Here in My Heart

"Here in My Heart" is a popular song written by Pat Genaro, Lou Levinson, and Bill Borrelli, first published in 1952.[1][2]

This article is about the Al Martino song. For other songs, see Here in My Heart (Chicago song) and Here in My Heart (Tiffany song).
"Here in My Heart"
A-side label of the US vinyl single
Single by Al Martino
Orchestra under the direction of Monty Kelly
B-side"I Cried Myself to Sleep Last Night"
PublishedMay 1, 1952
ReleasedApril 1952
RecordedApril 17, 1952
GenreEasy listening
Length3:15
LabelBBS
Songwriter(s)Pat Genaro, Lou Levinson, and Bill Borrelli
Producer(s)Voyle Gilmore
Al Martino
Orchestra under the direction of Monty Kelly singles chronology
"Here in My Heart"
(1952)		 "Take My Heart"
(1952)

A recording of the song by Italian-American singer Al Martino made history as the first number one hit on the UK Singles Chart, on November 14, 1952.[3] "Here in My Heart" also reached the number one spot in America.[4]

Background

Martino's recording, made on April 17, 1952, was first issued on the small BBS label (based in Martino's native Philadelphia) in America, and on Capitol in the UK.[4][5][6] It was produced by Voyle Gilmore, with orchestra under the direction of Monty Kelly.[7]

"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 eight other tracks - Bryan Adams's "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" (16 weeks),[8] the Wet Wet Wet version of The Troggs' "Love Is All Around" (15 weeks),[8] Drake's "One Dance" (15 weeks), David Whitfield's "Cara Mia" (10 weeks),[8] Rihanna's "Umbrella" (10 weeks),[8] Whitney Houston's version of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" (10 weeks),[8] Slim Whitman's "Rose Marie" (11 weeks) and Tones and I's "Dance Monkey" (11 weeks). Frankie Laine's "I Believe" spent a total of 18 weeks at number one, but not consecutively, instead totalling those weeks across several runs at the top.[8]

The single was Martino's only UK number one hit. His subsequent releases failed to reach the top of the chart, and his final UK chart appearance was in 1973, when a reissue of "Spanish Eyes" reached the top five.[8]

Martino rerecorded the song in an unsuccessful rockaballad version for MGM's Cub label, released in 1958.[9] In 1961, he again re-recorded the song, with it reaching number 86 on the Billboard Top 100 chart (and the top 20 on the Easy Listening survey).[10]

Other contemporary recordings

Prior to Martino's recording reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart, the song had already become a number one hit on the UK's sheet music sales chart. It spent eight weeks at the top of this chart, beginning on October 25, 1952. The song had first charted on September 6, with Martino's recording, issued in July, being the first one available in the UK. Subsequent cover versions available in the UK were mostly recorded by British artists: Issy Bonn (with Eddie Calvert on trumpet), Larry Day, Dennis Lotis, David Hughes, Victor Silvester and his Ballroom Orchestra, Lee Lawrence, Eve Boswell and Harry Secombe. The only other American recording available in the UK was by Dick Haymes and the Andrews Sisters.[5]

Larry Day's version (with orchestra conducted by Frank Cordell) was made in London on June 24, 1952. It was released by EMI on the His Master's Voice label (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 (catalog number B 10394).

Other contemporary versions were also recorded by Vic Damone and Tony Bennett.[11][12] A rhythm and blues version was also recorded that year, by Wini Brown and her Boy Friends.[13] Mario Lanza, at the height of his popularity in the early 1950s, had also planned to record this song, but changed his mind when asked not to by Martino, so his recording would not be overlooked.[14]

Later use

In 1963, actor Richard Harris performed "Here in My Heart" in the film This Sporting Life, although he would not release his first album, A Tramp Shining, until four years later, following the success of the 1967 film Camelot.[15]

See also

References
  1. "Here in My Heart - Al Martino". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  2. Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series. 1952.
  3. Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 7. ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
  4. "Here in My Heart (song by Al Martino) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". www.musicvf.com. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  5. Henson, Brian (1989). First hits, 1946-1959. Colin Morgan. London: Boxtree. ISBN 1-85283-268-1. OCLC 19389211.
  6. Rogers, John. "Popular recordings from 1st August 1942 - h". Postwar recordings. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  7. Kutner, Jon (2010). 1,000 UK Number One Hits. Spencer Leigh. London: Music Sales. ISBN 978-0-85712-360-2. OCLC 978493833.
  8. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 352. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  9. Al Martino - Here In My Heart, retrieved 2021-07-16
  10. "Al Martino - Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  11. Vic Damone; Genaro; Levenson; Borrelli (1952), Here in My Heart, Internet Archive, Mercury, retrieved 2021-07-16
  12. "Tony Bennett - 1947-1954". www.jazzdiscography.com. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
  13. "THE VOCAL GROUP HARMONY WEB SITE". www.vocalgroupharmony.com. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
  14. "Al Martino Obituary". The Telegraph. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  15. Lindbergs, Kimberly (2007-12-05). "Richard Harris Sings!". CINEBEATS. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
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