PT-109 (song)

Last updated
"PT-109"
Single by Jimmy Dean
from the album Portrait of Jimmy Dean
B-side "Walk On, Boy"
Released1962
Recorded1962
Length3:09
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s) Marijohn Wilkin and Fred Burch
Jimmy Dean singles chronology
"To a Sleeping Beauty"
(1962)
"PT-109"
(1962)
"Steel Men"
(1962)

"PT-109" is a 1962 song by Jimmy Dean about the combat service of John F. Kennedy and the crew of the PT-109 in World War II. The boat was famous even before Kennedy ran for office, because Kennedy and most of the crew had survived after it was rammed and cut in two by a Japanese destroyer. After several days on a tiny uninhabited island, Kennedy and the crew were rescued by two native Solomon Islanders—Biuku Gasa and Eroni Kumana, part of an allied Coastwatchers team led by Australian Reg Evans—although the islanders are not mentioned in the song.

Contents

In 1961 Dean had recorded "Big Bad John," a song that would become his biggest hit ever, peaking at number one on the country and pop charts; in "PT-109", he would inject "Big Bad John" by singing the last line "Big John, Big John, Big Bad John" at the end in reference to Kennedy. Dean had five more top forty songs in 1962. "PT-109" was his biggest hit in 1962, reaching the top ten with Kennedy still in the White House — it preceded the 1963 film of the same title. The song was Dean's sixth release on the country chart; it peaked at number three and stayed on the country chart for thirteen weeks. [1] "PT-109" also went to number eight on the pop chart and number two on the Hot Adult Contemporary chart. [2] It was one of several military-themed singles of the 1960s — some pro-military, some anti-military. Others include "Ballad of the Green Berets," "Sink the Bismark," "Billy and Sue," "Gonna Raise a Ruckus Tonight," "Sky Pilot," "Navy Blue," and "Soldier Boy."

Chart performance

Chart (1962)Peak
position
Canada CHUM Chart [3] 33
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles3
U.S. Billboard Hot 1008
U.S. Billboard Easy Listening2

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stranger on the Shore</span> 1961 single by Mr. Acker Bilk and the Leon Young String Chorale

"Stranger on the Shore" is a piece for clarinet written by Acker Bilk for his young daughter and originally named "Jenny" after her. The tune was written on a single scrap of paper by Bilk and handed over to arranger Leon Young who crafted the string arrangement, including the characteristic harmonic shifts at the very end.

The Adult Contemporary chart is published weekly by Billboard magazine and lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary radio stations in the United States. The chart is compiled based on airplay data submitted to Billboard by stations that are members of the Adult Contemporary radio panel. The chart debuted in Billboard magazine on July 17, 1961. Over the years, the chart has undergone a series of name changes, being called Easy Listening(1961–1962; 1965–1979), Middle-Road Singles(1962–1964), Pop-Standard Singles(1964–1965), Hot Adult Contemporary(1984–1996) and Adult Contemporary(1979–1984, 1996–present). The current number-one song on the chart is "Lose Control" by Teddy Swims.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cry (Churchill Kohlman song)</span> 1951 popular song written by Churchill Kohlman

"Cry" is a 1951 popular song written by Churchill Kohlman. The song was first recorded by Ruth Casey on the Cadillac label. The biggest hit version was recorded in New York City by Johnnie Ray and The Four Lads on October 16, 1951. Singer Ronnie Dove also had a big hit with the song in 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Bad John</span> Single by Jimmy Dean

"Big Bad John" is a country song originally performed by Jimmy Dean, who wrote and composed it. It was released in September 1961 and by the beginning of November it had gone to number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It won Dean the 1962 Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording, and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Song of the Year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breaking Up Is Hard to Do</span> 1962 single by Neil Sedaka

"Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" is a song recorded by Neil Sedaka, co-written by Sedaka and Howard Greenfield. Sedaka recorded this song twice, in 1962 and 1975, in two significantly different arrangements, and it is considered to be his signature song. Between 1970 and 1975, it was a top-40 hit three separate times for three separate artists: Lenny Welch, The Partridge Family and Sedaka's second version. The song was also adapted into multiple languages, most notably in Italian and French.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">She's Got You</span> 1962 country song

"She's Got You" is a country song written by Hank Cochran and first recorded and released as a single by Patsy Cline. Musically the song is an upbeat jazz-pop song with country overtones to support it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Break It to Me Gently</span> 1961 song written by Joe Seneca and Diane Lampert

"Break It to Me Gently" is a pop song written by blues musician Joe Seneca with lyrics by Diane Lampert. Both Brenda Lee and Juice Newton were met with considerable success with their versions of the song.

