter(s) | John Worth |
| Producer(s) | John Worth |
| Performance video | |
| "Gonna Make You an Offer You Can't Refuse" on TopPop on YouTube | |
The single first charted in February 1973,[6] and it peaked at No. 8 in the UK Singles Chart, spending ten weeks in that listing.[7][6] The track is still played on BBC Radio 2, with three outings between August 2017 and February 2018.[8]
Between 1972 and 1975, Helms recorded prolifically for the Cube label, largely due to the success of this song.[9] However, he did not have another solo hit in the UK,[7] although Helms found further chart success in both the UK and US as part of Londonbeat in 1990s.
Cover versions
editThe song has also been recorded by Lisa Linn,[10] and The Gentle Rain (also in 1973).[1] Les McKeown also did a longer cover in his 1982 album, Heart Control.[11][12]
Other information
editThe song has appeared on a number of compilation albums including Heart & Soul (1997),[4] Everlasting Love (1999),[13] and Helms's own earlier collection Gonna Make You An Offer... (1975).[9]
References
edit- ^ a b "Cover versions of Gonna Make You an Offer You Can't Refuse by Jimmy Helms". Secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
- ^ a b c "Jimmy Helms - Gonna Make You An Offer You Can't Refuse". Discogs. 1973. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (November 17, 2021). "The Number Ones: Londonbeat's "I've Been Thinking About You". Stereogum. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
...Helms made one solo hit, an imitation Philly soul song called "Gonna Make You An Offer You Can't Refuse" that peaked at #8.
- ^ a b c "Heart & Soul - Various Artists - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
- ^ "Gonna Make You an Offer You Can't Refuse - Jimmy Helms - Song Info - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
- ^ a b "gonna make you an offer you can't refuse - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
- ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 250. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "Gonna Make You An Offer You Can't Refuse - Jimmy Helms Song - BBC Music". BBC. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
- ^ a b "Gonna Make You An Offer..." Amazon.co.uk. 25 September 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
- ^ "Gonna Make You an Offer You Can't Refuse - Jimmy Helms - Cover Songs - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
- ^ "norwegiancharts.com - Leslie McKeown - Heart Control". Norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ^ "Leslie McKeown* - Heart Control". Discogs.com. 1982. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ^ "Everlasting Love [Crimson] - Various Artists - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
External links
edit