Cupid (Sam Cooke song)

"Cupid"
"Cupid"
Single by Tony Orlando and Dawn
from the album To Be with You
B-side	"You're Growin' on Me"
Released	January 1976
Genre	Pop
Length	3:02
Label	Elektra
Songwriter	Sam Cooke
Producers	Dave Appell, Hank Medress
Tony Orlando and Dawn singles chronology

"Cupid"
"Cupid"
Single by Johnny Nash
from the album Hold Me Tight
A-side	"Hold Me Tight" (original)
B-side	"People in Love" (reissue)
Released	1969
Recorded	1969
Genre	Reggae, rocksteady
Length	3:29
Label	JAD
Songwriter	Sam Cooke
Producers	Johnny Nash, Arthur Jenkins
Johnny Nash singles chronology

"Cupid"
"Cupid"
Single by Sam Cooke
from the album The Best of Sam Cooke
B-side	"Farewell My Darling"
Released	May 16, 1961
Recorded	April 14, 1961
Studio	RCA (Hollywood, California)
Genre	Rhythm and blues
Length	2:30
Label	RCA Victor
Songwriter	Sam Cooke
Producer	Hugo & Luigi
Sam Cooke singles chronology

"Cupid" is a song by the American singer Sam Cooke, released on May 16, 1961. It charted at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 20 on the Hot R&B Sides chart; the track performed best in the United Kingdom, peaking at number seven on the UK Singles Chart. The song is featured on Cooke's greatest hits album, The Best of Sam Cooke (1962).

History

Cooke's producers had asked him to write a song for Sandy Stewart, who they had seen on The Perry Como Show—but once they heard her sing more than one sing, they kept "Cupid" for Cooke himself.^[1] The song was recorded at Cooke's debut session at RCA Records in Los Angeles, produced by Cooke and Hugo & Luigi, but only Luigi Creatore was able to attend as co-producer Hugo Peretti was afraid of flying.^[2]

René Hall arranged the piece with French horn and strings.^[3] Personnel included Cooke's session regulars Clifton White and Hall on guitar, Clifford Hills on bass, Earl Palmer on drums and Joseph Gibbons on guitar and banjo.^[4] Cooke's original idea^[3] was to bring in the Sims Twins, the gospel duo of Bobbie and Kenneth Sims, to perform backing vocals mimicking the sound of a bow shooting an arrow.^[1]

The final version was chosen after seven takes.^[2] Cooke left for a tour of the West Indies shortly after completing the recording.^[5]

Reception

An AllMusic critic described the track as a "perfect pop song" which combines "Latin, R&B, jazz, and mainstream pop elements".^[6]

Charts and certifications

"Cupid" was ranked at number 452 in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004 and at number 458 in 2010.

Weekly charts

Chart (1961 - Sam Cooke)	Peak position
UK Singles (Official Charts)^[7]	7
US Billboard Hot 100^[8]	17
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[9]	20
US Cash Box Top 100^[10]	16

Year-end charts

Chart (1961)	Rank
UK ^[11]	74

Chart (1969–70 – Johnny Nash)	Peak position
Canada RPM Top Singles^[12]	30
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary^[13]	32
Ireland (IRMA)^[14]	19
UK Singles (Official Charts)^[15]	6
US Billboard Hot 100^[16]	39

Chart (1976 – Tony Orlando and Dawn)	Peak position
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary^[17]	5
Canada RPM Top Singles^[18]	27
New Zealand (RIANZ)^[19]	22
U.S. Billboard Hot 100^[20]	22

Chart (1976)	Rank
Canada ^[21]	190

Chart (1980 – The Spinners)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)	17
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[22]	20
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary^[23]	1
Ireland (IRMA)^[14]	11
UK Singles (Official Charts)^[24]	4
US Billboard Hot 100^[25]	4
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[26]	3
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[27]	5

Chart (1980)	Rank
Australia	132
UK	74
US Billboard Hot 100^[28]	29
US Billboard R&B^[29]	50
US Cash Box ^[30]	32

Chart (2008 – Amy Winehouse)	Peak position
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[31]	49

Certifications

Certifications
Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)^[32]	Gold	15,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

"Cupid/I've Loved You for a Long Time"

Single by The Spinners

from the album Love Trippin'

B-side

"Pipedream"
"Body Language" (Germany/Sweden)

Released

May 1980

Genre

R&B, disco

Length

3:55 (single version)
5:32 (album version)

Label

Atlantic

Songwriters

Sam Cooke ("Cupid"), Michael Zager ("I've Loved You for a Long Time")

Producer

Michael Zager

The Spinners singles chronology

"Working My Way Back to You"
(1979)

"Cupid/I've Loved You for a Long Time"
(1980)

"Now That You're Mine Again"
(1980)

