Phonostalgia 241 - 20.05.2008.

01.05.1993 QUEEN/G. MICHAEL/L. STANSFIELD - FIVE LIVE {EP} (SOMEBODY TO LOVE - US BIGGEST MOVER) - UK 1 – 3

57/71 ukup.singl; 5/6 UK1; Five Live E.P., 19.04.1993.

"Somebody to Love" is a song written by Freddie Mercury and performed by English rock band Queen featured on the 1976 album A Day at the Races.
Like "Bohemian Rhapsody", the major hit from Queen's previous album, "Somebody to Love" has a complex melody and deep layering of vocal tracks, this time based on a gospel choir arrangement. It was the first single off the album A Day at the Races. It is a rock ballad on which band members Freddie Mercury, Brian May and Roger Taylor multitracked their voices to create the impression of a 100-voice gospel choir. The lyrics, especially combined with the gospel influence, create a song about faith, desperation and soul-searching; the singer questions both the lack of love experienced in his life and the role and existence of God. Staying true to Queen's guitar-driven style, it was also filled with intricate harmonies and a notable guitar solo by Brian May, and it went to number 2 on the UK charts and number 13 on the U.S. singles chart.
At the 1992 Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert held at Wembley Stadium, the song was performed by George Michael, and this was later rereleased in 1993 as the lead track of an EP called Five Live which went to #1 in the UK. This version is also available on Greatest Hits III, released in 1999.
During American Idol season 5, Brian May, while working with Elliott Yamin, said this song was written with Aretha Franklin in mind.

In 1977 there was an Italian version, "Un uomo per me" ("A man for me"), performed by Mia Martini with the chorus "I Cantori Moderni di Alessandroni". It's included on Martini's album Per amarti ("To love you").

Five Live, released in 1993, features five (in some countries, where it is considered to be a reduced-length long-playing album, six) tracks, performed by George Michael, Queen, and Lisa Stansfield. Somebody to Love and These Are the Days of Our Lives (both also availbale on video) were recorded at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, held on 20.04.1992, at Wembley Stadium. In particular, the live performance of the opener gave Michael a lot more credibility as an adult artist, making him one of the few acts of the evening to be praised for fitting Freddie's hard, controversial shoes.
All proceeds from the sale of the EP benefited the Mercury Phoenix Trust. Sales of the record were in fact very strong throughout Europe, where it debuted at Number One, in the UK Singles Chart, and several European countries, either considered as a single, an extended play, or an LP. Chart success in the U.S. was far less spectacular, but the EP still peaked at Number 30 on the Billboard 200.
An edited shorter version of Killer and Papa Was a Rollin' Stone, a live medley already (performed by George at the Wembley Arena, as Calling You was, from the "Bagdad Café" soundtrack, also previously, but less successfully covered, by Paul Young), was released by George Michael as a further independent single, in some territories only. The singer also shot a video for it, where he did not appear personally though (it was during the time when the artist refused to exploit his outward look, which he though would distract the audience from the music, his main concern).
While These Are the Days of Our Lives, played by Queen, is actually a duet between George Michael and Lisa Stansfield's extremely soulful voices, the sixth optional track is represented by a short performance by Queen, entitled Dear Friends, originally sung by Freddie Mercury himself. Recorded in 1974, this constitutes the one studio recording on the record.
Usually, countries where the six-track work is distributed consider it to be as a short LP, whereas those where the five-track (hence, its title) work is available generally tend to see it as an EP or even (if Killer/Papa Was a Rollin' Stone was not marketed independently in those same territories) as a particularly long or content-rich single. However, no matter its status, whether an EP, a short album or a long single, the work as a whole sold an estimated 5 million copies worldwide

26.03.1989 CHER & PETER CETERA - AFTER ALL - US 6 – 11

32.ukup.singl; After All (US6; UK84) (prodan u 1,5 mil); Album (20): Heart of Stone, 19.06.1989. (US10; UK7); soundtrack: Chances Are (1989 romantic comedy)

"After All" is a ballad performed as a duet by American singer and actress Cher and American singer Peter Cetera, released in 1989. It was used as the love theme for the movie Chances Are and was also the first US single release from Cher's 28th album Heart of Stone.
The single peaked at number six in the United States and Canada, the only two countries where the song was officially released. However, it did manage to enter some European charts due to airplay, including Ireland, where it peaked at 24, and the United Kingdom, where it made it made to 84.
"After All" also became Cher's first number one hit on the Adult Contemporary chart in the United States. Although the song found strong success in the United States, no video was ever made.

