The Wanderer (Dion song)

Last updated
"The Wanderer"
The Wanderer.png
US single cover
Single by Dion
from the album Runaround Sue
A-side "The Majestic"
ReleasedNovember 1961 (1961-11)
Genre
Length2:51
Label Laurie
Songwriter(s) Ernie Maresca
Producer(s) Gene Schwartz
Dion singles chronology
"Runaround Sue"
(1961)
"The Wanderer"
(1961)
"Lovers Who Wander"
(1962)

"The Wanderer" is a song written by Ernie Maresca and originally recorded by Dion, released on his 1961 album, Runaround Sue . The song, with a 12-bar blues-base verse and an eight-bar bridge, tells the story of a travelling man and his many loves. The song is ranked number 243 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. [1]

Contents

History

Maresca had co-written Dion's previous number-one hit, "Runaround Sue", but originally intended "The Wanderer" to be recorded by another group, Nino and the Ebb Tides. They passed on it in favor of another Maresca song, so Dion was given it as the B-side of his follow-up single, "The Majestic", a song which his record company had chosen for him. The record was turned over by radio DJs who preferred "The Wanderer", which duly entered the US charts in December 1961 and rose to number 2 in early 1962 (behind "Duke of Earl" by Gene Chandler). It also reached number 10 in the United Kingdom [2] and number one in Australia.

The song was recorded with an uncredited background vocal group, the Del-Satins, in a rockier style than Dion's earlier hits with the Belmonts. The Del-Satins were an established doo-wop group led by Stan Ziska (later known as Stan Sommers), who at the time were also contracted to Laurie Records, and who later formed the core of Johnny Maestro & the Brooklyn Bridge. Musicians on the original recording included Bucky Pizzarelli and Johnny Falbo on guitars, Jerome Richardson on alto sax, Buddy Lucas on tenor sax, Milt Hinton on bass, and Panama Francis on drums.[ citation needed ]

Dion said of "The Wanderer": [3]

At its roots, it's more than meets the eye. "The Wanderer" is black music filtered through an Italian neighborhood that comes out with an attitude. It's my perception of a lot of songs like "I'm A Man" by Bo Diddley or "Hoochie Coochie Man" by Muddy Waters. But you know, "The Wanderer" is really a sad song. A lot of guys don't understand that. Bruce Springsteen was the only guy who accurately expressed what that song was about. It's "I roam from town to town and go through life without a care, I'm as happy as a clown with my two fists of iron, but I'm going nowhere." In the Fifties, you didn't get that dark. It sounds like a lot of fun but it's about going nowhere.

However, on Maresca's original demo of the song, the lyrics were "with my two fists of iron and my bottle of beer", and the change to "with my two fists of iron but I'm going nowhere" in fact seems to have been at the record company's insistence. [4]

The song has been categorized as rock and roll, rhythm and blues, pop, and doo-wop. [5] [6] [7] [8]

The 1961 recording by Dion was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2017. [9]

Lawsuit

In 2015, the Bethesda Softworks game, Fallout 4 , was released, and advertised via a live-action clip of the protagonist and his dog walking through a wasteland, with "The Wanderer" playing in the background. This had been fully licensed by Dion's label. However, Dion filed a lawsuit claiming he was not informed it would be licensed, saying that it "...featured repeated homicides in a dark, dystopian landscape, where violence is glorified as sport. The killings and physical violence were not to protect innocent life, but instead were repugnant and morally indefensible images designed to appeal to young consumers." [10]

Later versions

"The Wanderer"
Single by Status Quo
B-side "Can't Be Done"
Released19 October 1984 [11]
Length3:28
Label Rhino/Warner Records
Songwriter(s) Ernie Maresca
Status Quo singles chronology
"Going Down Town Tonight"
(1984)
"The Wanderer"
(1984)
"Rollin' Home"
(1986)
"The Wanderer"
Single by Eddie Rabbitt
from the album I Wanna Dance with You
B-side "Workin' Out"
ReleasedApril 1988
RecordedDecember 1987
Genre Country
Length3:22
Label RCA Nashville
Songwriter(s) Ernie Maresca
Producer(s) Richard Landis
Eddie Rabbitt singles chronology
"I Wanna Dance with You"
(1988)
"The Wanderer"
(1988)
"We Must Be Doin' Somethin' Right"
(1988)

"The Wanderer" has been recorded by many other popular singers and bands, including Dee Snider, Gary Glitter, The Beach Boys, Leif Garrett (US number 49 in 1978), [12] Bruce Springsteen, Delbert McClinton, and Dave Edmunds. Status Quo covered the song twice, once as a complete version, and once again as part of their Anniversary Waltz, Pt. 1. Status Quo's version was a number seven hit in the United Kingdom and a number three hit in Ireland in 1984; it was later included on the 2006 reissue of Back to Back . Eddie Rabbitt's version was a number one hit on Billboard's Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in mid-1988.