In 1964, Johnny Rivers covered the song on his album In Action.^[33]
In 1965, The Supremes covered the song on their tribute album We Remember Sam Cooke.^[34]
In 1970, Johnny Nash's rocksteady and reggae version, released in late 1969, peaked at number 39 on the Hot 100 on January 24, 1970. In the United Kingdom, this version peaked at number 6 in May 1969.^[35] It was the B-side to his hit song "Hold Me Tight".
In 1975, Gary Glitter covered the song on his album G.G..
In 1976, Dawn's cover peaked at number 22 on the Hot 100 on March 20–27, 1976, and number two on the Easy Listening chart.
In 1980, the song was covered, in a medley with Michael Zager's "I've Loved You For a Long Time", by The Spinners. This version went to number four on July 19 - August 2, 1980, on the Hot 100, thus becoming the highest-charting version on the Hot 100, and number five on the R&B chart.^[36]
Otis Redding was also known for covering a number of Cooke's songs including "Cupid".^[37] His cover was included on the 1993 box set Otis! The Definitive Otis Redding.
In 2006, Amy Winehouse covered the song on her album Back to Black.

Other

In 1970, the song's opening lyrics featured in Edwin Starr's "Running Back and Forth" from War & Peace.
This song's melody is interpolated in Carly Rae Jepsen's song "Tiny Little Bows" from her second studio album, Kiss (2012).^[38]

References

1 2 Guralnick 2005, pp. 362–364.
1 2 Wolff 1995, pp. 236–237.
1 2 Wolff 1995, p. 237.
↑ Portrait of a Legend: 1951–1964 (Liner notes). Sam Cooke. ABKCO. 2026. pp. 7, 16, 20–21. 9872418.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
↑ Wolff 1995, p. 238.
↑ Janovitz, Bill. "Cupid - Sam Cooke". AllMusic. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
↑ "Official Singles Chart on 27/9/1961 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
↑ "Sam Cooke Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
↑ "Sam Cooke Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
↑ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, August 5, 1961
↑ The 100 Best-Selling Singles of 1961
↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. January 17, 1970. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. January 31, 1970. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
1 2 "Cupid | IRMA". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
↑ "Official Singles Chart on 6/5/1969 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
↑ "Cupid (song by Johnny Nash)". Music VF.com. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. April 17, 1976. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. April 17, 1976. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
↑ Flavour of New Zealand, 11 June 1976
↑ "Cupid (song by Dawn)". Music VF.com. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
↑ "Top Singles – Volume 26, No. 14 & 15, January 08 1977". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
↑ "Top RPM Singles: Image 0213a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
↑ RPM Adult Contemporary, August 2, 1980
↑ "Official Singles Chart on 19/7/1980 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
↑ "The Spinners Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
↑ "The Spinners Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
↑ "The Spinners Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
↑ Musicoutfitters.com
↑ "Number One Awards". Billboard. Vol. 92, no. 51. December 20, 1980. p. TIA-36. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
↑ Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 27, 1980
↑ "Amy Winehouse – Cupid". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Sam Cooke – Cupid". Radioscope. Retrieved February 23, 2026. Type Cupid in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
↑ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
↑ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 333. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 545.
↑ Wolff 1995, p. 260.
↑ "Carly Rae Jepsen's 'Tiny Little Bows' - Discover the Sample Source". WhoSampled. Retrieved June 2, 2021.

Sources

Guralnick, Peter (2005). Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke. Little, Brown. ISBN 978-0-316-37794-2. OCLC 57393650.
Wolff, Daniel (1995). You Send Me: The Life and Times of Sam Cooke. William Morrow. ISBN 978-0-688-12403-8. OCLC 30703619.

External links

[FOOTNOTEGuralnick2005362–364-1] 1 2 Guralnick 2005, pp. 362–364.

[FOOTNOTEWolff1995236–237-2] 1 2 Wolff 1995, pp. 236–237.

[FOOTNOTEWolff1995237-3] 1 2 Wolff 1995, p. 237.

[4] Portrait of a Legend: 1951–1964 (Liner notes). Sam Cooke. ABKCO. 2026. pp. 7, 16, 20–21. 9872418.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[FOOTNOTEWolff1995238-5] Wolff 1995, p. 238.

[6] Janovitz, Bill. "Cupid - Sam Cooke". AllMusic. Retrieved September 5, 2014.

[samuk-7] "Official Singles Chart on 27/9/1961 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 7, 2024.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Sam_Cooke-8] "Sam Cooke Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2024.

[sc_Billboardrandbhiphop_Sam_Cooke-9] "Sam Cooke Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2024.

[10] Cash Box Top 100 Singles, August 5, 1961

[11] The 100 Best-Selling Singles of 1961

[12] "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. January 17, 1970. Retrieved October 7, 2020.

[13] "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. January 31, 1970. Retrieved October 7, 2020.

[sc_Ireland2_-14] 1 2 "Cupid | IRMA". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 7, 2020.