Side Note: Cher and Peter never recorded in the same studio. Each track was recorded separately then mixed together.
There is no footage of Cher and Cetera ever performing this song live together.

Cher did perform a solo version of the song during her Heart Of Stone and Love Hurts tours. She then performed it with her keyboardist/musical director, Paul Mirkovich, for her Believe and Farewell tours. These particular performances would accompany a video montage of Cher in film, which would start before the song begins.


Heart of Stone was released on June 19, 1989 and was the second for Geffen Records. Like on her previous album, Cher, Peter Asher, Jon Bon Jovi, Diane Warren, Guy Roche and Desmond Child performed songwriting and/or producing duties, Bonnie Tyler did backing vocals with Michael Bolton in Emotional Fire.
The album was recorded in late 1988/early 1989, during the third year of Cher's relationship to Rob Camilletti. She dedicated the album to him. The record is still regarded by many fans as one of her best.
The album was originally released with cover artwork featuring Cher sitting in front of a heart made of stone, creating the illusion of a skull (see picture below). The artwork was changed shortly after its release, making copies with the original artwork collector's items.
Heart of Stone became her biggest selling album at that time peaked at #7 in UK and #10 in U.S. having sold over 11 million copies worldwide.
Cher recorded two other songs for the album "Don't Come Cryin' to Me" and "Some Guys" but neither made the final cut. A remixed version of "Don't Come Cryin' to Me" was included on the Geffen compilation album If I Could Turn Back Time: Cher's Greatest Hits. The reissue of the album, however, does not include the song. A demo version of "Some Guys" was included on the "If I Could Turn Back Time" 7 and 12 inch single.
"Heart of Stone" and "If I Could Turn Back Time" were both slightly remixed and included those versions on the single. The "Heart of Stone" remix is available on CD on the compilation If I Could Turn Back Time: Cher's Greatest Hits issued by Geffen Records.

Chances Are is a 1989 romantic comedy film written by Perry & Randy Howze and directed by Emile Ardolino. Starring Cybill Shepherd, Robert Downey, Jr., Ryan O'Neal, and Mary Stuart Masterson. The original music score was composed by Maurice Jarre. The film's tagline is: "Alex has a lifetime full of wonderful memories. Unfortunately, they're not his."
The movie soundtrack included the Billboard's Top 10 single hit song "After All" (composed by Tom Snow and lyrics by Dean Pitchford) performed by Cher and Peter Cetera. This was nominated for Academy Awards Best Original Song.

Album: Heart of Stone - Sales worldwide: 11+ million[2]
Sales Flag of the United States: 4.0 million [3]
4× Platinum (08/10/98)
Sales Flag of the United Kingdom: 0.3 million [4]
Platinum (02/01/90)

15.10.1988 ELTON JOHN - A WORD IN SPANISH - US 19 – 6

Sir Elton Hercules John (r Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947) is an English pop/rock singer, composer and pianist.
In his four-decade career, John has been one of the dominant forces in rock and popular music, especially during the 1970s. He has sold more than 250 million albums[citation needed] and over one hundred million singles,[3] making him one of the most successful artists of all time. He has more than 50 Top 40 hits including seven consecutive #1 U.S. albums, 59 Top 40 singles, 16 Top 10, 4 #2 hits, and nine #1 hits.[4] He has won five Grammy awards and one Academy Award. His success has had a profound impact on popular music and has contributed to the continued popularity of the piano in rock and roll. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked him #49 on their list of the 100 greatest artists of all time.[5]
Some of the characteristics of John's music are his ability to quickly craft melodies for the lyrics of songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, his former rich tenor (now baritone) voice, his classical and gospel-influenced piano, the aggressive orchestral arrangements of Paul Buckmaster among others and the flamboyant fashions and on-stage showmanship, especially evident during the 1970s.
John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. He has been heavily involved in the fight against AIDS since the late 1980s and was knighted in 1998. He entered into a civil partnership with David Furnish on 21 December 2005 and continues to be a champion for the LGBT social movements. On April 9, 2008 Elton John held a benefit concert for the Hillary Clinton Presidential Campaign, and raised $2.5 million.

