Will You Love Me Tomorrow (2:40)

“Will You Love Me Tomorrow” is the title of a song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. King used the same chord progression as “Oh! Carol”, a song written about her by ex-boyfriend Neil Sedaka.

It has been recorded by many different artists and was ranked among Rolling Stone ‘s list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time at #125. The song is notable for being the first song to reach #1 in the US by an all-girl group.

At Carole King’s home, in the Laurel Canyon section of Los Angeles, her doorbell rang the title of the song.

The Shirelles released their version as Scepter single 1211, with “Boys” on the B-side. The single’s first pressing was simply “Tomorrow” then lengthened later. When first presented with the song, lead singer Shirley Owens (later known as Shirley Alston-Reeves) did not want to record it, because she thought it was “too country.” She relented after a string arrangement was added.

In 1961, the song went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. However, Owens recalled on Jim Parsons’ syndicated oldies radio program, Shake Rattle Showtime, that some radio stations had banned the record because they had felt the lyrics were too sexually charged.

This version of the song is currently ranked as the 101st greatest song of all time, as well as the best song of 1960, by Acclaimed Music.[1]