Paul Anka - Diana (Original Stereo Version)

The multi-talented Paul Anka wrote much of his own material (including "Diana") and music for other artists including "It Doesn't Matter Anymore", Buddy Holly's last chart hit, "She's A Lady" for Tom Jones, the English lyrics to "My Way" for Frank Sinatra, and the familiar "Tonight Show Theme" starring Johnny Carson. But his career all started with this recording which went to #1 in July of 1957 and spent 18 weeks on the charts, "Diana".

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Music

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• Paul Anka
• Diana

[DennyYou]

When Paul recorded the orignal version in 1957, stereo recordings existed, but rarely were released on 45 RPM records. At the time Paul signed with ABC-Paramount, Diana was only recorded in monaural. When Paul left for RCA Victor, as stated by other posters here, he rerecorded his hits. They were available in mono or stereo, a common practice of the day. Today, Paul owns all of the masters from ABC-Paramount, having purchased them from ABC Records, which is now owned by Universal Music.

[Nocaro]

@DennyYou Good explanation of what occurred in this instance.  Of course, this still is the ORIGINAL STEREO VERSION since there was no "stereo" version prior to this recording. Thanks for the note.

[PutOnASweater]

This is not the original hit version of Diana. The Origianl hit was on ABC Paramount Records in 1957. In 1960, Paul signed with RCA Records and re-recorded all his hits that he recorded at ABC. These versions were not good compared to the originals. By then his voice was much deeper and not as "sharp". If you want the origianl early hits, they have to be on ABC Records.

[Nocaro]

@PutOnASweater The "original" hit version was unfortunately not recorded in stereo and that's why I have noted this is the "original stereo version" since Paul would go on to re-record "Diana" yet again years later. I make every effort possible to make the distinction between originals and re-recordings but during the period 1958-1961, a lot of artists were returning to the studio to re-record hits they had earlier for the benefit of stereo sound.

[PutOnASweater]

@Nocaro I have a 2 LP set by Paul on ( I believe) Sire Records that released most of his ABC hits in Stereo.

[Nocaro]

@PutOnASweater True stereophonic recording was not introduced until sometime in 1957 and even then very few recordings were made. Johnny Mathis' "Chances Are" (fall of '57) was one of the first to chart that was in stereo. Paul originally recorded "Diana" in the late winter or early spring of '57 so although it's possible it was recorded in stereo at ABC, it's very doubtful a true stereo recording was made at that time.

[Nocaro]

@PutOnASweater I have several "stereo" recordings of some of Elvis' early hits ("Love Me Tender", "Heartbreak Hotel", etc.) that I have posted to YouTube that I doubt were actually recorded in "stereo" originally. Given today's technology, however, it's possible to take the original masters and rework them to give a stereo sound. I don't know how one would go about finding out what was truly done in the studio at that time, but I'd love to know. Thanks for your note.

[hcm168]

好歌! 另人懷念的老歌!

[MegaMercedes1969]

1962 Radió Luxemburg . Ott hallottam először !!!!!! És azóta is imádom!!!!!!!

[CenaTv2]

Yes, this is the earliest existing version of the song in Stereo, before this, is the awful ABC version.

[PutOnASweater]

@Nocaro You're right about "re-channeled for stereo" recordings...some where horrible. There were times, an artists would record in Stereo & only the mono was released. Tapes were "lost or just forgotten" & if they wanted the true stereo version, they might release a "rechanneled" version. Jackie Wilson's "Lonely Teardrops" form 1958 was release on various LPs in "Stereo", but the fist REAL stereo version was not released until 1968 on the compilation "The Great Soul HIts Of..." on Brunswick.