75. ukup.singl; A Word in Spanish (US19; UK91); Album (21): Reg Strikes Back (US16; UK18), 4 milijuna primjeraka

A Word in Spanish, treći singl s albuma Reg Strikes Back

Reg Strikes Back is the twenty-first studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1988. It was his self-proclaimed comeback album, and his own way of fighting back against bad press. The "Reg" in Reg Strikes Back refers to Elton John's birth name, Reginald Kenneth Dwight. This is the last album that bassist Dee Murray would appear on. He died in 1992. The tracks "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That" and "A Word In Spanish" peaked at #2 and #19 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively.
Elton John does not play a grand piano on this album, replacing it with a Roland RD-1000 digital piano, a mainstay of the Elton sound until 1994.

22.04.1989 SIMPLE MINDS - THIS IS YOUR LAND - UK 13
Simple Minds are a rock band from Scotland, which had its greatest worldwide popularity from the mid-1980s to the early-1990s. The band, from the south side of Glasgow, produced a handful of critically acclaimed albums in the early 1980s, and later went on to produce some politically inspired and critically praised work.

Simple Minds have secured a string of successful hit singles, the best known being its number one worldwide hit single "Don't You (Forget About Me)", from the soundtrack of the John Hughes movie The Breakfast Club.
Founding members Jim Kerr (vocals) and Charlie Burchill (guitar), along with drummer Mel Gaynor, are the core of the band, which currently features Mark Taylor / Andy Gillespie on keyboards and Eddie Duffy on bass guitar.


25. ukup.singl; This Is Your Land / Saturday Girl (10.04.1989.); Album (9): Street Fighting Years (UK1); Treći singl s albuma.

"This Is Your Land" is a song by Scottish rock band Simple Minds from their album Street Fighting Years. The song came #13 on the U.S. Pop.

Street Fighting Years is an album by Simple Minds, released in 1989. It was a major stylistic departure from the previous album, 1985's Once Upon A Time, and contained the band's most overtly political lyrics. The album reached Number 1 in the UK on the success of the chart-topping single "Belfast Child", and was well-reviewed, receiving a rare five-star review in Q Magazine. Despite contributions from Lou Reed and ex-Police drummer Stewart Copeland, as well as production by Yes member Trevor Horn, the album performed poorly in the USA and produced no hit singles.

Singlovi s albuma Street Fighting Years: (Belfast Child UK1; Mandela Day; This Is Your Land UK13; Take A Step Back; Kick It In; Let It All Come Down UK 18).


28.05.1989 MICHAEL DAMIIAN - ROCK ON - US 1 – 1
Michael Damian is an American actor, singer and producer, known mainly for his eighteen-year run on the #1-rated daytime drama, The Young and the Restless.
Born in San Diego, California, Damian made his feature film debut as an actor in the Garry Marshall-directed comedy Young Doctors in Love. Later followed a recurring role for two seasons on NBC's The Facts of Life. He is married to Janeen Best, a former Solid Gold dancer and the daughter of the actor James Best (The Dukes of Hazzard).
After leaving "The Young and the Restless," Damian landed the starring role in the Broadway production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The production became the highest grossing revival in Los Angeles history, before hitting Broadway, where it continued to break box office records as well as earning Damian a Grammy nomination.
In addition to his Broadway career, Damian has released 5 albums and has had 8 top 40 hits including his #1 single "Rock On", which earned him his first gold record. He also won a BMI Song-writing Award for his hit single, "Was It Nothing At All".
Damian made his feature film directorial debut with the award winning indie comedy Hot Tamale[1], which he co-wrote and produced with his wife, Janeen. He went on to write and direct the family dramedy Moondance Alexander, to be released by Fox in April 2008.
Damian reprised the role of "Danny Romalotti" on "The Young and the Restless" in March 2008, as part of the show's 35th anniversary celebration.

"Rock On" is a song that was composed and sung by English singer/songwriter David Essex. In March of 1974, it was a Top 5 song (reaching the #5 position) on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 pop-music chart. It was Essex's only Billboard Top 40 hit. The song also reached the #3 spot on the UK Singles Chart. "Rock On", which also appeared on the eponymous album by Essex in 1973 (see 1973 in music), also appeared in the movie That'll Be the Day, a 1973 release in which Essex had a starring role. The song can still frequently be heard on oldies radio stations.
Essex's song is also the opening song for the 2000-release movie Sunset Strip.

