Save the Last Dance for Me

{{Short description|Original song written and composed by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman; first recorded by the Drifters}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Save the Last Dance for Me

| cover = Save_the_Last_Dance_for_Me_-_The_Drifters.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = The Drifters

| album = Save the Last Dance for Me

| B-side = Nobody But Me

| released = August 1960

| recorded = 1960

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = {{hlist|Pop|soul}}

| length = {{Duration|m=2|s=34}}

| label = Atlantic

| writer = Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman

| producer = Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller

| prev_title = Lonely Winds

| prev_year = 1960

| next_title = I Count the Tears

| next_year = 1960

| misc = {{External music video|header=Official audio|{{YouTube|BmTmF6neTTg|"Save the Last Dance for Me"}}}}

}}

"Save the Last Dance for Me" is a song written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, first recorded in 1960 by American musical group the Drifters with Ben E. King on lead vocals. It has since been covered by several artists, including the DeFranco Family, Dolly Parton, and Michael Bublé.

Drifters' version

In a 1990 interview,{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhTyAUE4fMg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/VhTyAUE4fMg |archive-date=2021-12-14 |url-status=live|title=DOC POMUS "SAVE THE LAST DANCE FOR ME" and how it almost wasn't...|date=November 21, 2013 |publisher=YouTube|access-date=February 12, 2020}}{{cbignore}} songwriter Doc Pomus tells the story of the song being recorded by the Drifters and originally designated as the B-side of the record. He credits Dick Clark with turning the record over and realizing "Save the Last Dance" was the stronger song. The Drifters' version of the song, released a few months after Ben E. King left the group, would go on to spend three non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the U.S. pop chart, in addition to logging one week atop the U.S. R&B chart.Whitburn, Joel (1996). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 6th Edition (Billboard Publications) In the United Kingdom, the Drifters' recording reached No. 2 in December 1960.{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/Hello+Mary+Lou_slash_Travelin'+Man|title=hello mary lou/travelin' man | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company|website=Officialcharts.com}} This single was produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, two noted American music producers who at the time had an apprentice relationship with a then-unknown Phil Spector. Although he was working with Leiber and Stoller at the time, it is unknown whether Spector assisted with the production of this record; however, many Spector fans have noticed similarities between this record and other music he would eventually produce on his own.Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book of No. 1 Hits, 5th Edition (Billboard Publications)

In the song, the narrator tells his lover she is free to mingle and socialize throughout the evening, but to make sure to save him the dance at the end of the night.{{Gilliland |url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19770/m1/ |title=Show 20 – Forty Miles of Bad Road: Early '60s potpourri |show=20 |track=2}} During an interview on Elvis Costello's show Spectacle, Lou Reed, who worked with Pomus, said the song was written on the day of Pomus' wedding while the wheelchair-using groom watched his bride dancing with their guests. Pomus had polio and at times used crutches to get around.{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/145455/save-last-dance-me/kathryn-jean-lopez |title=Save the Last Dance for Me – By Kathryn Jean Lopez – The Corner – National Review Online |website=Nationalreview.com |date=July 6, 2007}} His wife, Willi Burke, however, was a Broadway actress and dancer. The song gives his perspective of telling his wife to have fun dancing, but reminds her who will be taking her home and "in whose arms you're gonna be."{{Cite web|url=http://www.elvis.com.au/presley/elvis-presley-doc-pomus-mort-shuman.shtml|title=Songwriters Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman | Elvis Articles|website=Elvis.com.au}}

Charts

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable"
Chart (1960–1961) !Peak position
Canada (CHUM Charts Top 20){{cite web\|url=http://hitsofalldecades.com/chart_hits/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=851&Itemid=52\|title=CHUM Top 20 Singles - October 24, 1960}} \|align="center"\|1
New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade){{Cite web\|url=http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search+lever&qartistid=109#n_view_location\|title=Flavour of New Zealand – search lever\|website=Flavourofnz.co.nz}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|1
Italy (FIMI) \|align="center"\|31
South Africa (Springbok) \|align="center"\|1
UK \| style="text-align:center;"\|2
U.S. Billboard Hot 100Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 – {{ISBN\|0-89820-089-X}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|1
U.S. Billboard R&B \| style="text-align:center;"\|1
U.S. Cash Box Top 100{{Cite web\|url=https://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/19601119.html\|title=Cash Box Top 100 11/19/60\|website=Tropicalglen.com}} \|align="center"\|1

class="wikitable sortable"

Chart (1960–1961)

