It's Too Soon To Know
Encyclopedia
"It’s Too Soon To Know" is an American doo-wop
ballad by Deborah Chessler, performed first by The Orioles
. It was number one on the American Rhythm and blues
charts in November of 1948. It is considered by some to be the first "rock and roll
" song, and described by others as the first rhythm and blues vocal group harmony recording.
. By November it was number 1 in the R&B charts and number 13 in the pop charts. This was the first time that a black band on what was then known as a "race record" crossed over onto the pop charts.
""It’s Too Soon To Know" was like Elvis Presley's "That's All Right (Mama)", Aretha Franklin's "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)", Nivana's "Smells like Teen Spirit"–a shock, a dead-in-your-tracks what is that?–a sound that was stylistically confusing and emotionally undeniable."
C.B. Morrow described it as "a strong foundation with a bass vocalist and set soothing alto breaths across the middle while a falsetto tenor cut a high line across the top."
recording made the top twenty in 1958. Etta James
made the charts with it in 1961.
Roy Orbison's
recording of "It’s Too Soon To Know" did better on the charts than any of his other "come-back" hits of the 1960s. Linda Ronstadt recorded it on her 1993 Winter Light album
, but it didn't chart separately from the album.
Doo-wop
The name Doo-wop is given to a style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music that developed in African American communities in the 1940s and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. It emerged from New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and...
ballad by Deborah Chessler, performed first by The Orioles
The Orioles
The Orioles were a successful and influential American R&B group of the late 1940s and early 1950s, one of the earliest such vocal bands who established the basic pattern for the doo-wop sound....
. It was number one on the American Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
charts in November of 1948. It is considered by some to be the first "rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
" song, and described by others as the first rhythm and blues vocal group harmony recording.
Original release
Jerry Blaine's Natural Records released "It’s Too Soon To Know" written by Deborah Chessler performed by, the Orioles on 21 August 1948 on a 45 rpm. It was the Orioles' first record for Natural, and Sonny Til was lead vocalist. On the flip side (B side) was "Barbara Lee" also by Deborah Chessler. Blaine subsequently released it on his Jubilee Record label after complaints from National RecordsNational Records
National Records was a record label that was started in New York by Albert Green in 1945 and lasted till early 1951.Big Joe Turner was signed at the outset and remained until 1947. Billy Eckstine was also a big seller for the label as were The Ravens...
. By November it was number 1 in the R&B charts and number 13 in the pop charts. This was the first time that a black band on what was then known as a "race record" crossed over onto the pop charts.
Reception
In its 4 September 1948 issue Billboard noted the label and the release with "New label kicks off with a fine quintet effort on a slow race ballad. Lead tenor shows fine lyric quality" as well as noting it as a race record.""It’s Too Soon To Know" was like Elvis Presley's "That's All Right (Mama)", Aretha Franklin's "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)", Nivana's "Smells like Teen Spirit"–a shock, a dead-in-your-tracks what is that?–a sound that was stylistically confusing and emotionally undeniable."
C.B. Morrow described it as "a strong foundation with a bass vocalist and set soothing alto breaths across the middle while a falsetto tenor cut a high line across the top."
Other recording history
Pat Boone'sPat Boone
Charles Eugene "Pat" Boone is an American singer, actor and writer who has been a successful pop singer in the United States during the 1950s and early 1960s. He covered black artists' songs and sold more copies than his black counterparts...
recording made the top twenty in 1958. Etta James
Etta James
Etta James is an American blues, soul, rhythm and blues , rock and roll, gospel and jazz singer. In the 1950s and 1960s, she had her biggest success as a blues and R&B singer...
made the charts with it in 1961.
Roy Orbison's
Roy Orbison
Roy Kelton Orbison was an American singer-songwriter, well known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country & western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis...
recording of "It’s Too Soon To Know" did better on the charts than any of his other "come-back" hits of the 1960s. Linda Ronstadt recorded it on her 1993 Winter Light album
Winter Light (Linda Ronstadt album)
Winter Light is an out of print New Age-styled album by American singer/songwriter/producer Linda Ronstadt, released in late 1993. Although it sold less than 300,000 copies in the US, it stands as one of Linda's most acclaimed albums.-History:...
, but it didn't chart separately from the album.