Here in My Heart
Encyclopedia
"Here in My Heart" is a popular
song
, written
by Pat Genaro, Lou Levinson, and Bill Borrelli, and published in 1952.
A recording
of the song by Al Martino
was a #1 hit single
on the United States pop chart. The Martino version also made history as the first number one on the UK Singles Chart
, on 14 November 1952. "Here in My Heart" remained in the top position for nine weeks in the United Kingdom
, setting a record for the longest consecutive run at number one, a record which, over 50 years on, has only been beaten by five other tracks - "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You
" (16 weeks), the Wet Wet Wet
version of "Love Is All Around" (15), "Cara Mia
" (10 weeks), "Umbrella
" (10 weeks) and Whitney Houston
's version of I Will Always Love You
(10 weeks). Frankie Laine
's "I Believe
" spent a total of 18 weeks at number one, but not consecutive weeks, instead totalling 18 weeks across several runs at the top.
By staying at number one until 1953 in the UK, Martino secured for himself the record of being the only performer to have a number one hit in the entire year of 1952. Needless to say, no subsequent act has ever dominated the top spot so entirely in any later year.
Other versions
, recorded by Vic Damone
(reaching #8 on the Billboard
chart), and Tony Bennett
(reaching #15 on the chart), were also recorded around the same time. A rhythm and blues
version was also recorded that year, by Wini Brown and her Boy Friends. Mario Lanza
had also planned to record this song, but changed his mind when asked to by Martino so his own recording would not be neglected.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/music-obituaries/6326236/Al-Martino.html
In 1961, Martino re-recorded the song, although it only reached #86 on the Billboard Top 100 chart (Top 20 on their "Easy Listening" survey). He had previously rerecorded the song in an unsuccessful rockaballad version for MGM's Cub label.
Larry Day with orchestra Cond.: Frank Cordell recorded the song in London
on June 24, 1952. It was released by EMI
on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10323.
Semprini
, piano with rhythm accompaniment recorded it as the first song of the medley "Dancing to the piano (No. 18) - Part 1" along with "Half as Much
" and "Isle of Innisfree
" in London
on November 11, 1952. It was released by EMI
on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10394.
In 1963, Richard Harris
performed this song in the film
This Sporting Life
, although he would not release his first album
until four years later, with 1967's Camelot.
The track was Al Martino's only UK number one hit. His subsequent releases failed to reach the top of the charts, and his final UK chart appearance was in 1973, when a reissue of "Spanish Eyes" reached the top five.
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
, written
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
by Pat Genaro, Lou Levinson, and Bill Borrelli, and published in 1952.
A recording
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
of the song by Al Martino
Al Martino
Al Martino was an American singer and actor. He had his greatest success as a singer between the early 1950s and mid 1970s, being described as "one of the great Italian American pop crooners", and also became well known as an actor, particularly for his role as singer Johnny Fontane in The...
was a #1 hit single
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
on the United States pop chart. The Martino version also made history as the first number one on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, on 14 November 1952. "Here in My Heart" remained in the top position for nine weeks in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, setting a record for the longest consecutive run at number one, a record which, over 50 years on, has only been beaten by five other tracks - "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You
(Everything I Do) I Do It for You
" I Do It for You" is a power ballad performed by Bryan Adams and co-written with Michael Kamen and Robert John "Mutt" Lange, featured on the soundtrack album from the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and on Adams' album Waking Up the Neighbours...
" (16 weeks), the Wet Wet Wet
Wet Wet Wet
Wet Wet Wet are a Scottish pop rock band that formed in the 1980s. They scored a number of hits in the British charts and around the world. The band is composed of Marti Pellow , Tommy Cunningham , Graeme Clark and Neil Mitchell...
version of "Love Is All Around" (15), "Cara Mia
Cara Mia
"Cara Mia" is a popular song published in 1954 and became a hit for English singer David Whitfield in 1954 and a #4 hit by the American pop group Jay and the Americans in 1965. The title means "my beloved" in Italian....
" (10 weeks), "Umbrella
Umbrella (song)
"Umbrella" is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna, featuring a rap verse by Jay-Z. The song was written by The-Dream, Christopher Stewart, Kuk Harrell and Jay-Z, and was produced by Stewart and The-Dream for Rihanna's third studio album, Good Girl Gone Bad...