The song features a slow-tempo, soulful vocal delivery sung in a minor key, along with a minimalist, heavily-bass-driven instrumental accompaniment to Essex's vocals. The lyrics pay homage to early rock and roll and its surrounding youth subculture, and notably mentions to 1950s iconic rebel James Dean. The vocals are punctuated with distortion and echo effects to add to the soulful, hip, "power delivery" of Essex's lyrics. Still further adding to the song's emotion-laden, slightly-haunting feel is a heartbeat-sounding percussive hook at the beginning of the song, an atonal string glide in the middle of the song, a very brief duet with a very-soulful-sounding, deep-voiced backup singer towards the end of the song, and muffled-sounding, staccato percussive riffs interspersed throughout the song.

"Rock On" was covered by soap opera star and singer Michael Damian in 1989 (see 1989 in music) and featured in the teen film, Dream a Little Dream. Damian's version reached the #1 position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, thus outperforming Essex's original version.

The English hard-rock band Def Leppard covered the song on their 2006 album, Yeah!, which features cover versions of 1970s rock hits. It was released as the second single from the album.
The American alternative-rock group The Smashing Pumpkins included a live cover version of "Rock On", performed during their Sacred and Profane tour, on their 2001-release album Judas Ø, a bonus disc (containing B-sides and rarities) which accompanied the group's greatest hits album Rotten Apples.

20.05.1978 PATTY PRAVO - PENSIERO STUPENDO - IT 2
Patty Pravo is the stage name of Italian pop singer Nicoletta Strambelli, born in Venice on 9 April 1948.
She studied at the conservatory institute Benedetto Marcello and has known American poet and writer Ezra Pound and the pope Angelo Roncalli (Pope John XXIII).
Irrepressible and adventurous, at age 15 she left home to live in London and then Rome.
In Rome she began her career singing in the night club called Piper Club. In 1966 she made her first single, "Ragazzo Triste" (Sad Boy), the highly successful Italian version of the song "But You're Mine" by Sonny Bono.
Patty followed that by recording numerous songs, the most popular being "Qui e là" (Here and There), "Se Perdo Te" (If I Lose You, 1967), "La Bambola" (The Doll, 1968), "Sentimento" (Feeling, 1968), "Tripoli '69" (1969), "Il Paradiso" (The Heaven, written by Lucio Battisti in 1969), "Pazza Idea" (Crazy Idea, 1973) and "Pensiero Stupendo" (Stupendous Thought, 1978).
She is featured on many Italian television programs and in 1970 she hosted her own program called Bravo-Pravo!, broadcast on French television. She became a symbol for women of the 60s, exemplifying their evolution from more established conservative roles. Patty is blonde, lithe and striking in appearance, yet she has a deep voice, ideally suited for rock and dramatic musicals. In 1978, she appeared on a TV show called Stryx, wearing very strange and provocative clothing which had many heads turning.
She became more prolific, and by 1994 was traveling to China to record her album Ideogrammi. In 1995 she returned to Italy and re-emerged in 1997 singing "E Dimmi Che Non Vuoi Morire", written by Vasco Rossi.
She seems to have discovered a new-found creativity, releasing four albums in 2004 alone.

Album: Miss Italia, 1978.

Popularna plavuša jako dobrog izgleda, Nicoletta Strambelli, rođena u Veneciji, nakon smrti djeda seli u London gdje će biti zapažena u vrućem spotu Piper. Njena pjesma Ragazzo Triste, prva je pop pjesma koju je pustio Radio Vatikan, što joj je donijelo veliku popularnost. Singl "La Bambola" bit će rasprodan u više od 9 milijuna kopija širom svijeta. Zatim slijede hitovi "Qui e la", "Il paradiso" and "Tripoli iz 1969. Pazza Idea iz ’73, Pensiero Stupendo ’78.

