Is It True (Brenda Lee song)

Last updated
"Is It True"
Is It True (Brenda Lee song).jpg
Single by Brenda Lee
from the album Brenda Lee Sings Top Teen Hits
B-side "What'd I Say" (UK)/"Just Behind the Rainbow" (US)
Released 1964
Recorded1964
Genre
Length2:20
Label Decca
Songwriter(s) Carter & Lewis
Producer(s) Mickie Most
Brenda Lee singles chronology
"He's Sure to Remember Me"
(1964)
"Is It True"
(1964)
"Thanks a Lot"
(1965)

"Is It True" is a song released in 1964 by Brenda Lee. In 1964, Brenda Lee was flown by Decca to England to cut a single record, initially conceived for release exclusively in the United Kingdom, but it was in fact also released in the US shortly after release in the UK. "Is It True" was written by John Carter and Ken Lewis, then two of England's top songwriters. [3]

The single reached No. 17 on both the United Kingdom's Record Retailer chart and the United States' Billboard Hot 100 chart, [4] [5] [6] and reached No. 8 on Canada's RPM "Top 40 & 5" [7] and No. 11 on Canada's CHUM Hit Parade. [8]

The guitarist on the single was Jimmy Page [9] who achieved an early wah pedal effect (0:38-0:42) before the effect became popular. [10] The drummer on the session was Bobby Graham, the production was by Mickie Most and it was recorded at Decca's #2 recording studio in West Hampstead, London.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brenda Lee</span> American singer (born 1944)

Brenda Mae Tarpley, known professionally by the stage name Brenda Lee, is an American singer. Primarily performing rockabilly, pop, country and Christmas music, she achieved her first Billboard hit aged 12 in 1957 and was given the nickname "Little Miss Dynamite". Some of Lee's most successful songs include "Sweet Nothin's", "I'm Sorry", "I Want to Be Wanted", "Speak to Me Pretty", "All Alone Am I" and "Losing You". Her festive song "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree", recorded in 1958, topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 2023, making Lee the oldest artist ever to top the chart and breaking several chart records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Only You (And You Alone)</span> Pop song composed by Buck Ram

"Only You (And You Alone)" (often shortened to "Only You") is a pop song composed by Buck Ram. It was originally recorded by The Platters with lead vocals by Tony Williams in 1955.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devoted to You (song)</span>

"Devoted to You" is a song written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant.

"Mountain of Love" is a song written by Harold Dorman. Dorman released his version as a single in 1960. It was originally recorded in late 1959 at the Royal Recording Studios in Memphis before the backing vocals were overdubbed. It performed well, spending 19 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 21 in May 1960, while reaching No. 7 on the Billboard Hot R&B Sides chart, and No. 25 on Canada's "CHUM Hit Parade". The song was his only top forty hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and was the highest-charting single of his career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">She's Not There</span> 1964 single by the Zombies

"She's Not There" is the debut single by British rock band the Zombies, written by keyboardist Rod Argent. It reached No. 12 in the UK Singles Chart in September 1964, and No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States at the beginning of December 1964. In Canada, it reached No. 2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take Good Care of My Baby</span> 1961 song by Bobby Vee

"Take Good Care of My Baby" is a song written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin. The song was made famous by Bobby Vee, when it was released in 1961.

"I'm Sorry" is a 1960 hit song by 15-year-old American singer Brenda Lee. The song was written by Dub Allbritten and Ronnie Self. It peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in July 1960. On the UK Singles Chart, the song peaked at No.12. AllMusic guide wrote that it is the pop star's "definitive song", and one of the "finest teen pop songs of its era". In 1999, the 1960 recording by Lee on Decca Records was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">To Know Him Is to Love Him</span> 1958 single by The Teddy Bears

"To Know Him Is to Love Him" is a song written by Phil Spector, inspired by words on his father's tombstone, "To Know Him Was to Love Him." It was first recorded by the only vocal group of which he was a member, the Teddy Bears. Their recording spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1958, while reaching No. 2 on the UK's New Musical Express chart. Peter & Gordon and Bobby Vinton later had hits with the song, with its title and lyrics changed to "To Know You Is to Love You". In 1987, the song was resurrected by Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris, whose Trio recording topped the U.S. country singles chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Just One Look (song)</span> 1963 single by Doris Troy

"Just One Look" is a song co-written by American R&B singers Doris Troy and Gregory Carroll. The recording by Doris Troy was a hit in 1963. The Hollies, Anne Murray, Linda Ronstadt and Iain Matthews each achieved great success with the song. There have also been many other versions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Bit O' Soul</span> 1967 single by The Music Explosion

"Little Bit O' Soul" is a song written in 1964 by British songwriters John Carter and Ken Lewis. It was originally recorded by Coventry band The Little Darlings, and released in 1965 on Fontana Records in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tears (1930 song)</span> 1930 popular music song

"Tears" is a song written by lyricist Frank Capano and composer Billy Uhr, which was popularised by Rudy Vallée in 1930. It was later made famous in a version recorded by Ken Dodd, released as a 45 rpm single in 1965, which became a bestselling No. 1 hit in the UK Singles Chart.