!Peak
position

Canada (CHUM Charts Top 20){{cite web|url=http://hitsofalldecades.com/chart_hits/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=851&Itemid=52|title=CHUM Top 20 Singles - October 24, 1960}}

|align="center"|1

New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade){{Cite web|url=http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search+lever&qartistid=109#n_view_location|title=Flavour of New Zealand – search lever|website=Flavourofnz.co.nz}}

| style="text-align:center;"|1

Italy (FIMI)

|align="center"|31

South Africa (Springbok)

|align="center"|1

| style="text-align:center;"|2

U.S. Billboard Hot 100Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 – {{ISBN|0-89820-089-X}}

| style="text-align:center;"|1

U.S. Billboard R&B

| style="text-align:center;"|1

U.S. Cash Box Top 100{{Cite web|url=https://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/19601119.html|title=Cash Box Top 100 11/19/60|website=Tropicalglen.com}}

|align="center"|1

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable"
Chart (1960) ! style="text-align:center;"\|Rank
South Africa{{cite web\|title=Top 20 Hit Singles of 1960\|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/sahits_1960.html\|access-date=December 26, 2018}} \|align="center"\|9
U.S. Billboard Hot 100{{Cite web\|url=https://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1960.htm\|title=Top 100 Hits of 1960/Top 100 Songs of 1960\|website=Musicoutfitters.com}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|26
U.S. Cash Box{{Cite web\|url=https://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/1960YESP.html\|title=Cash Box YE Pop Singles – 1960\|website=Tropicalglen.com}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|3

class="wikitable sortable"

Chart (1960)

! style="text-align:center;"|Rank

South Africa{{cite web|title=Top 20 Hit Singles of 1960|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/sahits_1960.html|access-date=December 26, 2018}}

|align="center"|9

U.S. Billboard Hot 100{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1960.htm|title=Top 100 Hits of 1960/Top 100 Songs of 1960|website=Musicoutfitters.com}}

| style="text-align:center;"|26

U.S. Cash Box{{Cite web|url=https://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/1960YESP.html|title=Cash Box YE Pop Singles – 1960|website=Tropicalglen.com}}

| style="text-align:center;"|3

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Drifters|title=Save the Last Dance for Me|award=Silver|relyear=2004|certyear=2023|id=18751-2232-1|access-date=February 24, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

Dolly Parton version

{{Infobox song

| name = Save the Last Dance for Me

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Dolly Parton

| album = The Great Pretender

| B-side = Elusive Butterfly

| released = November 28, 1983

| recorded = November 1983

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Country pop

| length = 3:54

| label = RCA

| writer = Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman

| producer = Val Garay

| prev_title = Islands in the Stream

| prev_year = 1983

| next_title = Downtown

| next_year = 1984

}}

In 1983, Dolly Parton recorded "Save the Last Dance for Me," releasing it as a single in late November; the song subsequently appeared on Parton's album of 1950s and 60s covers The Great Pretender, released in January 1984. Reaching the top ten on the country singles chart in late February, the single also crossed over, reaching No. 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.

=Charts=

class="wikitable sortable"
Chart (1983–1984) !Peak position
Canadian RPM Country Tracks \| style="text-align:center;"\|2
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles \| style="text-align:center;"\|3
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 \| style="text-align:center;"\|45
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks \| style="text-align:center;"\|12
{{single chart\|New Zealand\|50\|artist=Dolly Parton\|song=Save the Last Dance for Me\|access-date=May 23, 2025}}

class="wikitable sortable"

Chart (1983–1984)

!Peak
position

Canadian RPM Country Tracks

| style="text-align:center;"|2

U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles

| style="text-align:center;"|3

U.S. Billboard Hot 100

| style="text-align:center;"|45

U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks

| style="text-align:center;"|12

{{single chart|New Zealand|50|artist=Dolly Parton|song=Save the Last Dance for Me|access-date=May 23, 2025}}

The DeFranco Family version

{{Infobox song

| name = Save the Last Dance for Me

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = the DeFranco Family

| album = Save the Last Dance for Me

| B-side = Because We Both Are Young

| released = April 1974

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length = 2:58

| label = 20th Century

| writer = Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman

| producer = Walt Meskell

| prev_title = Abra-ca-dabra

| prev_year = 1973

| next_title = Write Me a Letter

| next_year = 1974

}}

The DeFranco Family (featuring Tony DeFranco) released "Save the Last Dance for Me" in 1974 as a single and the title track of their 2nd album; the single peaked at No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100{{Cite magazine |last=tolsen |date=2013-01-02 |title=Billboard Hot 100™ |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1974-06-22/ |access-date=2025-02-08 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} and No. 8 on Canada's RPM 100 chart.{{Cite web |last=Canada |first=Library and Archives |date=2013-07-17 |title=Image : RPM Weekly |url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.5064a&URLjpg=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f4/nlc008388.5064a.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.5064a |access-date=2025-02-08 |website=www.bac-lac.gc.ca}} The B-side of the single is "Because We Both Are Young", written by Tom Bahler and Harry Shannon.{{Citation |title=The DeFranco Family Featuring Tony DeFranco - Save The Last Dance For Me / Because We Both Are Young |date=1974 |url=https://www.discogs.com/master/489244-The-DeFranco-Family-Featuring-Tony-DeFranco-Save-The-Last-Dance-For-Me-Because-We-Both-Are-Young |access-date=2025-02-08 |language=en}}

