Italian-American singers / musicians & their hit songs of the 50s & 60s.
At least half of the songs are well known in Hellas. They were either party hits in the 60s & 70s or received respectable radio air-play, mostly in the 80s.
You can listen to the broadcast here
http://yourlisten.com/lefteris.lalos.7/my-radio-boo-broadcast-wednesday-25-november-2015
22:00 - 23:00
01. Peppermint Twist - Part 1 - JOEY DEE & THE STARLITERS (single, 1961)
US # 1, UK # 33
Lyrics
02. Caterina - PERRY COMO (single, 1962)
UK # 4, US # 23, BE # 3, NO # 6, DE # 11
Lyrics
03. As Long As There Is You - TIMI YURO (single, 1969 / LP Something Bad On My Mind, 1968)
The song became a radio hit ONLY in Hellas in 2010, in the ph2 remix version that was included in the collection ''Sweet & Sweat 3''.
Lyrics
04. Shish-Kebab - RALPH MARTERIE & HIS ORCHESTRA (single, 1957)
US # 10, BE # 4
Cover version of ''Harem Dance'' by Armenian Jazz Sextet (1957)
Instrumental
05. Runaround Sue - DION (single, 1961)
US # 1, UK # 11
Both his major solo hits, Runaround Sue & The Wanderer (1961) written by Ernie Maresca.
Most successful cover of the song in Hellas by Leif Garrett (1977)
Lyrics
06. The Night Has A Thousand Eyes - BOBBY VEE (single, 1962)
US # 3, UK # 3
Lyrics
07. Blame It On The Bossa Nova - EYDIE GORME (single, 1962)
US # 7, DE # 1, NO # 2, NL # 5, UK # 32
Lyrics
08. I Will Follow Him - LITTLE PEGGY MARCH (single, 1963)
US # 1, DE # 6
The song was based on Petula Clark's ''Chariot'' (1962) that was a cover version of Franck Pourcel's instrumental ''Chariot'' (1961), composed by Paul Mauriat.
Lyrics
09. I Wonder Why - DION & THE BELMONTS (single, 1958)
US # 22
Lyrics
10. Beggin' - THE FOUR SEASONS (single, 1967)
US # 16
Was a major radio hit in Hellas in its 2007 Pilooski remix.
Lyrics
11. I Get A Kick Out Of You - FRANK SINATRA (LP My Cole Porter, 1969)
Cover version of Cole Porter's ''I Get A Kick Out Of You'' originally sung by Ethel Merman (OST Anything Goes, 1934)
Lyrics
12. Volare - BOBBY RYDELL (single, 1960)
US # 4
Cover of Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu by Domenico Modugno (1958), Eurovision 3rd place for Italy.
Lyrics
13. Beyond The Sea - BOBBY DARIN (single, 1959)
US # 6, UK # 8
Cover version of ''La Mer'' by Charles Trenet (1946)
Lyrics
14. Take Good Care Of My Baby - BOBBY VEE (single, 1961)
US # 1, UK # 3
Lyrics
15. Can't Take My Eyes Off You - FRANKIE VALLI (single, 1967)
US # 2
Lyrics
16. I Got You Babe - SONNY & CHER (single, 1965)
US # 1, UK # 1, CA # 1, IE # 2, DE # 3, NL # 4, AT # 6, NO # 6, FR # 7, FI # 8, BE # 12
It was successfully covered in 1985 by UB40 featuring vocals by Ali & Chrissie Hynde.
The song played a major role in the movie ''Groundhog Day'' (1993)
Lyrics
17. Sway - DEAN MARTIN (single, 1954)
UK # 6, US # 15
Cover version of instrumental ''¿Quien Sera?'' by Pablo Beltran Y Su Orchestra (1953).
Lyrics
18. Mack The Knife - BOBBY DARIN (single, 1959)
US # 1, NO # 9, BE # 11, NL # 14, DE # 31
Cover version of the Bertold Brecht / Kurt Weil song ''Die Moritat Von Mackie Messer'', first interpreted by Kurt Gerron as for ''The Threepenny Oper'' (OST Die Dreigroschenoper, 1928)
Lyrics
19. Venus - FRANKIE AVALON (single, 1959)
US # 1, UK # 16, BE # 2
The song can be heard in 2 scenes in one of my all time favorite movies ''She's Out Of Control'' (1989)
Lyrics
20. Jezebel - FRANKIE LAINE (single, 1951)
US # 2
Lyrics
23:00 - 00:00
21. Pepino, The Italian Mouse - LOU MONTE (single, 1962)
US # 5
Lyrics
22. That's Amore - DEAN MARTIN (single, 1953)
US # 2, UK # 2
First appeaered in the film ''The Caddy'' (1953)
Lyrics
23. All - JAMES DARREN (single, 1966 / OST Run For Your Wife, 1965)
US # 35
Also a well known actor, James starred as Papadimos in the film ''Guns Of Navarone'' (1961)
Lyrics
24. Baby I Need Your Lovin' - JOHNNY RIVERS (single, 1967)
US # 3
Cover version of ''Baby I Need Your Lovin'' by the The Four Tops (1964)
Lyrics
25. Walking Alone - RONNIE DIO & THE PROPHETS (single, 1964 / LP Ronnie Dio & The Prophets, 1964)
Lyrics
26. Magic Moments - PERRY COMO with MITCHELL AYRES ORCHESTRA & THE RAY CHARLES SINGERS (single, 1957)
UK # 1, US # 4 (although his b-side ''Catch A Falling Star'' peaked at # 1)
One of the first hits written by Burt Bacharach & Hal David.
