Chapel of Love by The Dixie Cups

Every New Zealand #1 single…

10

Chapel of Love by The Dixie Cups

Topped the NZ chart for 2 weeks from 6 August 1964.

The Dixie Cups

The Dixie Cups are a trio from New Orleans. The classic lineup consisted of sisters Barbara Ann and Rosa Lee Hawkins, with their cousin Joan Marie Johnson. As of 2025, Barbara Ann Hawkins is still a member.

The trio signed with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, who produced and wrote hits for them. ‘Chapel of Love’ was their first single – it reached #1 on Billboard and sold a million copies.

Chapel of Love

‘Chapel of Love’ was written by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, along with uber-producer Phil Spector. Barry and Greenwich had recently married when they wrote it – Barry wrote the lyrics and Greenwich wrote the music.

You and Ellie wrote several big hits with Phil Spector, such as “Da Doo Ron Ron, “Be My Baby,” “Chapel of Love” and “River Deep – Mountain High.” When you and Ellie were writing with Phil Spector, how did the three of you work together?

Barry: Well, my recollection is that Phil would be at the piano, playing in his style, which leads to the records he made in his style and format, and I would be tapping on stuff and coming up with lyrics and melody, with Ellie contributing her musical and lyrical thoughts. Then the three of us would usually have an enjoyable time.

Jeff Barry, Songwriter Universe

My verdict

‘Chapel of Love’ is so brilliantly simple that it’s almost impossible to make a bad version. The Dixie Cups have great vocals, and their version is definitive.

The Aftermath

Barry and Greenwich’s marriage only lasted a few years. The Dixie Cups are still an active band, although ‘Chapel of Love’ remains their only top ten hit in the US.

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• NZ #1 hits