Quarter To Three

Album: Dance 'Til Quarter to Three (1961)
Charted: 7 1
Play Video
  • Lyrics currently unavailable Writer/s: Frank J. Guida, Gary L. Anderson, Gene Barge, Joseph F. Royster
    Publisher: Wixen Music Publishing

Comments: 13

  • J.j....master Dj from East Orange, Nj"Iconic!"
  • Frank from Cape CanaveralTo G Whiz…Church Street was the “Main Street” of the African-American section of Norfolk, Virginia. I was a 13 year old in Norfolk at the time and we were proud that our city got a mention in pop music. There was discussion at the time that Daddy G was also a reference to Daddy Grace, local well known preacher in Norfolk at the time.
  • Frankie Dee from SquaresvilleThis tune was adapted from the instrumental "A Night with Daddy 'G'", so i think the 3rd line is "When they had that night with Daddy G". Also, it seems on a live version (https://bit.ly/3EAkDxV), that he's saying, "He was swingin' on the sax with the Terrible Two"
  • G Whiz from NycBand named "Church Street 5"..can someone please tell me what CITY church street was in
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NySixty years ago today in 1961 {June 26th} "Quarter To Three" by Gary 'U.S.' Bonds peaked at #1 {for 2 weeks} on Billboard's Top 100 chart...
    "Quarter To Three" peaked at #3 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart and reached #7 in the United Kingdom...
    Between 1960 and 1982 the Jacksonville, Florida native had eleven records on the Top 100 chart, five made the Top 10 with one reaching #1, the above "Quarter To Three"...
    Besides "Quarter To Three", his other four Top 10 records were "New Orleans" {#6 for one week in November of 1960}, "School Is Out" {#5 for one week in September of 1961}, "Dear Lady Twist" {#9 for one week in February of 1962}, and "Twist, Twist Senora" {#9 for one week in May of 1962}...
    He just missed having a sixth Top 10 record when his "This Little Girl" peaked at #11 for three weeks in June of 1981...
    Gary 'U.S.' Bonds, born Gary Levone Anderson, celebrated his 82nd birthday twenty days ago on June 6th, 2021...
    And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of Billboard's Top 10 on June 26th, 1961:
    At #2. "Raindrops" by Dee Clark
    #3. "Moody River" by Pat Boone {was the #1 record the previous week}
    #4. "Tossin' And Turnin'" by Bobby Lewis
    #5. "Travelin' Man" by Ricky Nelson
    #6. "The Writing On The Wall" by Adam Wade
    #7. "The Boo Weevil Song" by Brook Benton
    #8. "Every Beat of My Heart" by The Pips
    #9. "Those Oldies But Goodies (Remind Me Of You)" by Little Caesar and the Romans
    #10. "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King
  • Barry from Sauquoit, Nyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MisEdV89Yp8
  • Rich from New JerseyThis song hit #1 the week I graduated from high school. The story that went around at the time is that it was recorded at a big party to celebrate the success of Gary's previous hit, "New Orleans." This would explain the poor quality and raucusness of the recording.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 18 1962, Gary "U.S." Bonds performed "Twist, Twist, Senora" on the CBS-TV program 'The Ed Sullivan Show'...
    Seven days later on March 25th, 1962 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at #68; six weeks later on May 6th, 1962 it peaked at #9 {for 1 week} and spent 10 weeks on the Top 100...
    It was the last of his five Top 100 records; started with "New Orleans" {#6}, followed by "Quarter to Three" {#1 for 2 weeks}, "School is Out" {#5}, "Dear Lady Twist" {#9}, and then finally this one...
    Gary 'U.S.' Bonds; born Gary Levone Anderson, will celebrate his 76th birthday in three months on June 6th {2015}.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 21st 1961, 'A Night With Daddy G" by the Church Street Five peaked at #11 on Billboard's Bubbling Under the Top 100 chart; it never did make the Top 100 in its instrumental* form...
    But when lyrics were added, "Quarter to Three" would enter the Top 100 on May 22nd, 1961 at position #99, and five weeks later on June 26th, 1961 it would peak at #1 {for 2 weeks} and spent 15 weeks on the Top 100...
    * Actually "A Night with Daddy G" did have a few lyrics; they were 'Wop Wop, Oh Yeah'; and the song is available on You Tube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5YWxO_lHsk.
  • Elmer H from Westville, OkQuarter to Three was a monster hit back in 1961 and a fav of teen dance parties & the dance-craze phenomenon at the time. Some of my older cousins bought the single & Bonds' album & I heard it from them & on the AM radios in the Tulsa metro area. I recall that the single 45 rpm sounded muffled and the production quality wasn't so good. Who produced this song? Was it produced in a port-a-potty? Well, after all it was in 1961. They could've used Phil Spector's expertise. Anyway, it made it to #1 despite that deficiency. . But I still love Quarter to Three. And another of Bonds' hits I absolutely go bonkers over is Dear Lady Twist (another of his many Top Ten hits). Check it out. Is Gary Bonds in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame??
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyThe closing song on Bruce Springsteen's first concert {Providence, RI} of his legendary "Born To Run" tour in 1975...

  • Ron from Philadelphia, Pawhen this song was popular, there were rumors that there were suggestive or even explicit sexual references in the spoken words at the beginning, just before the main part of the song started. I'm surprised this isn't mentioned here.
  • Jay from Atlanta, GaAnother great song of his (written by Springsteen) was "Out Of Work", check it out, good stuff.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.

Gavin Rossdale On Lyric Inspirations and Bush's Album The Kingdom

Gavin Rossdale On Lyric Inspirations and Bush's Album The KingdomSongwriter Interviews

The Bush frontman on where he finds inspiration for lyrics, if his "machine head" is a guitar tuner, and the stories behind songs from the album The Kingdom.

Sam Phillips

Sam PhillipsSongwriter Interviews

Collaborating with T Bone Burnett, Leslie Phillips changed her name and left her Christian label behind - Robert Plant, who recorded one of her songs on Raising Sand, is a fan.

Dino Cazares of Fear Factory

Dino Cazares of Fear FactorySongwriter Interviews

The guitarist/songwriter explains how he came up with his signature sound, and deconstructs some classic Fear Factory songs.

Boz Scaggs

Boz ScaggsSongwriter Interviews

The "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle" singer makes a habit of playing with the best in the business.

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of WayneSongwriter Interviews

The guy who brought us "Stacy's Mom" also wrote the Jane Lynch Emmy song and Stephen Colbert's Christmas songs.