11.06.1978 ANDY GIBB - SHADOW DANCING - US 1 - 7
Andrew Roy Gibb, r 05.03.1958 u Manchesteru, Eng. umro u 30. godini 10.3.88. u Oxfordu, bio je najmlađi brat The Bee Geesa (Barry, Robin, Maurice).
10.03.1988., od upale srčanog mišića, miokarditisa, pet dana nakon navršenih 30 godina umro je najmlađi i po mnogima najtalentiraniji član popularne obitelji Gibb i pripadajuće skupine The Bee Gees, Andy Gibb. Prvi se iz benda otisnuo u solo vode, te je već 1977. imao dva singla na vrhu američke top ljestvice, a početkom 1978. i treći. Uz uspješnju glazbenu karijeru prilično dobro se snašao i kao televizijski voditelj.

Treći Top40 singl i treći #1, Shadow Dancing, Album (2): Shadow Dancing, 1978 (US #7)
Singl je to s njegovog drugog samostalnog albuma, također nazvanog «Shadow Dancing», s kojeg su još skinuta dva singla, Don't Throw It All Away i An Everlasting Love.

US 1- prije su bile I just want to be your everything ’77, Love is thicker than water’77.

20.05.1978 SMOKIE - OH CAROL - UK 5
Smokie are an English glam rock band from Bradford who found success in Europe in the 1970s.
Originally called The Yen, then The Sphynx and later Essence, the band was formed in 1965 at St. Bede's Grammar School in Heaton, Bradford. It comprised of Chris Norman (vocals/guitar/piano) born Christopher Ward Norman, 25 October 1950, Redcar, Middlesbrough, Yorkshire),

10/13 UK Top40; Oh Carol; Album (6): The Montreux Album, 1978.

20.05.1978 MANHATTAN TRANSFER - ON A LITTLE STREET IN SINGAPORE - UK 20
The Manhattan Transfer is the name of two incarnations of an American vocal group, with Tim Hauser being the only link between the two groups. The group's name comes from John Dos Passos' 1925 novel Manhattan Transfer and reflects their New York origins.
The first group, established in New York City in 1969, disbanded after producing a single album, Jukin' (1971). The second line-up (on which this article focuses) was set up in 1972 and is still together as of 2007. It is famous for mixing jazz, big band, and popular music styles.

5/8 UKTop40; On a Little Street in Singapore; Album (3): Pastiche, 19.01.1978. (US66, UK10)

On a Little Street in Singapore is a jazz song written by Peter De Rose and Billy Hill. Though now obscure, it had some measure of popularity in the 1930s and 40s, marked by a number of high-profile performances. Artists to cover the song included Frank Sinatra, Glenn Miller and Jimmy Dorsey among others. Manhattan Transfer covered it again in 1972. The song features a haunting, lazy hook in a minor key, with numerous diminished chords. The overall impression is both languid and wistful.

Pastiche was released by The Manhattan Transfer on January 19, 1978, It was re-issued on the Rhino on November 15, 1994. This was the last studio album recorded with Laurel Massé, who left the group later that year.

04.03.1962 KETTY LESTER - LOVE LETTERS - US 5 – 11 (UK4-19.04.1962)
Revoyda Frierson, r 16.8.34. Hope, Arkansas; ’55 seli u L.A. Nastupila u nekoliko fimova i TV emisija.

Ketty Lester (born Revoyda Frierson, 16 August 1934, Hope, Arkansas) is an American singer and television actress, who is probably best known for her 1962 hit single, "Love Letters", which reached the Top 5 of the charts in both the United States and the United Kingdom.
Lester began her singing career after studying music at San Francisco State College and performed in the city's Purple Onion club in the early 1950s. Later she would join Cab Calloway's orchestra on a European tour. After a brief stint in an off-Broadway production entitled Cabin in the Sky, she was signed to Era Records which released "Love Letters". The song would become a big seller in both the United Kingdom and the United States, and reach Number #2 on the Billboard R&B chart.
Also in 1962, Lester would collaborate with American R&B singer Betty Everett, and the duo released the album, Betty Everett & Ketty Lester.
Lester would later establish herself as a television actress in the 1970s and 1980s. She played the roles of 'Helen Grant' in the soap opera, Days of Our Lives from 1975 to 1977, and 'Hester-Sue Terhune' on the NBC television series Little House on the Prairie from 1978 to 1983.

