"A Lover's Question" is a 1958 Pop, R&B hit for

Clyde McPhatter Clyde Lensley McPhatter (November 15, 1932 – June 13, 1972) was an American rhythm and blues, soul, and rock and roll singer. He was one of the most widely imitated R&B singers of the 1950s and early 1960sPalmer, Robert (1981)"Roy Brown, a Pio ...

. The single was written by

Brook Benton Benjamin Franklin Peay (September 19, 1931 – April 9, 1988), known professionally as Brook Benton, was an American singer and songwriter whose music transcended rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and pop music genres in the 1950s and 1960s, with ...

and Jimmy T. Williams and was

's most successful Pop and R&B release. The bass singer is Noah Hopkins. "A Lover's Question" made it to #6 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and was #1 for one week on the R&B chart.

Background

*The best-known version of the song is in mono. However, a stereo version was released on the LP ''Atlantic History of Rhythm & Blues, Vol. 4'', along with several other rare stereo versions of late 1950s Atlantic hits.

Jacky Ward version

In 1978, Jacky Ward had a successful remake of the song, peaking at #3 on the ''Billboard''

Hot Country Singles Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States. This 50-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly by collecting airplay data along with digital sales and streaming. ...

chart.

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Other cover versions

*In 1961, a cover by Ernestine Anderson reached #98. *In 1969, a cover by

Otis Redding Otis Ray Redding Jr. (September 9, 1941 – December 10, 1967) was an American singer and songwriter. He is regarded as one of the greatest singers in the history of American popular music and a seminal artist in soul music and rhythm and blues. ...

reached #48. * Jay and the Americans released a cover version of the song on their 1970 album, '' Wax Museum, Vol. 1''. *In 1975, Loggins & Messina's cover reached #89. *Country singer

Del Reeves Franklin Delano Reeves (July 14, 1932 – January 1, 2007) was an American country music Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American ...

took the song to #14 on the

chart in 1970.

References

1958 songs 1958 singles 1978 singles Clyde McPhatter songs Del Reeves songs Jacky Ward songs Jay and the Americans songs Songs written by Brook Benton Mercury Records singles {{1950s-pop-song-stub