Peak
13
Weeks
13
Score
1,938
Chart Year
1969
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This was written by Toni Wine, Irwin Levine and Phil Spector. Wine and Levine were songwriters who were signed to Don Kirshner's publishing company when Wine was 14 and Levine was 16. They teamed up to write "Candida," which was the first hit for Tony Orlando & Dawn. Spector, who also produced this track, is famous for his "Wall Of Sound" recording technique, which he used as producer of classic songs like "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" and "Be My Baby." They wrote the song in Wine's New York apartment. Toni Wine told us the inspiration for this song: "The times. The very difficult times. It was disturbing, everything that was going on at that time period between people. All of our people. Just people. And segregation, differences. It was heartfelt. And that's how that song came about. We did that song and Phillip did an incredible record with The Checkmates. You know, Sonny Charles has a great lead. It was Sonny and Sweet Louie. It was a great record." Toni Wine: "It was about a black woman. The male is singing to her, she is his sweetheart. She is his world, and she is his black pearl. They're dreaming of better times, better days, and he is saying, "Black pearl, pretty little girl, let me put you up where you belong. Black pearl, precious little girl, you've been in the background much too long." Which, at that time, with segregation, you had black students, white students, but older people, a lot of the black women, were depicted as being housekeepers, cooks, rather than having positions in companies, whether they were capable or not. It was a very difficult time period. They really weren't given the chances that their counterparts, the white women, may have been given. And it was time to have a song putting them on a pedestal. Because it shouldn't be "they" or "us" or anything. We are all capable of doing the same job, and should be given that chance. If we do a job well, we should be given the opportunity to do it, regardless of black or white. And in those days it wasn't as easy." Speaking of her co-writers Levine and Spector, Wine says, "Irwin and I wrote together for a long time. He was just one of the greatest, most wonderful... he was hilarious. He passed away several years ago. He had a fabulous family, and I mean, he was wonderful. Always was. And Philip is incredibly talented, great sense of humor, and he's a musical genius, we all know that he's created some incredible memorable songs, as well as records. I think 'Black Pearl' certainly speaks for the way the three of us feel. I love that song, it's very dear to me. And even though I've had success with other songs, but I think 'Black Pearl' has always been and will be my favorite. It's very dear to me." (For more, check out our interview with Toni Wine.)
Ooh-ooh Hey, hey, my-my-my-my Black pearl, precious little girl Let me put you up where you belong Black pearl, pretty little girl You've been in the background much too long You've been workin' so hard your whole life through Tending other peoples houses, raising up their children too Hey, how bout something for me and you? Here in my arms you're gonna reign supreme No more serving, baby, they're gonna serve my queen It's our turn for happiness and our day has come Living for each other and answering to no one Black pearl, precious little girl Let me put you up where you belong because I love you Black pearl, pretty little girl You've been in the background much too long Together we'll stand so straight and so tall Created by love to love one and all, hey Heart-to-heart, soul-to-soul No other one could ever take your place My world is built around the very smile that's on your face You'll never win a beauty show, no, they won't pick you But you're my Miss America and I love you Black pearl, precious little girl Let me put you up where you belong, I will lead you Black pearl, pretty little girl You've been in the background much too long Ooh-ooh, yeah-yeah-yeah, my-my-my-my-my baby You know I need you, you know I want you, want you for myself I don't want nobody else, oh babe I love you, you know I need you You know I got to-got to-got to have you Come on baby, come on, come on and be my baby You know I love you, ooh-ooh Be mine, nobody else have you, come on baby love Ah, I love you, and I need you and I want you, want you for myself Come on baby, I love you, hey-hey-hey I really need you baby love and I want you
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 10, 1969 | 75 | 51 |
| 2 | May 17, 1969 | 58 | 68 |
| 3 | May 24, 1969 | 44 | 82 |
| 4 | May 31, 1969 | 32 | 94 |
| 5 | Jun 7, 1969 | 24 | 102 |
| 6 | Jun 14, 1969 | 20 | 106 |
| 7 | Jun 21, 1969 | 20 | 106 |
| 8 | Jun 28, 1969 | 14 | 112 |
| 9 | Jul 5, 1969 | 13 | 113 |
| 10 | Jul 12, 1969 | 18 | 108 |
| 11 | Jul 19, 1969 | 18 | 108 |
| 12 | Jul 26, 1969 | 18 | 108 |
| 13 | Aug 2, 1969 | 34 | 92 |