Love (Can Make You Happy) Explained

"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.^[1]

On other US charts, the song also peaked at #2 on Billboards Easy Listening chart in 1969.^{[2] [3]} Outside the US, the song also reached #2 on Canada's RPM 100,^[4] and #1 on RPMs Adult Contemporary chart.^[5]

The song was ranked #42 on Billboard magazine's Top Hot 100 songs of 1969.^[6]

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.^[7]

The Sundi recording was produced by Mike Apsey and Ron Resler^[8] and the Warner Bros. recording produced by Brad Shapiro and Steve Alaimo.^[9]

Chart history

Weekly charts

Chart (1969)	Peak position
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[10]	1
Canada RPM Top Singles[11]	2
US Billboard Hot 100[12]	2
US Billboard Adult Contemporary[13]	2
US Cash Box Top 100[14]	2

Year-end charts

Chart (1969)	Rank
Canada RPM Top Singles [15]	43
US Billboard Easy Listening	16
US Billboard Hot 100 [16]	42

Other versions

• Boris Gardiner released a version of the song as a single in Jamaica in 1969.^[17]
• James Marvell released a version of the song as a single in 1981 that reached #90 on the country chart.^[18]
• 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 "" while he is on the hunt for a serial killer's vehicle.

Notes and References

1. The Hot 100 Chart. .
2. http://www.billboard.com/artist/310560/mercy/chart Mercy - Chart History - The Hot 100
3. http://www.billboard.com/artist/310560/mercy/chart?f=341 Mercy - Chart History - Adult Contemporary
4. "RPM 100", RPM Weekly, Volume 11, No. 13. p. 19. May 26, 1969. Accessed June 9, 2016.
5. "Young Adult", RPM Weekly, Volume 11, No. 15. June 9, 1969. Accessed June 9, 2016.
6. Web site: Billboard Top 100 - 1969 . May 7, 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150503182602/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts/1969.php . May 3, 2015 .
7. http://www.dustbury.com/music/mercy.html "Love (Can Make You Happy)" song history
8. http://www.45cat.com/record/6811us Mercy, "Love (Can Make You Happy)" US Sundi single release
9. http://www.45cat.com/record/7291 Mercy, "Love (Can Make You Happy)" US Warner Bros. single release
10. "Young Adult", RPM Weekly, Volume 11, No. 15. June 9, 1969. Accessed June 9, 2016.
11. "RPM 100", RPM Weekly, Volume 11, No. 13. p. 19. May 26, 1969. Accessed June 9, 2016.
12. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 -
13. http://www.billboard.com/artist/310560/mercy/chart Mercy - Chart History - The Hot 100
14. Web site: Cash Box Top 100 Singles, June 7, 1969 . April 26, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170222110535/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/19690607.html . February 22, 2017 . dead .
15. Web site: RPM Top Singles of 1969. 24 December 2017. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 17 July 2013.
16. Web site: Billboard Top 100 - 1969 . May 7, 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150503182602/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts/1969.php . May 3, 2015 .
17. http://www.45cat.com/record/nc593886jm Boris Gardiner, "Love (Can Make You Happy)" single release
18. http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=Love+%28Can+Make+You+Happy%29+by+James+Marvell&id=112187 James Marvell, "Love (Can Make You Happy)" chart position