I'm Walking Behind You

Last updated

"I'm Walking Behind You"
Single by Eddie Fisher
with Hugo Winterhalter and his Orchestra and Sally Sweetland
B-side "Just Another Polka"
Published9 April 1953
ReleasedApril 1953
Recorded7 April 1953
Studio Manhattan Center, New York City
Genre Ballad, traditional pop
Length3:10
Label RCA Victor
Songwriter(s) Billy Reid
Producer(s) Hugo Winterhalter

"I'm Walking Behind You" is a popular song which was written by Billy Reid and published in 1953. [1] [2] The recording by American singer Eddie Fisher was a No. 1 hit in both the US and UK Singles charts, but it had previously been recorded by Reid's former partner, Dorothy Squires, who had a hit with the song in the UK. [3] [4]

Contents

Dorothy Squires recording

The original version was by British singer Dorothy Squires, who had previously been in a relationship with the song's composer, Billy Reid. In 1952, she had met an aspiring actor, Roger Moore. The lyrics of "I'm Walking Behind You" concern a protagonist walking behind a former lover on their wedding day, and were written by Reid upon his learning that Squires had begun a relationship with the younger Moore. She wanted to record Reid's composition, but her A&R man at Columbia Records, Ray Martin, did not like it, and refused to record the song. Squires discovered that she was not under contract to Columbia, and hired a studio to record the song, paying for the session – scheduled for 27 February – herself. [5] Her recording manager, Alan A. Freeman of Polygon Records, and publisher Jimmy Phillips, were unsure about the song, as Eddie Fisher had turned it down already. [4] Squires' recording of "I'm Walking Behind You", reached No. 15 in the UK charts in May 1953. [3]

Phillips sent an acetate copy of Squires' recording to America, however, resulting in Fisher changing his mind and recording the song, which became a hit for him. Squires was furious, and flew to America to confront James Franks, the president of Coral Records, the company responsible for releasing her version in the States. [4] A contemporary American reviewer wrote, "As far as I'm concerned it's the best etching of the song. Sung with lots of heart, reminiscent of Vera Lynn." [6] (Lynn herself recorded the song as part of a contemporary medley.) [7] In June 1953, Squires and Moore were married in New Jersey. [4]

Squires re-recorded the song for her 1958 Pye Nixa album Sings Billy Reid, a collection of Reid's compositions. She featured the song in her concert repertoire. These performances commercially released on three albums: [8]

Eddie Fisher recording

Eddie Fisher's rendition of the song, featuring soprano Sally Sweetland, became a No. 1 hit single on both the Cash Box and Billboard record charts in 1953 in the United States, as well as reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart. [1] [9] The recording by Fisher with Hugo Winterhalter's orchestra and chorus was made at the Manhattan Center in New York City on 7 April 1953, also being produced by Winterhalter. [10] [11] It was released by RCA Victor on both 78 and 45 rpm single formats (catalogue numbers 20-5293 and 47-5293) in the United States that same month. [12] [13] Fisher's single entered the Billboard Best Selling Singles chart on 9 May 1953, and reached No. 1 on 25 July 1953, staying there for two weeks. [14] It also reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts for Most Played by Jockeys (on 11 July, for three weeks) and Most Played in Juke Boxes (on 27 June, for seven weeks). [15] [16]

In the UK, the Fisher recording was issued by EMI's His Master's Voice label (catalogue number B 10489) in May 1953. [17] [18] It first entered the UK chart for the week ending 16 May 1953, and reached No. 1 on 26 June, its sixth week on the listings. The single spent a week at No. 1, and 18 weeks on chart in total. [19] [20]

A stereo re-recording by Fisher was later released. Arranged and conducted by Jerry Fielding, it was made at United Recorders in Las Vegas, and issued on Fisher's 1965 Dot Records album When I Was Young, produced by Randy Wood. [21] [22]

Contemporary reception and recordings

"I'm Walking Behind You" entered the UK's sheet music sales chart on 4 April 1953. It peaked at No. 2, and spent 31 weeks on the chart in total. The song spent five weeks at No. 2, kept off the top spot by "In a Golden Coach" and "The Moulin Rouge Theme". [23] Prior to its chart debut, the earliest released versions were by Dorothy Squires and Gary Miller in March that year. Further contemporary versions issued in the UK were by Billy Cotton and his Band (with vocal by Doreen Stephens), Jimmy Young (recorded on February 3), Frank Sinatra, Donald O'Connor, Vic Damone and organist Ethel Smith. Damone's version was re-issued on Mercury in June 1954, following the end of their agreement with Oriole, who had originally released the recording in the UK. [24] [19]