1/1 UKTop40; 1/1 US hit; Love Letters

"Love Letters" is a 1945 popular song with music by Victor Young and lyrics by Edward Heyman. The song appeared, without lyrics, in the movie of the same name, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song for 1945.
The song has been performed many times, but the best-known versions were made by Dick Haymes (in 1945), by Ketty Lester (in 1962), by Elvis Presley (in 1966) and by Alison Moyet (1987). The song has also been recorded by Cilla Black for her 1965 album Cilla, Sandie Shaw for her 1965 album Sandie, Sinéad O'Connor for her 1992 album Am I Not Your Girl? and Etta James, for her 2001 album Blue Gardenia.
A version by The Lettermen appeared on their 1966 album A New Song for Young Love. It was also released as the b-side of their single "I Only Have Eyes for You."
David Lynch used Ketty Lester's version in the soundtrack of his 1986 film, Blue Velvet.

10.05.1962 BRIAN HYLAND - GINNY COME LATELY - UK 5
Bio zajedno s Del Shannonom u produkcijskoj kompaniji ’70; r 12.11.43. Queens, N.Y.; s 12 godina osn grupu Delphis; od 1970. u produkcijskoj suradnji s Del Shannonom

Brian Hyland (born November 12, 1943, in Woodhaven, Queens, New York) is an American pop recording artist who was particularly successful during the early 1960s. He continued recording into the 1970s.

3/6 UK Top40; Ginny Come Lately

12.04.1962 DANNY WILLIAMS - WONDERFUL WORLD OF THE YOUNG - UK 8
Danny Williams, rođen je 07.01.1942. u Južnoj Africi, a 1960.se preselio u Englesku; Umro 06.12.2005.
Šezdesetih godina popularni južnoafričko - britanski glazbenik Danny Williams umro je na današnji dan, 06.12.2005., od raka u 64. godini. Iz Južnoafričke Republike u kojoj je rođen 1942. u Port Elizabethu, s 18 godina preselio se u Veliku Britaniju gdje je proveo ostatak života, a publiku je posebice osvojio baladama. Na vrhu britanske top ljestvice bio je krajem 1961. s obradom klasika Henrya Mancinija, Moon River, iz poznatog filma Blakea Edwardsa Doručak kod Tiffanya.
28.12.1961 Danny Williams - Moon River - Uk 1

3/5 UK Top40; Wonderful World Of The Young

03.05.1962 BILLY FURY - LAST NIGHT WAS MADE FOR LOVE - UK 4

Billy Fury (born Ronald William Wycherley, 17 April 1940 - 28 January 1983), was an internationally successful British pop singer from the late 1950s to the early 1960s, and remained an active songwriter until the 1980s. Rheumatic fever, which damaged his heart, contributed to his death.
Born at Smithdown Hospital (now Sefton General Hospital), Smithdown Road, Liverpool, Ronnie Wycherley first attended a gig in Liverpool run by impresario Larry Parnes, in the hope of interesting established artiste Marty Wilde in some of the songs he had written. Instead, in an episode that has become pop music legend, Parnes pushed young Wycherley up on stage right away. He was such an immediate success that Parnes signed him, added him to the tour, and renamed him "Billy Fury".
He released his first hit for Decca, "Maybe Tomorrow", in 1959. By March 1960, he hit UK Number 9 with his own composition "Collette", followed by "That's Love" and his first album The Sound Of Fury (1960), which featured a young Joe Brown on lead guitar, with backup vocals by The Four Jays.
After further hits and sacking his band The Blue Flames—which included keyboardist Georgie Fame—auditions were held for a new group and held by Parnes in Liverpool. Among those who failed were the pre-fame Beatles, who for the first time called themselves The Silver Beetles. They were offered the job for £20 a week on condition that they sacked bass guitar player Stuart Sutcliffe. John Lennon refused and the band left after Lennon had secured Fury's autograph. The Beatles were salvaged, however, by being sent on a tour of Scotland with Johnny Gentle and Duffy Power, who were a couple more of Parnes' acts.
Fury concentrated less on Rock 'n' Roll and more on mainstream ballads, such as "Halfway to Paradise" and "Jealousy" (both 1961, each of which reached number 2 in the British Singles Chart). This was Decca's decision to mould Fury into a teen idol after his last self-penned song, "My Christmas Prayer", had failed to chart. The years 1962 and 1963 were Billy Fury's best years chartwise. However, he was not a typical teen idol; there was too much sexuality in his performances and his renditions were never lightweight in the mould of some singers like Craig Douglas or Jimmy Justice. Fury's fans and contemporaries in music knew he was a rocker and the real thing musically.
In 1962 Fury appeared in his first film Play It Cool, modelled on the Elvis movies. It featured Helen Shapiro, Danny Rivers, Shane Fenton (aka Alvin Stardust) and Bobby Vee who appeared with the Vernons Girls. The hit single from the film was "Once Upon a Dream". In the film Fury did not get the girl but stayed with his friends. There are notable performances by many well-known British actors and performers such as Richard Wattis, Lionel Blair and Dennis Price. The music highlight of the film is Fury's singing of the title track.
Billy Fury was known for excellent albums. His We Want Billy (released 1963, with The Tornados) was one of the first live albums in British rock history and featured renditions of his major hits and covers of several classic R&B songs such as "Unchain My Heart" by Ray Charles. "Turn Your Lamp Down Low" (recorded in 1965 with backing band The Gamblers) was one of the earliest examples of a British act recording a track in the reggae style (with the emphasis on the second and fourth beats of each bar).
In 1965 he appeared in the film I've Gotta Horse, which featured the band The Bachelors. The movie was not a success but it seemed more real, and there are many interesting references to the British seaside towns of the 1960s. A few of the minor roles are notable for appearances by Michael Medwin and Jon Pertwee of Doctor Who fame. The album from the film is available in stereo.
Having had more UK hits, such as "It's Only Make Believe" and "I Will" (written by Dick Glasser, not to be confused with the Paul McCartney song), both in 1964, and "In Thoughts of You" in 1965, Fury began a lengthy absence from the charts in 1967, and underwent surgery for heart problems caused by rheumatic fever which led to his abandoning touring. Despite spending many weeks on the charts, Billy Fury never achieved a number one single, but he remained popular even after his hits stopped. Fury's song "I Will" would become a US hit for Dean Martin in 1965 and would later be a US hit for Ruby Winters in 1977.

