This 80's hit was actually a cover version of the song by Solomen Linda
and The Evening Birds which was originally released in 1939. Also, in
1961 The Tokens had a #1 in the U.S. with their version and the song has
been covered by numerous artists since.
The most well known version in
the UK, of course, was by Tight Fit who were #1 for three weeks from 6th
March 1982. In 1981, the act was a group of session singers and scored
two hits with Back to the Sixties (part one and two) which was a medley
of 60's hits.
However, for The Lion Sleeps Tonight in 1982, Tight Fit
had become a trio with two females and a male, lip-syncing frontman. The
next song (using the same line-up) Fantasy Island was also a hit reaching #5 in the UK, but this was the groups last Top 40 hit.
