Merrill was notorious for awful novelty songs ("Doggie in the Window," "I'd Have Baked a Cake," etc. though he also established himself as a competent composer/lyricist on B'way (CARNIVAL, etc.). Laine replaced the other "Frankie" in popularity for a while and I think Frank appeared in a TV show snapping a whip a la "Mule Train," in playful mockery. Frank of course survived that momentary eclipse and dominated the Billboard charts with his classic albums for the rest of the decade.
Billy Cotton during the 1950's had a radio show - at about 1.30pm every Sunday - it was called The Billy Cotton Band Show he often sang as well. He sang "I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts" - which is on youtube.
His son - also called Bill - became Managing Director of the BBC and died in 2008.
@tonyWen1 I had never heard of Billy Cotton so I looked him up.
He was a British Big Band leader of the 30's and 40's and way before the so called British invasion of the 60's in music so I guess he never made it over here to the U.S.
I spent 3 years in England in the early 70's but he was long gone by then. I found some of his stuff on YT and he was very good.
@markalson1938 Billy Cotton was one of our pre-war best Big Bands ever- He opened with a loud call of WAKIE WAKIE and ended with his signature tune of Somebody Stole My Gal -His son Billy Cotton Junior became head of B B C Entertainment in 1947 -he stayed for several years
The Statler Brothers covered this song too. The first time I heard it was when they did it on their variety show. Later I found that I had the original on an old Frankie Lane album that had been gathering dust.
True. The reason I held onto Command Peformance was because it includes "Rose, Rose I Love You" a song my parents recalled to me when they learned I was dating a Chinese girl named Rose.
This was my dads favourite frankie laine song, and when us kids were growing up he'd sing it to us, ok "sing" is maybe not the best word to describe it. "Im not singing it wrong frankie recorded it wrong" was his response to us kids when he got the words wrong(only dads are allowed to do that!!).
Sadly dad died in february 1994.
"Now that Frankie has joined him upstairs maybe he will teach him the proper words" was the comment my mum made when Frankie Laine died."but i doubt it"
Your dad has lots of company. It seems like all the great singers are now up there in the choir. I'm sure Frankie will tell your Dad, That he was right all along and Frankie just didn't know the words.
Yes it was on "Command Performance" Album but before that it was a top 20 hit in 1954. The flip side was "long Distance Love" which was on the album also.
Any idea if "Command Performance" was ever issued as a CD? I'd love to get hold of it. If memory serves, "Gandy Dancers' Ball" was also on the LP; another great but little known song of his.
Merrill was notorious for awful novelty songs ("Doggie in the Window," "I'd Have Baked a Cake," etc. though he also established himself as a competent composer/lyricist on B'way (CARNIVAL, etc.). Laine replaced the other "Frankie" in popularity for a while and I think Frank appeared in a TV show snapping a whip a la "Mule Train," in playful mockery. Frank of course survived that momentary eclipse and dominated the Billboard charts with his classic albums for the rest of the decade.
Richard40171 3 months ago
Thank you for posting this ,I have been seaching for for years.
I cant recall the other side was it Hey Joe.
shilo39 7 months ago
@shilo39 Now I'm not sure what was on the flip side in the UK but here in thr U.S. it was "Long Distance Love".
This was also the last recording that Frankie worked with his long time friend Carl Fisher as he doed shortly after this record was made.
markalson1938 7 months ago
I Thankyou soo much for uploading this!, this was the song played at my grandads funeral he muched of loved it soo much :)
iSamTXD 8 months ago
A song from my childhood. I was beginning to think it was a figment of my imagination.
rafhenlow 9 months ago in playlist Burl Ives | Robeson | Tex Ritter | Frankie Laine, and.
@rafhenlow Isn't funny how things from your childhood mean more to you now than when you were a child and took them for granted.
markalson1938 9 months ago
Billy Cotton during the 1950's had a radio show - at about 1.30pm every Sunday - it was called The Billy Cotton Band Show he often sang as well. He sang "I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts" - which is on youtube.
His son - also called Bill - became Managing Director of the BBC and died in 2008.
tonyWen1 1 year ago
Billy Cotton sang this song - It was on the b - side of his record Friends and Neighbours in 1954.
tonyWen1 1 year ago
@tonyWen1 I had never heard of Billy Cotton so I looked him up.
He was a British Big Band leader of the 30's and 40's and way before the so called British invasion of the 60's in music so I guess he never made it over here to the U.S.
I spent 3 years in England in the early 70's but he was long gone by then. I found some of his stuff on YT and he was very good.
markalson1938 1 year ago
@markalson1938 Billy Cotton was one of our pre-war best Big Bands ever- He opened with a loud call of WAKIE WAKIE and ended with his signature tune of Somebody Stole My Gal -His son Billy Cotton Junior became head of B B C Entertainment in 1947 -he stayed for several years
candw87 11 months ago
@markalson1938 He made many 78 Recordings of Traditional Army Songs but as not sung by the Troops
candw87 11 months ago
I like the statlers version much better, but I can never find it anywhere
WildRampage 1 year ago
@WildRampage I always liked the Statlers but I never heard them
sing this, in fact I have never heard anyone else but Frankie sing this song.
markalson1938 1 year ago
@markalson1938 It was on the Statlers Brothers 10th Anniversary Album
WildRampage 3 weeks ago
I bet on the Tiger and if he had kept his mouth shut I would have won a packet.
I have never forgotten that.
divvy1400yam600 1 year ago
Have not heard this for over 50 years. Just as I remembered it on the old 78 record. Thank you markalson1938,
heyesal 2 years ago
The Statler Brothers covered this song too. The first time I heard it was when they did it on their variety show. Later I found that I had the original on an old Frankie Lane album that had been gathering dust.
bindagr 3 years ago
The Statler Brothers did it in the 90's almost 40 years after Frankie's hit recording.
The Album you found it on was "Command Performance" This Album was made after Frankie
sang before The Queen Of England. But only two of the song on this album did he sing at this concert and this wasn't one of them.
markalson1938 3 years ago
True. The reason I held onto Command Peformance was because it includes "Rose, Rose I Love You" a song my parents recalled to me when they learned I was dating a Chinese girl named Rose.
bindagr 3 years ago
i have my dads well worn 78 of this
hayley1963 3 years ago
This was my dads favourite frankie laine song, and when us kids were growing up he'd sing it to us, ok "sing" is maybe not the best word to describe it. "Im not singing it wrong frankie recorded it wrong" was his response to us kids when he got the words wrong(only dads are allowed to do that!!).
Sadly dad died in february 1994.
"Now that Frankie has joined him upstairs maybe he will teach him the proper words" was the comment my mum made when Frankie Laine died."but i doubt it"
Bye Dad.
crago62 3 years ago
Your dad has lots of company. It seems like all the great singers are now up there in the choir. I'm sure Frankie will tell your Dad, That he was right all along and Frankie just didn't know the words.
markalson1938 3 years ago
OMG! I have not heard this song in maybe 40 years!! I love it. If I remember, it's on an album called "Command Performance".
Thanks for posting.
:-)
Turk510 3 years ago
Yes it was on "Command Performance" Album but before that it was a top 20 hit in 1954. The flip side was "long Distance Love" which was on the album also.
markalson1938 3 years ago
Any idea if "Command Performance" was ever issued as a CD? I'd love to get hold of it. If memory serves, "Gandy Dancers' Ball" was also on the LP; another great but little known song of his.
Turk510 3 years ago
No "Comand Performance" has never been puton
a CD. Soe of his later Columbia have been so maybethey will do iin the future.
markalson1938 3 years ago