In 1973, Fury came out of retirement to play rock 'n' roller "Stormy Tempest" in the film That'll Be The Day. The film, starring David Essex and Ringo Starr, was roughly based on the early days of The Beatles. Ringo Starr was from the same Dingle area of Liverpool as Fury, and had originally played drums for Rory Storm & The Hurricanes, who the Stormy Tempest group were said to be modelled on.
In 1981 and 1982, Fury was signed to Polydor Records by A&R man Frank Neilson and recorded a comeback album, The One And Only (released posthumously) with Shakin' Stevens' producer Stuart Colman and several singles. Because of his health, Fury did little touring to promote the new album. His last public appearance was at the Sunnyside, Northampton, in December 1982. He recorded a live performance for the television show Unforgettable featuring six of his old hits. At the request of his mother, only four were transmitted, however, as the two others had such great emotional attachment for her.
Fury lived with Lee Middleton from 1959 to 1967, married Judith Hall in May 1969 and lived with the property heiress Lisa Rosen from 1971 until his death on 28 January 1983 at Paddington, West London.
The song "A Wondrous Place" which was a great favourite of Fury's (so much so that he recorded it at least four times during his career) later received much airplay on British television when it was used as the theme for a Toyota Yaris car advertisement in 1999 and 2000.
Billy Fury was a keen amateur birdwatcher.
He is buried at the Paddington District Cemetery, Milespit Hill, Mill Hill, London NW7, and his grave is always well maintained, with fresh flowers and messages from fans.

14/48 ukup.singl; Last Night Was Made For Love / A King For Tonight

Billy Fury statue at Albert Dock, Liverpool, by Tom Murphy, a Liverpool sculptor, in 2003. The sculpture was donated to National Museums Liverpool by 'The Sound of Fury' fan club. Picture taken 2008-03-08. Birkenhead and the River Mersey in the background.

15.05.1955 JO STAFFORD - YOUNG AND FOOLISH - CB 40
Nije u 78. pjesma koji su bili na Billboardovoj top ljestvici u Top40, ali je na Cash Boxu

"Young and Foolish" is a popular song.
The music was written by Albert Hague, the lyrics by Arnold B. Horwitt. The song was published in 1954.
The song was introduced in the musical Plain And Fancy.
It has been recorded by many singers. A cover version by Ronnie Hilton reached #17 on the UK Singles Chart in 1956.

