Me and Mrs. Jones

May 18, 2024

This month I’m focusing on One Hit Wonders of the 70s.

Today our song is:  Me and Mrs. Jones

Wikipedia tells us this about the song:

"Me and Mrs. Jones" was a #1 single originally performed by Billy Paul, recorded and released in 1972 on CBS Records' Philadelphia International imprint. The single, included on the album 360 Degrees of Billy Paul, was written by Cary 'Hippy' Gilbert, Kenny Gamble, and Leon Huff, and arranged by Bobby Martin. 

The radio edit versions were shorter, omitting the second verse, as well as shortening the coda. The video for this song features Paul playing piano in a recording session, with an unlit green cigar, accompanied by dancers.

The saxophone quotes the first seven notes of the Doris Day song "Secret Love", heard in the intro and outro of the song. Both Sammy Fain and Paul Francis Webster sued Cary Gilbert plus Gamble and Huff for quoting the song without written approval beforehand. Both Fain and Webster won the damages in a lawsuit, with half of the song's proceeds going to Fain and Webster.

In 2009, Essence magazine included the song in their list of the "25 Best Slow Jams of All Time"

Enjoy!