Sinatra's version of the song was the second title from his first recording session at Capitol Records in Los Angeles on 2 April. This recording, with backing led by Axel Stordahl (Sinatra's musical director from his early years as a solo artist), was issued as a single by Capitol (catalog number 2450) and peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard pop charts. [25] [26]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nancy Sinatra</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1940)

Nancy Sandra Sinatra is an American singer-songwriter, actress, film producer and author. She is the elder daughter of Frank Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra and is known for her 1965 signature hit "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Axel Stordahl</span> Musical artist

Axel Stordahl was an American arranger and composer who was active from the late 1930s through the 1950s. He is perhaps best known for his work with Frank Sinatra in the 1940s at Columbia Records. With his sophisticated orchestrations, Stordahl is credited with helping to bring pop arranging into the modern age.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Way</span> Song popularized by Frank Sinatra

"My Way" is a song popularized in 1969 by Frank Sinatra set to the music of the French song "Comme d'habitude" composed by Jacques Revaux with lyrics by Gilles Thibaut and Claude François and first performed in 1967 by Claude François.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">These Boots Are Made for Walkin'</span> Song by Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra

"These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" is a hit song written by Lee Hazlewood and recorded by American singer Nancy Sinatra. It charted on January 22, 1966, and reached No. 1 in the United States Billboard Hot 100 and in the UK Singles Chart.

Hugo Winterhalter was an American easy listening arranger and composer, best known for his many arrangements and recordings for RCA Victor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strangers in the Night</span> 1966 single by Frank Sinatra and covered by Charles Singleton and Eddie Snyder

"Strangers in the Night" is a song composed by Bert Kaempfert with English lyrics by Charles Singleton and Eddie Snyder. Kaempfert originally used it under the title "Beddy Bye" as part of the instrumental score for the movie A Man Could Get Killed. The song was made famous in 1966 by Frank Sinatra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (song)</span> 1955 Academy Award winning song

"Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" is a popular song with music by Sammy Fain and lyrics by Paul Francis Webster. The song appeared first in the movie Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (1955), and it won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1956. From 1967 to 1973, it was also used as the theme song to Love is a Many Splendored Thing, the soap opera based on the movie.

"Around the World" is the theme tune from the 1956 movie Around the World in 80 Days. In the film, only an instrumental version of the song appeared, although the vocal version has become the better known one. The song was written by Harold Adamson and Victor Young; Young died in 1956, several weeks after the film's release, and he received the Academy Award for Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture posthumously. Young's orchestral version was a #13 hit on the Billboard charts in 1957. The recording by Bing Crosby was the B-side of the Victor Young version in 1957, on Festival SP45-1274 in Australia, and was a joint charting success.

"I Believe" is a popular song written by Ervin Drake, Irvin Abraham, Jack Mendelsohn and Al Stillman in 1953. The most popular version was recorded by Italian-American singer Frankie Laine, and spent eighteen weeks at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Changing Partners</span>

"Changing Partners" is a pop song with music by Larry Coleman and lyrics by Joe Darion, published in 1953. The best-known recording was made by Patti Page. It was also recorded the same year by Dinah Shore, Kay Starr and Bing Crosby.

"On the Street Where You Live" is a song with music by Frederick Loewe and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner from the 1956 Broadway musical My Fair Lady. It is sung in the musical by the character Freddy Eynsford-Hill, who was portrayed by John Michael King in the original production. In the 1964 film version, it was sung by Bill Shirley, dubbing for actor Jeremy Brett.

"A Tree in the Meadow" is a popular song. It was written by Billy Reid, and the song was published in 1948.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorothy Squires</span> Welsh singer (1915–1998)

Dorothy Squires was a Welsh singer. Her early successes were achieved with "The Gypsy", "A Tree in the Meadow" and "I'm Walking Behind You" by her partner Billy Reid, and "Say It with Flowers" written by Squires with piano accompaniment by Russ Conway. Among her later well-known recordings were versions of "Till", "My Way", and "For Once in My Life". Other notable cover songs included "A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening", "I'm in the Mood for Love", "Anytime", "If You Love Me " and "And So to Sleep Again".

William Gordon Reid was an English songwriter, bandleader, pianist and accordionist. He was the first British songwriter to reach the top of the US music chart, with The Ink Spots' 1946 recording of "The Gypsy", and was known for his close association with the singer Dorothy Squires, for whom he wrote that and many other songs.

<i>The Complete Capitol Singles Collection</i> 1996 box set by Frank Sinatra

The Complete Capitol Singles Collection is a compact disc box set by the American singer Frank Sinatra, released on Capitol Records in 1996. The four-disc set contains all 45 singles released by Sinatra during his tenure at the label between 1953 and 1961. Of those, 25 made the Top 40 on the Billboard singles chart. It does not include releases specifically for jukeboxes or for extended play singles, with one exception. The original tapes were digitally remastered by Bob Norberg.