25.02.1955 NAT KING COLE - A BLOSSOM FELL - UK 3

63/91 Top40; A Blossom Fell / B: If I May (Nat King Cole & The Four Knights)

"A Blossom Fell" is a popular song.
It was written by Howard Barnes, Harold Cornelius, and Dominic John and published in 1954.
The best-known version was recorded by Nat King Cole. The recording was released by Capitol Records as catalog number 3095. The B-side was "If I May." The record first reached the Billboard magazine charts on April 27, 1955 and lasted 20 weeks on the chart, peaking at #2. [1] (Note that in this era, Billboard combined data for both sides of two-sided hits, so the #2 status applies to the combination of "A Blossom Fell" and "If I May").
A cover version by Ronnie Hilton, also recorded in 1955, charted in the United Kingdom, reaching #10 on the UK Singles Chart. British singer Dickie Valentine's version appeared on Variety's juke box listing.
The song also featured in Terrence Malick's 1973 film Badlands.

25.06.1955 SAMMY DAVIS JR. - LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME - US 20 – 1

4/10 US Top40; Love Me Or Leave Me

Love Me Or Leave Me; Music by Walter Donaldson; Lyrics by Gus Kahn; tema iz broadwayske predstvave Whoopee! Prvi ju je puta snimila 17.12.1928. Ruth Etting za Columbia Records; US#2 1929 by Ruth Etting, čija je verzija 2005. je uvrštena u a GRAMMY Hall Of Fame; Pjesmu je snimio i Benny Goodman u dva navrata 1934. i 1936.
Doris Day ju je snimila 1955. za film “Love me or leave me” o životu jedne od najvećih pjevačica svih vremena Ruth Etting, u kojem baš Doris igra glavnu uloge velike pjevačice. Top je bio drugi film koji je Doris snimila s glumce m Jamesom Cagneyem;


14.05.1955 GEORGIA GIBBS - DANCE WITH ME HENRY - US 1 – 3
“Her Nibs, Miss Gibbs” Kako ju je prozvao Garry Moore na čuvenom radijskom showu kojeg je vodio s Jimmyjem Durante-om; pravo ime Freda Gibbons; Worcester, Massachusetts; od 1937-38 pjevala u Lucky Strike Radio Show; surađivala s mnogim zvijezdama 40’tih poput Artie Showa 1942;
Obrada pjesme The Mindightersa iz R&B#1 iz ’54 “Work with me Annie” i Ette James R&B#1 iz ’55 “The Wallflower”. Slušali smo 'Tweedle Dee' (obrada hita LaVern Baker) US#2

2/2 US1; Dance With Me Henry;

"The Wallflower" (also known as "Roll With Me Henry" and "Dance with Me, Henry") is a popular song. The song was written as one of several answer songs to "Work With Me Annie" and has the same 12-bar blues melody.
It was written by Johnny Otis, Hank Ballard, and Etta James. Etta James recorded it, with uncredited vocal responses from Richard Berry, under the title "The Wallflower" and it became a rhythm and blues hit, popularly known as "Roll With Me Henry".
In 2008, Etta James received a Grammy Hall of Fame Award for her 1955 recording.
The song is a dialogue between "Henry" and the singer:
Hey baby, whatta I have to do to make you love me too?
You've got to roll with me Henry.
The context is the dance floor. The Midnighters also recorded an "answer to the answer": "Henry's Got Flat Feet (Can't Dance No More)".
The song was covered for the pop market, with the title, "Dance With Me Henry", as sung by Georgia Gibbs. Under that title, it charted in 1955.
The song was featured in the Abbott and Costello film Dance with Me Henry,Sister Act and also Back to the Future. Etta James no longer performs the song.

15.03.1941 JIMMY DORSEY V/BOB EBERLY /HELEN O'CONNELL - AMAPOLA - US 1 (10) – 17

37/100 US hit; 6/12 US1; Amapola

Amapola is a popular song, written by Spanish composer Joseph LaCalle with Spanish lyrics although the English language lyrics were written by Albert Gamse.
Though the song was published in 1924, the most popular recorded version was made nearly two decades later by the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra with vocalists Helen O'Connell and Bob Eberly. The recording was released by Decca Records as catalog number 3629. The record first reached the Billboard charts on March 14, 1941 and lasted 14 weeks on the chart, peaking at #1.
An instrumental version of the piece formed an important leitmotif in the gangster film Once Upon a Time in America (1984).