Michael Bublé version

{{Infobox song

| name = Save the Last Dance for Me

| cover = Buble Save The Last.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Michael Bublé

| album = It's Time

| released = April 4, 2006

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Pop

| length = 3:38

| label = 143, Reprise

| writer = Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman

| producer =

| prev_title = Home

| prev_year = 2005

| next_title = Just in Time

| next_year = 2006

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|LAjfB0XfjkA|"Michael Bublé - Save The Last Dance For Me [Official Music Video]"}}}}

}}

"Save The Last Dance For Me" was later covered by Canadian crooner Michael Bublé, and released as the third and final single from his second studio album, It's Time. The song was heavily remixed for its release as a single.

=Background=

For its release as a single, the song was heavily remixed, with mixes from producers including Ralphi Rosario and Eddie Baez. All of the chart positions for the single are for each of the remixed versions of the song respectively. The single first peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Chart in September 2005.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/dance-club-play-songs|title=Dance Songs: Top Dance Music Chart|magazine=Billboard}} After Bublé performed the album version of the song during the closing credits of the film The Wedding Date,{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100|title=Top 100 Songs|magazine=Billboard}} this version was released to radio, peaking at No. 5 on the Billboard adult contemporary chart, as well as reaching No. 99 on the Billboard Hot 100.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary|title=Adult Contemporary Music Chart|magazine=Billboard}}

The music video for the track was once again directed by Noble Jones, who directed the videos for both of the album's previous singles – Home and Feeling Good. The music video was choreographed by Raymondo Chan, a Salsa Latin dance coach and performer. It was shot in Vancouver, Canada.{{cn|date=July 2024}}

=Track listing=

CD / DVD single{{cite web|url=http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Michael-Buble-Save-The-Last-Dance-For-Me-RARE-promo-CD-DVD-05-/230897357485?pt=Music_CDs&hash=item35c28e12ad |title=Michael Buble Save The Last Dance For Me RARE promo CD DVD 05 |publisher=eBay |access-date=November 9, 2015}}

"Save the Last Dance for Me" (album version) – 3:38
"Save the Last Dance for Me" (Starcity remix) – 3:20
"Save the Last Dance for Me" (live version – video) – 4:14
"Save the Last Dance for Me" (music video) – 3:42

Digital download{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B0030GSM6U/ |title=Save The Last Dance For Me EP: Michael Bublé: Amazon.de: MP3-Downloads |website=Amazon.de |date=January 1, 1970 }}

"Save the Last Dance for Me" (album version) – 3:38
"Save the Last Dance for Me" (Ralphi's Anthomic vocal) – 9:36
"Save the Last Dance for Me" (Eddie's Anthem mix) – 9:53
"Save the Last Dance for Me" (Ralphi's Hydrolic dub) – 8:29

=Charts=

==Weekly charts==

class="wikitable"
Chart (2006) !Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100 \|style="text-align:center;"\|99
US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks \| style="text-align:center;"\|5

class="wikitable"

Chart (2006)

!Peak
position

US Billboard Hot 100

|style="text-align:center;"|99

US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks

| style="text-align:center;"|5

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable"
Chart (2006) !Rank
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2006/adult-contemporary-songs\|title=Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2006\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=September 21, 2019}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|7

class="wikitable"

Chart (2006)

!Rank

US Adult Contemporary (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2006/adult-contemporary-songs|title=Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2006|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 21, 2019}}

| style="text-align:center;"|7

=Certifications=

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Michael Buble|title=Save the Last Dance for Me|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2006|certyear=2009|digital=true|access-date=December 10, 2023}}

Other versions

Buck Owens released a cover version in 1962 that peaked at No. 11 on the US country charts and appeared on his album Together Again.[http://musicvf.com/song.php?id=112530 Buck Owens, "Save the Last Dance for Me" Chart Position] Retrieved April 11, 2012.
In 1977, John Davidson reached No. 22 on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart{{cite book|first= Joel |last= Whitburn |author-link= Joel Whitburn |year= 1993 |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993 |publisher= Record Research |page=65}} and No. 44 on the Canadian AC chart.{{cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.4474&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.4474.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.4474|title=Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date=March 12, 1977 |access-date=October 17, 2019}}

In popular culture

In 1960, American female R&B singer Damita Jo recorded an "answer record" to "Save the Last Dance for Me". Her song, entitled "I'll Save the Last Dance for You", built around the original song's melody and thus credited to Shuman and Pomus, peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart in December 1960.{{Cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=379&cfgn=Singles&cfn=The+Billboard+Hot+100&ci=3070009&cdi=8782629&cid=12%2F05%2F1960|title=Damita Jo Hot 100 chart data|website=Billboard.com}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}