love song. "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine" was published in 1951 and recorded by The Weavers on June 12, 1951 in New York City for Decca Records (catalog number 27670), reaching number 19 on the US Billboard chart. The music was credited to Joel Newman and the lyrics to Paul Campbell, both names being pseudonyms for Howie Richmond, The Weavers' publisher. The Weavers' music publisher was Folkways Publishing, one of the many subsidiaries (aliases) of TRO/The Richmond Organisation, founded by Howard Richmond. Others are Ludlow Music, Folkways Music, Essex, Hollis, Hampstead House, Worldwide Music, Melody Trails, and Cromwell. In his 1993 book, Seeger wrote: "Now, who should one credit on this song? The Irish, certainly. Sam Kennedy, who taught it to us. Lead Belly, for adding rhythm and blues chords. Me, for two new words for the refrain. Lee, who wrote seven verses. Fred and Ronnie, for paring them down to five. I know the song publisher, The Richmond Organization, cares. I guess folks whom TRO allows to reprint the song, (like Sing Out!, the publisher of this book) care about this too." Chart performance The Weavers' original 1951 single release spent six weeks on the Billboard chart, peaking at number 19, and reached number 20 on the Cashbox chart. Other recordings The song was also a hit for Jimmie Rodgers in 1957. Rodgers version went to number 7 in the US, and was a Gold record. In 1958, a recording by Frankie Vaughan reached number 8 on the UK Singles Chart. Peter, Paul and Mary included the song on The Peter, Paul and Mary Album in 1966. It was covered by Bongwater on their 1991 album The Power of Pussy. In their Peel session version of the song, Bongwater's lead singer, Ann Magnuson, dedicated the song to friends who had died of AIDS. A version of the song by the Robert De Cormier Singers from their 1967 album Walking in the Sunshine was sampled by J Dilla on "Takin' What's Mine". The Spanish band covered the song, under the title "Besos tan dulces como la miel". Many singers, including Marlene Dietrich, Andy Williams and Alex Harvey, have also covered the song as well as Nana Mouskouri both in French and German, Anita Bryant, Eddy Arnold, Kate Smith, Waylon Jennings, Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt, The New Christy Minstrels, Ray Conniff, Alan Arkin, The Jefferson Starship, and Jussi Lehtisalo. Samples Rap