Cupid

Written By: Sam Cooke    [Abkco Music Ltd. 1961]

Trivia

• Intended by Sam and JW Alexander for Sandy Stewart, who was also produced by Hugo & Luigi on RCA. When they heard other songs sung by her they decided against it.
• The arrow sounds were made by the Simms twins Kenneth (leaving the bow) and Bobbie (hitting the target), it was the first time they ever recorded in a studio
• only produced by Luigi Creatore, cousin Hugo didn't fly to Los Angeles

Studio Version

Recorded April 14, 1961 at RCA Hollywood Studio 1

Produced By Luigi Creatore

Orchestra Conducted By Horace Ott

Background Vocals by the Simms Twins

Musicians    

• Josephn Gibbons - guitar/banjo    
• René Hall - guitar    
• Clifford Hils - bass   
• Earl Palmer - drums 
• Clifton White - guitar

Charts    #20 R&B, #17 pop    /    UK #7

Singles:   

• RCA 0576 b/w Chain Gang 
• RCA 1242 b/w Farewell My Darling (U.K.)  
• RCA 1817 b/w Farewell My Darling (UK) 
• RCA 7883 b/w Farewell My Darling (May 16, 1960) 
• RCA 15123 b/w Good Times (Germany) 
• RCA 20030 with Another Saturday Night, Chain Gang and It's Got The Whole World Shaking 
• RCA 47146 with Another Saturday Night, Chain Gang and It's Got The Whole World Shaking 
• RCA 49872 with Wonderful World, Chain Gang and A Change Is Gonna Come (Re-release for the Levi's commercial in 1986)
• HMV Pop 574    Wonderful World / Chain Gang / A Change Is Gonna Come (12", March 86 UK)
• RCA 61034 b/w Chain Gang 
• RCA 460254 b/w Farewell My Darling (New Zealand) 
• RCA 25006 b/w Twistin The Night Away

Albums:    

• All Hits        
• The Best of Sam Cooke
• The Golden Age of Sam Cooke
• Forever (32 tracks)   
• Hits! 
• The Man And His Music
• The One And Only Sam Cooke
• Portrait Of A Legend 
• Sam's Soul 
• 16 Most Requested Songs 
• This Is Sam Cooke
• 20 Golden Greats
• 20 Greatest Hits
• Wonderful World

Live Version

Albums: 

• Live At The Harlem Square Club 
• Man Who Invented Soul Box

Lyrics    //    Chords

(chorus)
Cupid, draw back your bow
And let your arrow go
Straight to my lover's heart for me, for me
Cupid, please hear my cry
And let your arrow fly
Straight to my lover's heart for me

Now, I don't mean to bother you, but I'm in distress
There's danger of me losin' all of my happiness
For I love a girl that doesn't know I exist
And this you can fix, so

chorus

Now, Cupid, if your arrow make her love strong for me
I promise I will love her until eternity
I know, between the two of us, her heart we can steal
Help me if you will, so...

chorus

Cupid, don't you hear me calling you?
I need you, Cupid

Also Done By:

1. Aleá   
2. Jay Black    
3. Joe Bourne    
4. The Chandeliers    
5. Dee Clark    
6. L.C Cooke    ---     on "Sings the Great Years of Sam Cooke"
7. Denzell Dennis    ---     reggea
8. The Drifters    ---    Drifters-style, not bad
9. Dobie Gray    
10. RB Greaves    
11. Jessie Green    
12. John Holt
13. Tom Jones   
14. King Curtis       ---     sax instrumental,
15. Johnny Nash    ---    reggea
16. Vel Omarr    -    on 'Here's My Soul'
17. Tony Orlando & Dawn   
18. Graham Parker    
19. The Persuasions   -     a capella
20. Bernadette Peters 
21. Philo    ---    interesting metal version
22. Otis Redding 
23. Johnny Rivers    ---    country
24. Sam & Dave   
25. Solo   
26. The Spinners    
27. The Supremes    ---    on the "We Remember Sam Cooke" album