Lyrics
27. Spanish Eyes - AL MARTINO (single, 1965 / LP Spanish Eyes, 1966)
US # 15, UK # 5 (1973), BE # 1, DE # 3, AT # 3, NL 13
The song is based on the instrumental ''Moon Over Naples'' by Bert Kaempfert (1965).
Al portrayed Johnny Fontane in ''The Godfather'' (1972)
Lyrics
28. The World We Knew (Over & Over) - FRANK SINATRA (LP The World We Knew, 1967)
US # 30, BE # 4, AT # 19, DE # 22
Cover version of ''The World We Knew'' by Bert Kaempfert (1967)
Lyrics
29. I Left My Heart In San Francisco - TONY BENNETT (LP I Left My..., 1962)
US # 19, UK # 25
Tony sung ''I've Got The World On A String'' in the end scene of ''Analyze This'' (1999)
Lyrics
30. Free - TOMMY LEONETTI (single, 1956)
US # 23
Lyrics
31. Who's Sorry Now - CONNIE FRANCIS (single, 1957)
UK # 1, US # 4
The song was published in 1923 and interpreted by Lisette Verea in the Marx Brothers film ''A Night In Casablanca'' (1946)
Lyrics
32. You Don't Know Me - JERRY VALE (single, 1956)
US # 14
Cover version of Eddy Arnold's ''You Don't Know Me'' (1956)
The song can be heard by Ray Charles in one of my favorite movies, ''Groundhog Day'' (1993)
Lyrics
33. Why - FRANKIE AVALON (single, 1959)
US # 1, UK # 20, NO # 3, NL # 11, BE # 11
Lyrics
34. Summer Wind - FRANK SINATRA (single, 1966)
US # 25, UK # 36
Cover version of ''Der Sommerwind'' of Grethe Ingmann (1965)
Lyrics
35. Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing - THE FOUR ACES (single, 1955)
US # 1, BE # 6
Won the Academy Award for Best Song for the 1955 film ''Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing''.
The Four Aces were 3 Ittalian-Americans & an Irish-American, led by Al Alberts.
Lyrics
36. Lujon - HENRY MANCINI (LP Mr. Lucky Goes Latin, 1961)
Among his famous instrumentals in Hellas are Peter Gunn theme (Peter Gunn TV series, 1958), Moon River (OST Breafast At Tiffany's, 1961), The Pink Panther Theme (OST The Pink Panther, 1963), Ravel's Bolero (OST 10, 1979) etc.
This instrumental was used in No More Sweet Music by Hooverphonic in 2005.
37. The Rose Tattoo -. PERRY COMO with MITCH MITCHELL AYRES & HIS ORCHESTRA (single, 1955)
Lyrics
38. Hurt - TIMI YURO (single, 1961)
US # 4, NL 2, BE # 6
Cover version of ''Hurt'' by Roy Hamilton (1954)
Very popular in Hellas was the Italian version of Fausto Leali' ttitled ''A Chi'' 1967 (IT # 1, AT # 9)
Lyrics
39. Unchained Melody - LIBERACE (b-side single, 1956)
Liberace is mentioned in 2 of my favorite songs: Mr. Sandman by The Chordettes (1954 / lyrics) & My Baby Just Cares For Me by Nina Simone (1958 / lyrics)
Songs referring to Italian-American singers:
TONY BENNETT
Tony Adams - JOE STRUMMER & THE MESCALEROS (1999 / Lyrics: gotta Tony Bennett eight track in the hotel pity)
PERRY COMO
I Really Like You - MELISSA ETHERIDGE (1995 / Lyrics: I'll find that song by Perry Como you like to sing)
FRANKIE LAINE
Memories - LEONARD COHEN (1977 / Lyrics: Frankie Laine, he was singing Jezebel)
DON McLEAN
Killing Me Softly With His Song - LORI LIEBERMAN (1972 / The song is about Don)
Killing Me Softly With His Song - ROBERTA FLACK (1973 / Lyrics)
FRANK SINATRA
Empire State Of Mind - JAY-Z feat. ALICIA KEYS (2009 / Lyrics: I'm the new Sinatra)
Every Day - ROXETTE (2002 / Lyrics: I play the music he adores, like Sinatra then we're talking)
Fairytale of New York - THE POGUES feat. KIRSTY MacCOLL (1987 / Lyrics: Sinatra was swinging)
Hey Manhattan - PREFAB SPROUT (1988 / Lyrics: just to think Sinatra's been here too)
I Can Only Disappoint U - MANSUN (2000 / Lyrics: You sing like Sinatra, always)
It’s My Life - BON JOVI (2000 / Lyrics: like Frankie said I did it "My Way")
Life In A Northern Town - THE DREAM ACADEMY (1985 / Lyrics; like Sinatra in a younger day)
She Goes On - CROWDED HOUSE (1991 / Lyrics: we owe it all to Frank Sinatra)
Sugar Mice - MARILLION (1987 / Lyrics: I heard Sinatra calling me down through the floorboards)
On & On - STEPHEN BISHOP (1977 / Lyrics: puts on Sinatra & starts to cry)
When Do I Get To Sing "My Way" - SPARKS (1994 / Lyrics: when do I get to feel like Sinatra)
SONY & CHER
Too Hot - FUN LOVIN' CRIMINALS (2003 / Lyrics: We're kinda hot together like Sonny & Cher)