" (10 weeks) and Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
's version of I Will Always Love You
I Will Always Love You
"I Will Always Love You" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton in 1973, who first released the song as a single in 1974.-Dolly Parton version:...
(10 weeks). Frankie Laine
Frankie Laine
Frankie Laine, born Francesco Paolo LoVecchio , was a successful American singer, songwriter, and actor whose career spanned 75 years, from his first concerts in 1930 with a marathon dance company to his final performance of "That's My Desire" in 2005...
's "I Believe
I Believe (1953 song)
"I Believe" is the name of a popular song written by Ervin Drake, Irvin Graham, Jimmy Shirl and Al Stillman in 1953.I Believe was commissioned and introduced by Jane Froman on her television show, and became the first hit song ever introduced on TV...
" spent a total of 18 weeks at number one, but not consecutive weeks, instead totalling 18 weeks across several runs at the top.
By staying at number one until 1953 in the UK, Martino secured for himself the record of being the only performer to have a number one hit in the entire year of 1952. Needless to say, no subsequent act has ever dominated the top spot so entirely in any later year.
Other versions
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
, recorded by Vic Damone
Vic Damone
Vic Damone is an American singer and entertainer.- Early life :Damone was born Vito Rocco Farinola in Brooklyn, New York to French-Italian immigrants based in Bari, Italy—Rocco and Mamie Farinola. His father was an electrician; and his mother taught piano. His cousin was the actress and singer...
(reaching #8 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
chart), and Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett is an American singer of popular music, standards, show tunes, and jazz....
(reaching #15 on the chart), were also recorded around the same time. A rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
version was also recorded that year, by Wini Brown and her Boy Friends. Mario Lanza
Mario Lanza
right|thumb|[[MGM]] still, circa 1949Mario Lanza was an American tenor and Hollywood movie star of the late 1940s and the 1950s. The son of Italian emigrants, he began studying to be a professional singer at the age of 16....
had also planned to record this song, but changed his mind when asked to by Martino so his own recording would not be neglected.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/music-obituaries/6326236/Al-Martino.html
In 1961, Martino re-recorded the song, although it only reached #86 on the Billboard Top 100 chart (Top 20 on their "Easy Listening" survey). He had previously rerecorded the song in an unsuccessful rockaballad version for MGM's Cub label.
Larry Day with orchestra Cond.: Frank Cordell recorded the song in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on June 24, 1952. It was released by EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10323.
Semprini
Semprini
Alberto Fernando Riccardo Semprini known by his stage name Alberto Semprini, or Semprini, was an English pianist, famous for appearances on the BBC, mainly on radio....
, piano with rhythm accompaniment recorded it as the first song of the medley "Dancing to the piano (No. 18) - Part 1" along with "Half as Much
Half as Much
"Half as Much" is an American pop standard written by Curley Williams in 1951. It was first recorded by country music singer Hank Williams in 1952 and reached #2 on the Billboard Country Singles chart. The same year, Rosemary Clooney recorded a hit version for Top 40 markets and Alma Cogan in the...
" and "Isle of Innisfree
Isle of Innisfree
The Isle of Innisfree is a song composed by Dick Farrelly , born Richard Farrelly, who wrote both the music and lyrics. Dick got the inspiration for "Isle of Innisfree", the song for which he is best remembered, while on a bus journey from his native Kells, County Meath to Dublin...
" in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on November 11, 1952. It was released by EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10394.
In 1963, Richard Harris
Richard Harris
Richard St John Harris was an Irish actor, singer-songwriter, theatrical producer, film director and writer....
performed this song in the film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
This Sporting Life
This Sporting Life
This Sporting Life is a 1963 British film based on a novel of the same name by David Storey which won the 1960 Macmillan Fiction Award. It tells the story of a rugby league footballer, Frank Machin, in Wakefield, a mining area of Yorkshire, whose romantic life is not as successful as his sporting...
, although he would not release his first album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
until four years later, with 1967's Camelot.
The track was Al Martino's only UK number one hit. His subsequent releases failed to reach the top of the charts, and his final UK chart appearance was in 1973, when a reissue of "Spanish Eyes" reached the top five.
See also
- List of number-one singles in Australia during the 1950s
- List of number-one singles of 1952 (U.S.)
- List of number-one singles from the 1950s
- List of Christmas number one singles (UK)