"Love (Can Make You Happy)" is a song written by Jack Sigler, Jr. and performed by Mercy. It reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, where "Get Back" by The Beatles kept it from the #1 spot.
On other US charts, the song also peaked at #2 on Billboards Easy Listening chart in 1969.Mercy - Chart History - The Hot 100, Billboard.com. Accessed June 9, 2016Mercy - Chart History - Adult Contemporary, Billboard.com. Accessed June 9, 2016. Outside the US, the song reached #2 on Canada's RPM 100,"RPM 100", RPM Weekly, Volume 11, No. 13. p. 19. May 26, 1969. Accessed June 9, 2016. and #1 on RPMs Adult Contemporary chart."Young Adult", RPM Weekly, Volume 11, No. 15. June 9, 1969. Accessed June 9, 2016.
The song was ranked #42 on Billboard magazine's Top Hot 100 songs of 1969.
History The song was originally released on Sundi Records, but as the single climbed up the charts, the group's lead singer, Sigler, faced being drafted. Sundi Records quickly released the album Love (Can Make You Happy) that included the song plus other cover songs that were not recorded by any of the original group. Sigler, who ended up not being drafted, signed the group to Warner Bros. Records where they recorded a sound-a-like version of the single and released the album, Love Can Make You Happy. Since Sigler never signed with Sundi, the record label was sued and the original album was banned from distribution."Love (Can Make You Happy)" song history Retrieved May 7, 2015
The Sundi recording was produced by Mike Apsey and Ron ReslerMercy, "Love (Can Make You Happy)" US Sundi single release Retrieved May 7, 2015 and the Warner Bros. recording produced by Brad Shapiro and Steve Alaimo.Mercy, "Love (Can Make You Happy)" US Warner Bros. single release Retrieved May 7, 2015
Chart history
Weekly charts Chart (1969)PeakpositionCanada RPM Adult Contemporary"Young Adult", RPM Weekly, Volume 11, No. 15. June 9, 1969. Accessed June 9, 2016.1Canada RPM Top Singles"RPM 100", RPM Weekly, Volume 11, No. 13. p. 19. May 26, 1969. Accessed June 9, 2016.2US Billboard Hot 100Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - 2US Billboard Adult ContemporaryMercy - Chart History - The Hot 100, Billboard.com. Accessed June 9, 20162US Cash Box Top 1002
Year-end charts Chart (1969)RankCanada RPM Top Singles 43US Billboard Easy Listening16US Billboard Hot 100 42
Other versions Boris Gardiner released a version of the song as a single in Jamaica in 1969.Boris Gardiner, "Love (Can Make You Happy)" single release Retrieved May 7, 2015 James Marvell released a version of the song as a single in 1981 that reached #90 on the country chart.James Marvell, "Love (Can Make You Happy)" chart position Retrieved May 7, 2015 The song was sampled by indie pop band Belle and Sebastian for their song "(My Girl's Got) Miraculous Technique".
In media The original version of the song was featured in the 1969 film, Fireball Jungle. A portion of the song is on his truck's radio as Denzel Washington's character, Joe Deacon "Deke", in the 2021 film The Little Things while he is on the hunt for a serial killer's vehicle.
References