Love (Can Make You Happy)

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Love (Can Make You Happy) (Jack Sigler, Jr.) — originally recorded in 1969 by Mercy, a Florida pop group formed by the songwriter that was composed of himself and former schoolmates from Brandon, a town near Tampa, Florida.

From Wikipedia:

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.^[3]

The Sundi Album Discography at bsnpubs.com says,

Without Jack Sigler, [Sundi Records owner Gil] Cabot had no group to promote at live appearances, and no group to record an album to go with their hit. Cabot had reportedly met with Sigler earlier and discussed having a “tour group” to make appearances, explaining to him that not having a group could be a deal-breaker if they wanted to get national distribution. Sigler didn’t have much choice, since he was not going to be available, so Cabot found a trio of background vocalists to stand in as “Mercy”. Who these singers were is not exactly clear, since they weren’t identified on the Sundi album issued in early June, 1969. The three women pictured on the album cover have all the look of professional models, and are unlikely to be the actual singers. Elsewhere, it was reported (unconfirmed) that the trio who recorded the rest of the Sundi album were Gil Cabot’s wife, his secretary, and his secretary’s sister (the latter two may be apocryphal, but Cabot’s wife is commonly noted as one of the singers). Backing instruments were widely acknowledged to be by Mighty Manfred and the Wonder Dogs, a local band who had recently recorded a single for Sundi.

Mercy — The original recording was issued on the single Sundi SR-6811, b/w “Fire Ball,” in March 1969, and peaked at #2 on both the Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts. The recording was also the title track on the Sigler-less album credited to The Mercy, Sundi SRLP 803.

Mercy — from the 1969 Warner Bros. album Love Can Make You Happy, Warner Bros. – Seven Arts Records ‎WS-1799; also issued on the single Warner Bros. / Seven Arts 7291, b/w “Never My Love”

The California Poppy Pickers — from the 1969 LP Today’s Chart Busters, Alshire Records ‎ S-5163

Ray Conniff and the Singers — from the 1969 album Jean, Columbia ‎ CS 9920

Lafayette e seu Conjunto — from the 1969 album A Presenta Os Successos, Vol. 7

Percy Faith: His Orchestra & Chorus — from the 1969 album Love Theme From “Romeo and Juliet”

Boris Gardiner — recording date unknown

A recording of the song by Boris Gardiner was released in Jamaica in 1969, according to Wikipedia and 45cat.com. However, the recording in the video below doesn’t seem to be that version because it’s evidently shorter than the 1969 single by at least 20 seconds.

A note by the video provider indicates that the recording in the video is the second version by Gardiner. I don’t know when the second version by Gardiner was either recorded or released, but the 1970 Gardiner album It’s So Nice to Be With You, released in the US on the K&K, Wildflower, and Steady Records labels, contains a recording of “Love Can Make You Happy.” So this recording might be from that album.

The words sung by Gardiner in this recording contain a few significant modifications of the original lyric:

original — And the smell of flowers blooming fills the air
Gardiner — And the shad of love’s light burning in the air

original
To have, to hold’s important, but forever is the phrase
That means the love you’ve found is going to stay

Gardiner
To have, to hold her more than…than forever is your prayer
That even love will find it hard to stay

Lloyd Charmers with Byron Lee & the Dragonaires — released in Jamaica on the 1970 album Reggay Charm, Dynamic Sounds DYNAMIC 3304; released in the UK in 1970 on the LP Reggae Charm, Trojan Records TTL 30

Voice of Soul (choir) — Portland Community College Spring 2010 Concert

Dave and the Imaginary Band — uploaded on 21 May 2011

Lovon and Kevin — 14 September 2011 rehearsal, NYC-Ripley Grier

calikokat104 — piano solo, published on 21 May 2012

Mercy — live in Ocala, Florida in May 2012 — band members include: Jack Sigler (bass, vocals), Butch Darby (lead guitar, vocals), Suzanne Sigler (keyboard, vocals)

Nick Ingman and his Orchestra — released on the 2011 CD album Nick Ingman & His Orchestra, Vol. 2

Ameritz Karaoke Entertainment — released on 26 July 2012, according to the video provider; the same recording was released under the moniker the Mega Tracks Karaoke Band on 12 February 2014

The Daffodils — from the compilation CD album Hits After Hits, Vol. 8, featuring recordings by various artists; release date unknown — published on YouTube on 6 November 2014