Charts

Weekly charts

Status Quo version

Eddie Rabbitt version

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [29] Silver200,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

Related Research Articles

The Belmonts were an American doo-wop group from the Bronx, New York, that originated in the mid-1950s. The original group consisted of Angelo D'Aleo, Carlo Mastrangelo, and Fred Milano. They took their name from Belmont, the Bronx street in which Mastrangelo lived, known as the Little Italy of the Bronx. From 1958–60 the group performed with Dion DiMucci as Dion and the Belmonts. At this time Mastrangelo sang the bass parts, Milano the second tenor, D'Aleo the falsetto, and DiMucci did lead vocals. Mastrangelo was replaced in 1962 by Frank Lyndon and Warren Gradus, but the original group reunited in 1966, and thereafter performed together in numerous reunions over the years. They occasionally recorded new singles into the 1980s and performed live until the death of Milano in 2011. Gradus continued, performing live under the moniker until his death in October 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dion DiMucci</span> American singer

Dion Francis DiMucci, better known mononymously as Dion, is an American singer and songwriter. His music incorporates elements of doo-wop, pop, rock, R&B, folk and blues. Initially the lead singer of the vocal group Dion and the Belmonts, Dion embarked on a solo career, and was one of the most prominent rock and roll performers of the pre-British Invasion era. He had 39 Top 40 hits in the late 1950s and early 1960s as a solo performer, or with the Belmonts and the Del-Satins. He is best remembered for his signature hit songs "Runaround Sue", "The Wanderer", "Ruby Baby" and "Lovers Who Wander", among others.

The Regents were an American doo-wop vocal group from New York, operating in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Heart Will Go On</span> 1997 single by Celine Dion

"My Heart Will Go On" is a song performed by the Canadian singer Celine Dion, used as the theme for the 1997 film Titanic. It was composed by James Horner, with lyrics by Will Jennings, and produced by Horner, Walter Afanasieff and Simon Franglen. It was released as a single internationally by Columbia and Epic on November 24, 1997, and included on Dion's album Let's Talk About Love (1997) and the Titanic soundtrack.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddie Rabbitt</span> American country singer (1941–1998)

Edward Thomas Rabbitt was an American country music singer and songwriter. His career began as a songwriter in the late 1960s, springboarding to a recording career after composing hits such as "Kentucky Rain" for Elvis Presley in 1970 and "Pure Love" for Ronnie Milsap in 1974. Later in the 1970s, Rabbitt helped to develop the crossover-influenced sound of country music prevalent in the 1980s with such hits as "Suspicions", "I Love a Rainy Night", and "Every Which Way but Loose". His duets "Both to Each Other " with Juice Newton and "You and I" with Crystal Gayle later appeared on the soap operas Days of Our Lives and All My Children.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Your Angel</span> 1998 single by Celine Dion and R. Kelly

"I'm Your Angel" is a duet by Celine Dion and R. Kelly from Dion's These Are Special Times album and Kelly's R. album. It was released on 13 October 1998. The song was written and produced by R. Kelly. The single was very successful, reaching number one in the United States and was certified platinum by the RIAA. The single also reached the top five in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When I Fall in Love</span> Song from One Minute to Zero

"When I Fall in Love" is a popular song, written by Victor Young (music) and Edward Heyman (lyrics). It was introduced in Howard Hughes' last film One Minute to Zero as the instrumental titled "Theme from One Minute to Zero". Jeri Southern sang on the first vocal recording released in April 1952 with the song's composer, Victor Young, handling the arranging and conducting duties. The song has become a standard, with many artists recording it; the first hit version was sung by Doris Day released in July 1952.

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">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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Prayer (Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli song)</span> 1999 single by Céline Dion and Andrea Bocelli

"The Prayer" is a song performed by Canadian singer Celine Dion and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. It was song written by David Foster, Carole Bayer Sager, Tony Renis and Alberto Testa.

<i>12 Gold Bars Vol. 2</i> 1984 compilation album by Status Quo

12 Gold Bars Volume II is a 1984 compilation album by English rock band Status Quo, released on Vertigo Records on 23 November 1984. It compiles all their UK hit singles from 1980 to 1984. The album was packaged as a gatefold vinyl LP and double cassette, containing 12 Gold Bars as a bonus album alongside Volume II.