<i>Brenda, Thats All</i> 1962 studio album by Brenda Lee

Brenda, That's All is the seventh studio album by American singer Brenda Lee. The album was released October 15, 1962 on Decca Records and was produced by Owen Bradley. It was the second of two studio albums released in 1962 and included two Top 10 hit singles on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1962 and 1963.

<i>..."Let Me Sing"</i> 1963 studio album by Brenda Lee

..."Let Me Sing" is the ninth studio album by American singer Brenda Lee. The album was released December 9, 1963, on Decca Records and was produced by Owen Bradley. The album was the second and final album studio album released by Brenda Lee in 1963.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying</span> 1964 single by Gerry and the Pacemakers

"Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" is a song written by Gerry Marsden, Freddie Marsden, Les Chadwick and Les Maguire, the members of British beat group Gerry and the Pacemakers. It was first recorded and issued as a single by Louise Cordet in February 1964. Shortly after Cordet's version failed to chart, the song was recorded by Gerry and The Pacemakers themselves in April 1964. The Gerry and The Pacemakers recording became an international hit, and remains one of their best known singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Gonna Make You Mine (Lou Christie song)</span> 1969 single by Lou Christie

"I'm Gonna Make You Mine" is a song released in 1969 by Lou Christie. It was featured on his 1969 album I'm Gonna Make You Mine, arranged by Stan Vincent and produced by Vincent and Mike Duckman.

"Pretty Blue Eyes" is a song written by Teddy Randazzo and Bobby Weinstein. In 1959, it was a hit single for Steve Lawrence, and in 1960 for Craig Douglas.

"Problems" is a song released in 1958 by The Everly Brothers. The song spent 15 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 2, "Problems" was kept out of No.1 spot by To Know Him Is to Love Him by The Teddy Bears.

"Just as Much as Ever" is a song written by Charles Singleton and Larry Coleman. The song was a hit single for Bob Beckham, Nat King Cole, and Bobby Vinton.

"Clinging Vine" is a song released by Bobby Vinton in 1964. The song spent 8 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 17, while reaching No. 2 on Billboard's Pop-Standards Singles chart, No. 14 on the Cash Box Top 100, No. 11 on Canada's RPM "Top 40-5s", and No. 9 on Canada's CHUM Hit Parade.

<i>Brenda Lee Sings Top Teen Hits</i> 1965 studio album by Brenda Lee

Brenda Lee Sings Top Teen Hits is a studio album by American singer Brenda Lee. It was released by Decca Records on February 15, 1965, and contained 12 tracks. The album mostly featured songs made popular during the era in which it was released. Three additional songs were new recordings which were singles for Lee: "When You Loved Me", "Is It True" and "Thanks a Lot". Of its three singles, "Is It True" made the top 20 in the US and the UK. The album was met with positive reviews upon its release.

References

  1. Burke, Ken (January 1, 1998). "Brenda Lee". In Knopper, Steve (ed.). MusicHound Lounge: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. pp. 281–282.
  2. Stanley, Bob (13 September 2013). "Beyond the Blue Horizon: Country and Western". Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop. Faber & Faber. p. 395. ISBN   978-0-571-28198-5.
  3. "Brenda Lee Makes Ocean Hop Just to Record Disc", Billboard , September 5, 1964. p. 6. Accessed December 1, 2015.
  4. Is It True? - By: Brenda Lee, MusicVF.com. Accessed October 6, 2015
  5. Brenda Lee - Full Official Chart History, Official Charts Company . Accessed October 6, 2015
  6. Brenda Lee - Chart History - The Hot 100, Billboard.com. Accessed October 3, 2015
  7. "The RPM Top 40 & 5", RPM, Volume 2, No. 14, November 30, 1964
  8. "CHUM Hit Parade – Week of November 30, 1964". Archived from the original on November 7, 2006. Retrieved 2015-12-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) Chart No. 403. CHUM.
  9. Bob Gulla -Guitar Gods: The 25 Players who Made Rock History 2009- Page 153 "Known as Little Jim, his studio products in 1964 included the Rolling Stones' Heart of Stone, Marianne Faithfull's As Tears Go By , the Nashville Teens' Tobacco Road , Brenda Lee's Is It True, and Dave Berry's The Crying Game ..."
  10. Walter Everett Associate Professor of Music The Foundations of Rock : From "Blue Suede Shoes" to "Suite" Department of Music Theory The University of Michigan - 2008 "The wah pedal was rarely used before 1968; just how is that effect achieved in Brenda Lee's 1964 record, “Is It True” ..."