The Dark End Of The Street (1967)
Written and Arranged By Dan Penn & Chips Moman
(Screen Gems - EMI Music Ltd)
Produced by Quinton M. Claunch and Rudolph
Russell
Recorded at Royal Recording Studios in
Memphis in the fall of 1966
Musicians
- Tommy Cogbill - bass
- Gene Chrisman - drums
- Reggie Young - guitar
- Bobby Woods - Keyboards
- Bobby Emmons - organ
- The Memphis Horns - horns
History / Trivia
- In the liner notes of the new CD edition of
"A Man Needs A Woman" Colin Delinot wrote a great piece on the history
of the song.
- Was scheduled to be recorded at Moman's
American Recording Studio but that day the recording board had blown out
Reviews
- The classic track that has been so consistently
praised and lauded since it was first issued, there is little one can add that
hasn't already been said before. It is a record that has endured and sustained,
but when first issued, although it reached #10 in the Billboard R&B chart,
it peaked at only #77 in their Pop listings, and made no chart progress at all
in the U.K. A couple of years later I was so desperate to reissue the side on
our "Deep Soul" label and give it another whirl and chance of
commercial success, and at that time James Carr told me how dissappointed he had
been to see the record stick below the Top 50 in the States. Unfortunately there
was nothing he could do personally to help us license the record, (it was all
tied up and contracted elsewhere), but we did manage to aquire another version
which James had the generosity to say was "almost as good" as his own!
But that didn't make the charts either! Suffice to affirm yet again that it is a
true great; a treasure from the Golden Age; and a recording that people will
probably continue to enjoy forever and ever. Amen. (From the
Complete Goldwax singles liner notes by Dave Godin)
Charts
- #10 on the R&B Charts in February '67,
#77 Pop
Singles
Albums
Lyrics
At the dark end of the street
that is where we always meet
hiding in shadows where we don't belong
living in darkness, to hide our wrong
You and me, at the dark end of the street
You and me
I know a time has gonna take it's toll
we have to pay for the love we stole
It's a sin and we know it's wrong
Oh, our love keeps going on strong
Steal away to the dark end of the street
You and me
They gonna find us, they gonna find us
They gonna find us love someday
You and me, at the dark end of the street
You and me
When the daylight all goes around
And by chance we're both down the town
Please meet, just walk, walk on by
Oh, darling, please don't you cry
You and me, at the dark end of the street
You and me