Ernest Peter Maresca was an American singer, songwriter and record company executive, best known for writing or co-writing some of Dion's biggest hits, including "Runaround Sue" and "The Wanderer".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Love a Rainy Night</span> 1980 single by Eddie Rabbitt

"I Love a Rainy Night" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Eddie Rabbitt. It was released in November 1980 as the second single from his album Horizon. It reached number one on the Hot Country Singles, Billboard Hot 100, and Adult Contemporary Singles charts in early 1981. It was written by Rabbitt, Even Stevens, and David Malloy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Runaround Sue</span> 1961 single by Dion DiMucci

"Runaround Sue" is a rock and roll song, originally a US No. 1 Hot 100 hit for the singer Dion during 1961, after he split with the Belmonts. It was written by Dion with Ernie Maresca, and tells the story of a disloyal lover. The song ranked No. 351 on the Rolling Stone list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drivin' My Life Away</span> 1980 single by Eddie Rabbitt

"Drivin' My Life Away" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Eddie Rabbitt. It was released in June 1980 as the first single from the album Horizon. The song was written by Rabbitt, Even Stevens and David Malloy.

"The Wild Side of Life" is a song made famous by country music singer Hank Thompson. Originally released in 1952, the song became one of the most popular recordings in the genre's history, spending 15 weeks at number one on the Billboard country chart, solidified Thompson's status as a country music superstar and inspired the answer song, "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" by Kitty Wells. In 1999, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.Hank snow recorded wild side of life in August of 1951 album unknown date unknown

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quarter to Three</span> 1961 single by Gary U.S. Bonds

"Quarter to Three" is a popular song, adapted and expanded from "A Night with Daddy 'G' – Part 1", an instrumental by the Church Street Five, which was written by Gene Barge, Frank Guida and Joseph Royster, and sung by Gary U.S. Bonds. "Quarter to Three" appears on The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll list.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Anniversary Waltz (Status Quo song)</span> 1990 single by Status Quo

"The Anniversary Waltz" is the title of two medley singles released in 1990 by English rock band Status Quo. The medleys consist of hit songs from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. One of the songs performed, Dion's "The Wanderer" had previously been covered by Status Quo in 1984. "The Anniversary Waltz" was divided into two parts for release as a single. Part One was the bigger hit, reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart, and was included on their 1990 compilation album Rocking All Over the Years.

"Shout! Shout! " is a song written by Ernie Maresca and Thomas F. Bogdany, and originally recorded by Maresca in 1962. The single was released on Edward Kassner's fledgling Seville Records label. It also appeared on Maresca's similarly titled album which was issued the same year.

This is the discography for American musician Dion DiMucci.

References

  1. "Dion, 'The Wanderer'". Rolling Stone . 11 December 2003. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. 1962-02-21. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  3. "Dion DiMucci", The Pop History Dig. Retrieved 13 July 2015
  4. "The Original Wanderer: Ernie Maresca", Ace Records. Retrieved 13 July 2015
  5. Unterberger, Richie. Dion - The Wanderer at AllMusic . Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  6. David Hatch; Stephen Millward (1 January 1987). From Blues to Rock: An Analytical History of Pop Music. Manchester University Press. p. 94. ISBN   978-0-7190-1489-5.
  7. Helander, Brock (1999). Rocking Sixties. Schirmer Books. p. 103. ISBN   978-0-02-864873-6.
  8. Breihan, Tom (April 9, 2018). "The Number Ones: Dion's "Runaround Sue"". Stereogum . Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  9. "GRAMMY Hall Of Fame | Hall of Fame Artists | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com.
  10. "Fallout 4 under fire for 'repugnant' ads as 'The Wanderer' singer files suit". Polygon . 7 July 2017.
  11. Hung, Steffen. "Status Quo - The Wanderer". hitparade.ch.
  12. "Leif Garrett, "The Wanderer" Chart Position" . Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  13. "Australian Chart Books". www.australianchartbooks.com.au.
  14. "CHUM Hit Parade, February 5, 1962".
  15. "flavour of new zealand - search lever". www.flavourofnz.co.nz.
  16. "Dion Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  17. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, February 24, 1962".
  18. "Australian Chart Book". archive.ph. March 5, 2016.
  19. "Top 100 Hits of 1962/Top 100 Songs of 1962". www.musicoutfitters.com.
  20. "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1962". tropicalglen.com.
  21. "Status Quo – The Wanderer" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  22. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Wanderer". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  23. 1 2 "Status Quo – The Wanderer" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  24. "Status Quo – The Wanderer". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  25. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  26. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Status Quo" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  27. "Eddie Rabbitt Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  28. "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 1988". Billboard. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  29. "British single certifications – Dion – The Wanderer". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 28 January 2024.