"Don't Break the Heart That Loves You" is an American song written by Benny Davis and Murray Mencher. The song was a success for two artists in two different genres: Connie Francis in the pop field in 1962 and Margo Smith as a country version in 1978.

"You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You" is a popular song written by Russ Morgan, Larry Stock, and James Cavanaugh and published in 1944. The song was first recorded by Morgan and was a hit for him in 1946, reaching the No. 14 spot in the charts. The best known version was Dean Martin's, which was released in 1960 and reissued in 1964.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tell Me a Lie</span>

"Tell Me a Lie" is a song composed by Mickey Buckins and Barbara Wyrick. Originally recorded by Lynn Anderson for her 1974 What a Man My Man Is album, it was released later that same year as a single by Sami Jo Cole, who took it to number 21 on both of the major U.S. pop charts. It also charted in Canada (#17). Cole's version was also an Adult Contemporary hit, reaching number 14 in the U.S. and number 27 in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bad Blood (Neil Sedaka song)</span> 1975 single by Neil Sedaka

"Bad Blood" is a popular song written by Neil Sedaka and Phil Cody. The song, with uncredited backing vocals by Elton John, reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1975, remaining at the top position for three weeks. It was certified Gold by the RIAA and was the most successful individual commercial release in Sedaka's career. "Bad Blood" was replaced at the number one spot by John's single "Island Girl".

"Hier encore", whose original French title translates to "Just yesterday" or "Not so long ago", is a song composed by Georges Garvarentz and written by Charles Aznavour and released in September 1964.

"What About Me?" is a 1984 song written by Kenny Rogers, producer David Foster, and singer-songwriter Richard Marx. It was recorded by Rogers, Kim Carnes, and James Ingram as a trio song from Rogers' Platinum certified 1984 album of the same name.

"Ruby Ann" is a song written by Lee Emerson, Rashima Bellamy and Roberta Bellamy, and recorded by American country music artist Marty Robbins. It was released in October 1962. "Ruby Ann" was the number one country follow-up to "Devil Woman." "Ruby Ann" spent a single week at number one and crossed over to the pop chart peaking at number eighteen. On the Easy Listening chart "Ruby Ann" went to number four.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take Good Care of Her</span>

"Take Good Care of Her" is a 1961 song written by Arthur Kent and Ed Warren and recorded by Adam Wade. It reached number twenty on the R&B charts and number seven on the Hot 100. In the song, the narrator speaks to the groom of his ex-girlfriend.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Stop Believin' (Olivia Newton-John song)</span> 1976 single by Olivia Newton-John

"Don't Stop Believin'" is the title track from the 1976 album by Olivia Newton-John. Written and composed specifically for Newton-John by John Farrar. It was released in August 1976 as the album's lead single. It peaked at number thirty-three on the Billboard Hot 100. It was her seventh number one on the Easy Listening chart, spending one week at the top of the chart in September 1976. The single also went to number fourteen on the country chart.

"He Says the Same Things to Me" is a song written by Gary Geld and Peter Udell. It was recorded by American country artist, Skeeter Davis in 1963.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">We're in This Love Together</span> 1981 single by Al Jarreau

"We're in This Love Together" is a 1981 hit song by Al Jarreau. It was the first of three single releases from his fifth studio album, Breakin' Away. The song was his first and biggest chart hit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Live for Your Love</span> 1987 single by Natalie Cole

"I Live for Your Love" is a 1987 song by Natalie Cole. It was the second of four charting singles from her Everlasting LP, and was also the second greatest hit from the album.

References

  1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006 (2nd ed.). Record Research. p. 102.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 74.
  3. "CHUM Hit Parade - May 14, 1962".