"The Gypsy" is a popular song written by Billy Reid and published in 1945. The ballad tells the story of a person who visits a Gypsy fortune teller and is reassured that their partner is faithful. Though they both know it to be untrue, the narrator resolves to return, "'Cause I want to believe the Gypsy".

"Let's Fall in Love" is a song written by Harold Arlen (music) and Ted Koehler (lyrics) for the film Let's Fall in Love and published in 1933. In the film, it is heard during the opening credits and later sung by Art Jarrett and chorus, and by Ann Sothern.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take Me Home Tonight (song)</span> 1986 single by Eddie Money

"Take Me Home Tonight" is a song by American rock singer Eddie Money. It was released in August 1986 as the lead single from his album Can't Hold Back. The song's chorus interpolates the Ronettes' 1963 hit "Be My Baby", with original vocalist Ronnie Spector providing uncredited vocals and reprising her role. Songwriting credit was given to Mike Leeson, Peter Vale, Ellie Greenwich, Phil Spector and Jeff Barry.

"Outside of Heaven" is a popular music song written by Sammy Gallop and Chester Conn. A recording by Eddie Fisher with Hugo Winterhalter's orchestra and chorus was made at Manhattan Center, New York City, on July 19, 1952, produced by Winterhalter. It was issued by RCA Victor with the catalog number 20-4953 and by EMI Records on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10362.

"I Need You Now" is a popular song written by Jimmie Crane and Al Jacobs.

References

  1. 1 2 Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 8. ISBN   0-85112-250-7.
  2. ↑ Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series. 1953.
  3. 1 2 "Dorothy Squires: UK Top 10 hits". Chartwatch. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Tudor, Johnny (2017). My heart is bleeding : the life of Dorothy Squires. Stroud, Gloucestershire: The History Press. ISBN   978-0-7509-8292-4. OCLC   975025683.
  5. ↑ "The Alley Cat". The New Musical Express . 27 February 1953.
  6. ↑ Radio Daily-television Daily. (1953). United States: Radio Daily Corporation.
  7. ↑ 78 Record: Vera Lynn - Vera Lynn Popular Medley, Side 1 (1953) , retrieved 15 July 2021
  8. ↑ White, Chris. "Discography". Dorothy Squires. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  9. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 19. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  10. ↑ Kutner, Jon; Leigh, Spencer (2010). 1,000 UK Number One Hits. London: Music Sales. ISBN   978-0-85712-360-2. OCLC   978493833.
  11. ↑ The Very Best Of Eddie Fisher (booklet). Eddie Fisher. Taragon Records. 1998. TARCD-1031.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ↑ "RCA Victor 20-5000 - 5500 78rpm numerical listing discography". 78discography.com. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  13. ↑ "New Records to Watch". Billboard . 18 April 1953. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  14. ↑ Kowal, Barry (15 November 2016). "#1 Billboard Singles 1940-1999". Barry's Hits of All Decades Pop rock n roll Music Chart Hits. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  15. ↑ Kowal, Barry (14 August 2016). "EVERY NUMBER ONE SINGLE ON BILLBOARD MAGAZINE'S (USA) DISC JOCKEYS PLAYS CHART". Barry's Hits of All Decades Pop rock n roll Music Chart Hits. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  16. ↑ Kowal, Barry (13 September 2016). "EVERY NUMBER ONE SINGLE ON BILLBOARD MAGAZINE'S (USA) JUKE BOX PLAYS CHART". Barry's Hits of All Decades Pop rock n roll Music Chart Hits. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  17. ↑ Eddie Fisher; Hugo Winterhalter and his Orchestra; Sally Sweetland; Billy Reid (April 1953), I'M WALKING BEHIND YOU, Internet Archive, RCA Victor, retrieved 15 July 2021
  18. ↑ Eddie Fisher; Hugo Winterhalter and his Orchestra; Sally Sweetlander; Billy Reid (1953), I'm Walking Behind You, Internet Archive, His Master's Voice, retrieved 15 July 2021
  19. 1 2 Henson, Brian; Morgan, Colin (1989). First hits, 1946-1959. London: Boxtree. ISBN   1-85283-268-1. OCLC   19389211.
  20. ↑ "Eddie Fisher: UK Top 10 hits". Chartwatch. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  21. ↑ "Eddie Fisher - When I Was Young". Discogs. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  22. ↑ "EDDIE FISHER". Music Finder. 11 August 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  23. ↑ "The Britburn Project - Spreadsheet File Server (UK Charts 1939-1995)". Britburn. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  24. ↑ Rogers, John. "i". Popular recordings from 1 August 1942. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  25. ↑ "I'm Walking Behind You (song by Frank Sinatra) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". MusicVF. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  26. ↑ "Frank Sinatra - The Capitol Years". JazzDiscography.com. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.