[johnnyuk-15] "Official Singles Chart on 6/5/1969 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 7, 2024.

[16] "Cupid (song by Johnny Nash)". Music VF.com. Retrieved December 7, 2024.

[17] "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. April 17, 1976. Retrieved October 7, 2020.

[18] "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. April 17, 1976. Retrieved October 7, 2020.

[19] Flavour of New Zealand, 11 June 1976

[20] "Cupid (song by Dawn)". Music VF.com. Retrieved December 7, 2024.

[21] "Top Singles – Volume 26, No. 14 & 15, January 08 1977". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 22, 2016.

[sc_Canadatopsingles_-22] "Top RPM Singles: Image 0213a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved December 7, 2024.

[23] RPM Adult Contemporary, August 2, 1980

[detroituk-24] "Official Singles Chart on 19/7/1980 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 7, 2024.

[sc_Billboardhot100_The_Spinners-25] "The Spinners Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2024.

[sc_Billboardadultcontemporary_The_Spinners-26] "The Spinners Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2024.

[sc_Billboardrandbhiphop_The_Spinners-27] "The Spinners Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2024.

[28] Musicoutfitters.com

[29] "Number One Awards". Billboard. Vol. 92, no. 51. December 20, 1980. p. TIA-36. Retrieved August 23, 2025.

[30] Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 27, 1980

[sc_Switzerland_Amy_Winehouse-31] "Amy Winehouse – Cupid". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved December 7, 2024.

[New_ZealandSam_CookeCupidsingleCertRef-32] "New Zealand single certifications – Sam Cooke – Cupid". Radioscope. Retrieved February 23, 2026. Type Cupid in the "Search:" field and press Enter.

[33] "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.

[34] "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.

[35] Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 333. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

[36] Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 545.

[FOOTNOTEWolff1995260-37] Wolff 1995, p. 260.

[38] "Carly Rae Jepsen's 'Tiny Little Bows' - Discover the Sample Source". WhoSampled. Retrieved June 2, 2021.

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Sam Cooke
Studio albums	Sam Cooke Encore Tribute to the Lady Cooke's Tour Hits of the 50's Swing Low My Kind of Blues Twistin' the Night Away Mr. Soul Night Beat Ain't That Good News Shake Try a Little Love
Live albums	Sam Cooke at the Copa Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963
Collaboration albums	3 Great Guys
Compilations	Hit Kit I Thank God The Wonderful World of Sam Cooke The Best of Sam Cooke The Man and His Music Portrait of a Legend: 1951–1964
Singles	"You Send Me" / "Summertime" "I'll Come Running Back to You" "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons" "You Were Made for Me" / "Lonely Island" "Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha" "Only Sixteen" "There! I've Said It Again" "Wonderful World" "Chain Gang" "Sad Mood" "That's It, I Quit, I'm Movin' On" "Cupid" "Twistin' the Night Away" "Bring It On Home to Me" / "Having a Party" "Somebody Have Mercy" / "Nothing Can Change This Love" "Send Me Some Lovin'" "Another Saturday Night" "Frankie and Johnny" "Little Red Rooster" "Ain't That Good News" "Good Times" / "Tennessee Waltz" "That's Where It's At" "Shake" / "A Change Is Gonna Come"
Related articles	Discography The Soul Stirrers René Hall Linda Womack We Remember Sam Cooke
Category

The Spinners
C.J. Jefferson Marvin Taylor Jessie Robert Peck Ronnie Moss Henry Fambrough Pervis Jackson Billy Henderson C. P. Spencer James Edwards Bobby Smith George Dixon Edgar Edwards G. C. Cameron Philippé Wynne John Edwards Frank Washington Harold "Spike" Bonhart Charlton Washington
Studio albums	The Original Spinners 2nd Time Around Spinners Mighty Love New and Improved Pick of the Litter Happiness Is Being with the Spinners Yesterday, Today, & Tomorrow 8 From Here to Eternally Dancin' and Lovin' Love Trippin' Labor of Love Can't Shake This Feeling Grand Slam Cross Fire Lovin' Feelings Down to Business At Their Best
Other albums	The Best of the Spinners (1973 album) Spinners Live! The Best of Spinners (1978 album) The Spinners: Their Early Years
Singles	"That's What Girls Are Made For" "I'll Always Love You" "Truly Yours" "It's a Shame" "How Could I Let You Get Away" "I'll Be Around" "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love" "One of a Kind (Love Affair)" "Together We Can Make Such Sweet Music" "Ghetto Child" "Mighty Love" "I'm Coming Home" "Then Came You" "Living a Little, Laughing a Little" "Sadie" "Games People Play" "The Rubberband Man" "Are You Ready for Love" "Working My Way Back to You" "Cupid" "Yesterday Once More" "Funny How Time Slips Away" "I'll Be Around"
Related articles	Discography
Category