Francis Craig and His Orchestra - Near You (1947)

Charted at #1 in Billboard in August 1947. B-side of "Red Rose". Vocal by Bob Lamm. Although this was a huge hit, Francis only had one other national hit single with his orchestra, "Beg Your Pardon", a few months following "Near You". I have also posted "Beg Your Pardon". "Near You" was a surprise hit on a small label, with Billboard initially predicting that it might be a hit in local markets where Francis Craig's Orchestra was known, not realizing the whole country would soon take to the record.

"Near You" was also #3 for Alvino Rey and His Orchestra in September 1947, #2 for the Andrews Sisters in September 1947, #4 for Elliot Lawrence and His Orchestra in October 1947, #3 for Larry Green and His Orchestra in October 1947, #12 for Dick Two Ton Baker and His Music Makers in October 1947 and #1 for George Jones and Tammy Wynette on the Country chart in 1977.

Written by Francis Craig and Kermit Goell.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Francis
• Craig
• Orchestra
• near
• you
• piano
• ballad

[Featureman]

Three great pianists with the initials FC Frankie Carle, Floyd Cramer and Francis Craig.

[CatsPjamas1]

@Featureman I had not thought of that! Interesting!

[borden1957]

Very good choice for Near You by Francis Craig & Orchestra. Sure brings back to light forgotten or less known singers and Orchestras Do you know if Bob Lamm and other hit songs? Would you have the song - Beg your Pardon?

Question. What it custom in the 40's to have may singers with the same song during the same year? It would seem that they were stepping on each others toes.

[CatsPjamas1]

@borden1957 Thanks so much for your interest! I have just posted "Beg Your Pardon" which I see you have already favorited. Thank you! I don't know of any other hits that Bob Lamm had. Cover records and artists competing for the biggest hit with a new song were common back to the early 1900's. A lot of folks think they originated in the '50's, but you can see this is untrue. Competing for hits with the same songs was espeically popular in the '40's, '50's and early '60's.

[CatsPjamas1]

@CatsPjamas1 I spelled "especially" wrong accidentally in my previous comment. Fingers typing too fast, haha. Anyway, if a new and beginning artist or group, such as Francis Craig, released a record with potential, they were especially susceptible to cover records being released by established artists in a winner take all race to the top of the charts, although even established artists had to compete with covers.

[CatsPjamas1]

@CatsPjamas1 One more note, Francis Craig wasn't a beginning artist as he had been popular locally for a number of years, but he was virtually unknown nationally until this hit.

[ironcoreironroot]

Francis Craig is my grandmother''s sister's uncle by marriage!

[barbiefinn]

Same here. I, too, was born when this song was #1. Even though I'm a diehard rock'n'roll fan, This song is good with a nice bouncy tune. My grandfather, uncle and father were musicians,so they must have played this. Too bad I didn't inherit the musical gene at all. All I can do is bop around my room when I hear those old time rock'n'roll songs.

[olsurferdude]

This was the number 1 song on the day I was born so I guess my parents were listening to it about that time. Not a bad song either.

[phyllispascazio]

The song "Near You" was number one on the charts when I was born. I'll never forget the many times my mom sang this song to me. Mom sang often, and most often, I think, to me. She could always make me smile with a song, no matter how sad or angry I might have been at the moment. "Near You" was one of my faves. Thanks, Mom. I love and miss you.

[sz05ry]

Köszönöm a feltöltést <:o)