J. Frank Wilson - The Last Kiss

J. Frank Wilson - The Last Kiss - Oldies But Goodies - Songs of the 60's & 70s

[tinagrunst]

My dad was a musician and this was my favorite song. He played it everytime I went to watch him play.
I miss my dad. ❤ everytime I hear this song I cry. ❤

[namvetpoet]

I remember bootcamp  at Great Lakes in 1970 when we were all in our barracks and our company commander was out.  A guy started to sing it, and his buddy joined him.  In seconds, nearly all 80 of us recruits were singing - A nice moment on the way to hell.  I wonder what ever happened to all those great guys.  God bless them, and all of you! NamVetPoet

[tomdooley]

Boy, do I ever remember this song! I must have heard it through the earpiece from my transistor radio a thousand times. One of the very best of the "tragedy" songs. Another good one is "Laurie, " and, of course, "Teen Angel."

[pattydettmer]

❤Senior year high school my love drove a black 56 chevy i think of him often

[polivares]

I played this song 60 time while I was practicing. My wife pulled the plug, and I had to stop. I can still play this song on my guitar.

[lisacrosby]

One of the songs I used to sing my daughter as a lullaby, coz I knew all the words. Teen Angel, too. And Billy Don't Be Hero. She says I'm lucky she didn't suffer permanent damage. No Rockabye Baby in our house! I LOVE the cars in this vid. So cool.

[susieqbrown]

I think this is the first song I learned all the words to...This teenage tragedy song tells the story of a young couple who are out on a date when their car crashes. The driver - the guy - blacks out. When he comes to, he holds the girl in his arms and gives her one last kiss before she dies. He knows she's in heaven, so he's doing his best to be good so he can see her again someday.
Sadly, it's based on a true story.
On December 22, 1962, five teenagers were riding in a 1954 Chevy Impala on Highway 341 in rural Barnesville, Georgia. The driver was J.L Hancock, a 16-year-old who was dating Jeanette Clark, also 16 and riding in the front seat next to him. Beside her was Wayne Cooper; two other passengers, Jewel Emerson and Ed Shockley, were in the back seat.
It was foggy, and by the time Hancock saw a flatbed truck stalled on the highway, it was too late. He crashed into it, going under the truck and killing everyone in the front seat; the two passengers in the back survived with serious injuries.
This was written by Wayne Cochran, who lived on Route 1941 in Georgia, which was about 15 miles away from the crash. It was a busy road, and Cochran saw lots of accidents on it. He was working on a song based on all the crashes he saw, and was about halfway done with it when he heard about the wreck in Barnesville. There was an intense emotional response from the community after the tragedy, and Cochran used those feelings to finish the song, which he dedicated it to Jeanette Clark.
Cochran's version was a local hit in Georgia, which prompted a Texas record company to record it with J. Frank Wilson and release it nationally.
Cochran named the song "Last Kiss" because it was the dramatic high point of the song, and also because there was a song out by Floyd Cramer called "Last Date."
Copies of Cochran's original version were sold out of the trunks of cars; Major Bill Smith (producer of "Hey Paula" by Paul and Paula) bought a copy and persuaded J. Frank Wilson & the Cavaliers to cover it.

[moweddell]

When my sweetheart and I parked, and listened to the radio, she always insisted on a
kiss when this song played. I was more than willing to comply ! (Go Sunset Bisons - Class of '62)

[ediann]

This has to be one of the saddest and most poignant songs I’ve ever heard in my life and this was before my time as I was born in 1961.

[trapperwildman]

I worked with him when I was 13. He had done got out of music somewhat. I heard him sing it in person. He reminded me of Conway then. It left an impression I'll never forget. I have to visit and listen once a year.

[aaronbarber]

Just read the part of Steven King’s Christine where Arnie Cunningham recalls his dream of Roland D. LeBay’s decaying cadaver behind the wheel of that menacingly beautiful 1958 Plymouth Fury, running down all of the people in Arnie’s life to this tune. You know what? The roar of Christine’s engine, and scream of her tires on asphalt is all that’s needed to complete this song.

Thank you for posting this track. 👍

[connotations]

I found this on YouTube by putting a lot of the words in the search spot. GREAT SONG

[donaldyaney]

Look at the beautiful cars in this video.

[doriswashington]

This brings memories of a guy, that I had just met was seeing for awhile and he was in a motorcycle accident brings good memories and sad because I wonder what could become of our life.

[rickwaldren]

It might be sad in some eyes but remember this these are the songs our parents grew.up songs with meaning and heart. All the songs back.then came from the heart and always had a.messsge behind it....always

[reallifechangingtruth]

Many many songs there was the nothing but Big Band and Jazz music and, .... then, .... in the 50's and 60's, there was a music explosion which sent ripples through the sound-ear continuum. Record companies, looking into the void, found a "rock and roll" afterglow, no matter where they looked and listened. And the rest is Pastor Mike. 10-7-16 @ 12:26 A.M.

[richarda]

There were several songs in the sixties that had lost loves. Far too many were gone, it continues to this day especially around high school graduation.

[AbbyNelms]

Original version yes my favorite version 🎉love the Cars such a more simple time listening and singing in 2024

[gm]

I wish the outro was a little longer. Its my favorite part!

[veraholtdale]

Brings back the old days, I don't feel old but I look it, this was such a sad song when it came out, but oh so good