A Lover's Question

"A Lover's Question" is a 1958 Pop, R&B hit for Clyde McPhatter. The single was written by Brook Benton and Jimmy T. Williams and was Clyde McPhatter's most successful Pop and R&B release. The bass singer is Noah Hopkins. "A Lover's Question" made it to #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was #1 for one week on the R&B chart.^[2]

"A Lover's Question"
Single by Clyde McPhatter
B-side	"I Can't Stand Up Alone"
Released	September 1958
Recorded	1958
Genre	Soul
Length	2:36
Label	Atlantic Records
Songwriter(s)	Brook Benton Jimmy T. Williams[1]
Clyde McPhatter singles chronology
"Lover Please" (1958) "A Lover's Question" (1958) "Lovey Dovey" (1959)

Background

• The best-known version of the song is in mono. However, a stereo version was released on the LP Atlantic History of Rhythm & Blues, Vol. 4, along with several other rare stereo versions of late 1950s Atlantic hits.

Jacky Ward version

"A Lover's Question"
Single by Jacky Ward
from the album A Lover's Question
B-side	"She Belongs to Me"
Released	February 1978
Genre	Country
Length	3:01
Label	Mercury
Songwriter(s)	Brook Benton Jimmy T. Williams
Producer(s)	Jerry Kennedy
Jacky Ward singles chronology
"Fools Fall in Love" (1977) "A Lover's Question" (1978) "Three Sheets in the Wind" (1978)

In 1978, Jacky Ward had a successful remake of the song, peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.^[3]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1978)	Peak position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)	3
US Easy Listening (Billboard)[4]	32
US Billboard Hot 100	106
Canadian RPM Country Tracks	6
Canadian RPM Top Singles	98

Year-end charts

Chart (1978)	Position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[5]	42

Other cover versions

• In 1961, a cover by Ernestine Anderson reached #98.^[6]
• In 1969, a cover by Otis Redding reached #48.^[7]
• Jay and the Americans released a cover version of the song on their 1970 album, Wax Museum, Vol. 1.
• In 1975, Loggins & Messina's cover reached #89.^[8]
• Country singer Del Reeves took the song to #14 on the Hot Country Singles chart in 1970.^[9]

See also

• List of number-one R&B singles of 1958 (U.S.)