The Lion Sleeps Tonight- Great Rarer Version - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

icecream · 07-01-2025, 03:57 PM

I just heard on Sirius a version of The Lion Sleeps Tonight that I like better than either of the more common ones. Check out Robert John's arrangement from 1972.

Hawkee · 07-02-2025, 02:07 AM

Isn't Robert John the guy who sang Sad Eyes? I didn't even know he had covered The Lion Sleeps Tonight and the only version I heard was the original version by The Tokens. How does Robert John sing The Lion Sleeps Tonight? Does he do a great version of it?

i29u · 07-02-2025, 04:22 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVjPTOmOmq4 http://URL="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVjPTOmOmq4

Robert John’s version isn’t really rare- it went to #3 on Billboard’s Hot 100 pop singles chart, and was awarded a gold record for selling a million singles. I bought it on a 45 back in the 1980’s. The Tokens’ version got only a little higher on Billboard, hitting#1 on the same Hot 100 chart in 1961.

I think if two or more artists had big hits with the same song, often radio stations seem to play only the most popular version as an oldie.

You can listen to Robert John’s version at the above link. According to a YouTube post, “this million-seller update by Robert John featured participation by Tokens members Hank Medress (arranger-producer) and Jay Siegel (background vocal).”

07-01-2025, 03:57 PM	#1
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,688	The Lion Sleeps Tonight- Great Rarer Version I just heard on Sirius a version of The Lion Sleeps Tonight that I like better than either of the more common ones. Check out Robert John's arrangement from 1972.
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07-02-2025, 02:07 AM	#2
Hawkee Michael Fassbender Fanatic Moderator Forum Star Join Date: Jan 17, 2016 Location: California Posts: 10,771	Isn't Robert John the guy who sang Sad Eyes? I didn't even know he had covered The Lion Sleeps Tonight and the only version I heard was the original version by The Tokens. How does Robert John sing The Lion Sleeps Tonight? Does he do a great version of it?
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07-02-2025, 04:22 PM	#3
i29u Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 05, 2004 Posts: 237	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVjPTOmOmq4 http://URL="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVjPTOmOmq4 Robert John’s version isn’t really rare- it went to #3 on Billboard’s Hot 100 pop singles chart, and was awarded a gold record for selling a million singles. I bought it on a 45 back in the 1980’s. The Tokens’ version got only a little higher on Billboard, hitting#1 on the same Hot 100 chart in 1961. I think if two or more artists had big hits with the same song, often radio stations seem to play only the most popular version as an oldie. You can listen to Robert John’s version at the above link. According to a YouTube post, “this million-seller update by Robert John featured participation by Tokens members Hank Medress (arranger-producer) and Jay Siegel (background vocal).”
	Last edited by i29u; 07-02-2025 at 05:06 PM. Reason: Spacing and adding info