The_Story_of_My_Life_(Marty_Robbins_song)

The Story of My Life (Marty Robbins song)

The Story of My Life (Marty Robbins song)

1957 single by Marty Robbins


"The Story of My Life" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David.[2] It was published in 1957. It was recorded by Marty Robbins and reached number one on Billboard's country chart in 1958, and it became a number one hit song for Michael Holliday in the UK.

Quick Facts Single by Marty Robbins, from the album Marty's Greatest Hits ...

Background

"The Story of My Life" was the first successful collaboration between Hal David and Burt Bacharach.[3] Although they did not set out to write a country song, their song was recorded by American country music singer Marty Robbins.[2][4] Robbins was accompanied in the recording by the whistling of the Ray Conniff Singers and a small-scale guitar.[5] The song was released in November 1957 and peaked at number one on two US country charts (C&W Best Sellers in Stores and Most Played C&W by Jockeys), staying for four weeks on Best Sellers in early 1958.[6][7] It also crossed over to the pop chart, reaching number fifteen.[8] It reached number two on the Australian Singles Chart.[citation needed]

Charts

More information Chart (1957–1958), Peak position ...

Michael Holliday version

In the United Kingdom, Michael Holliday recorded a cover version on 10 December 1957 at the Abbey Road Studio. Holliday was backed by the Mike Sammes Singers, with Sammes singing the deep-voiced "bom-boms". The sound engineer created an echo effect with a second tape head, producing a fuller sound for Holliday's voice.[11] Although Holliday was dissatisfied with the record,[11] it became his first No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart in February 1958.[12] The song was replaced as No. 1 by Perry Como's "Magic Moments", also written by Bacharach and David,[13] the first time any songwriters had consecutive No. 1s on the British chart.[4]

In addition to Michael Holliday's No. 1 single (Columbia 45-DB-4058), three other versions of "The Story of My Life" were released in the UK around the same time in 1958: Gary Miller recorded a version that reached No. 14 in the UK;[14] a version by Alma Cogan reached No. 25;[15] and a single by Dave King reached No. 20.[16]

Other versions


References

  1. Praguefrank
  2. Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 24 - The Music Men. [Part 2]" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.
  3. David, Eunice (2016). Hal David: His Magic Moments : There is Always Something There to Remind Me. Dorrance Publishing Company. p. 13. ISBN 9781480931008.
  4. Dominic, Serene (2003). Burt Bacharach: Song By Song. Music Sales. ISBN 9780857122599.
  5. "C&W Best Sellers in Store". Billboard. January 20, 1958. p. 78.
  6. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 293.
  7. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 532.
  8. "Most Played by Jockeys". Billboard. January 13, 1958. p. 60.
  9. Kutner, Jon; Leigh, Spencer (2010). 1,000 UK Number One Hits. Omnibus Press. ISBN 9780857123602.
  10. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 81. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  11. Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. pp. 35–6. ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
  12. "Gary Miller". The Official Charts Company.
  13. "Alma Cogan". The Official Charts Company.
  14. Roberts, David (2005). British Hit Singles & Albums. London: Guinness World Records. p. 626. ISBN 1-904994-00-8.
  15. "Larry Cunningham". The Irish Charts.

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