Dedicated to the One I Love

1959 single by the Shirelles

"Dedicated To The One I Love" is a song written by Lowman Pauling and Ralph Bass that was a hit for the "5" Royales, the Shirelles, the Mamas & the Papas and Bitty McLean.

A cover version recorded by American girl group the Shirelles This version was re released in 1961 and reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number two on Billboards Hot R&B Sides. The song was subsequently included on their 1961 album Tonight's the Night.

In 1967, a subsequent and slightly more popular cover version by the Mamas & the Papas released on the Dunhill label went to number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, kept from number 1 by "Happy Together" by The Turtles. This version also reached number 2 on the UK's Record Retailer chart. The lead singer on the Mamas & the Papas version was Michelle Phillips. It was the first time that Phillips was given the lead over Cass Elliot. The song was also included on the group's 1967 album The Mamas & The Papas Deliver. While the song mixes of the group's singles differ significantly from their album counterparts with some frequency ("Words of Love" and "Creeque Alley," in particular, feature overdubbed instruments that don't appear on the album versions of the songs), "Dedicated To The One I Love" used the same mix for both single and album. However, there are differing versions of the song available. The mono single and mono album versions are identical. In them, Michelle's voice is double tracked, but mixed down into the 'sound' of one voice. Cass's vocals are more prominent on these, as is the piano accompaniment. The cold ending features all four group members in signature harmony. The stereo album mix moves the piano to the back of the mix, and Mama Cass' voice is further blended into the others'. This is particularly prevalent at the end of the song, where Cass is all but absent. Cash Box called the single a "groovey, harmonic, soft rock venture that is sure to please all of the group's many fans." The group appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1967 to perform both this song and the single to follow, "Creeque Alley". Although the single has a running time of 2:56, and the group performed the song in its entirety, edited versions of the song appear on internet video sites with a much shorter running time. DTV, in 1984, set the Mamas & the Papas version of the song to Sleeping Beauty and was featured on the VHS DTV: Groovin' for a 60's Afternoon.